Maltby Pit Disaster of 1923

Those who died

George Perrins and his children
George Perrins and children

The full list of men left in the pit after the explosion, all residents in Maltby, and nearly all married:

George Perrins, 37, Deputy
John Henry Garratty, 38, Corporal
Edward Mitchell, 23, Byeworker
William Emberton, 27, Collier
Harold Bourne, 25, Haulage hand
Harry Norwood, 30, Deputy
John William Green, 38, Byeworker
Silvaus Turner, 27, Collier
George Brierley, 34, Collier
William (Billy) Preece, 24, Collier, married three years. He left a wife and two children.
Joseph Best, 19, Fitter
James Smith, 37, Collier
Richard John Brookes, 24, Collier
John Stoker,30, Overman
Joseph Spibey, 29, Collier
John Chandler Spilsbury, 33, Collier
Raymond Clinton Bourne, 18, Haulage Hand
Richard Ernest Dunn, 28, Collier
George Hickling, 47, Ripper
Benjamin Jones, 26, Collier
Aaron Daniel(s), 46, Collier, possibly son of Caleb and Ann Daniel from Hanley, Staffordshire
Bertie Beardshall, 29, Collier
Leonard Meredith, 22, Collier
Ernest Clixby, 26, Analyst
Albert Smithson, 28, Collier
Alfred Leslie Fellows, 15, Haulage Hand
Reginald Renshaw, 48, Road Layer

Ernest Dene (Richard Ernest Dunn ?)

Reginald Renshaw was recovered by the first rescue party who stated that he was 'in a crouching attitude, with both arms drawn up across the face as if to protect it from the flame and shock of the explosion'. continued »

After the explosion the area around it was sealed. A few months later they took out one brick out and slid a piece of glass so no air would be let in or escape as it could still contain explosive fumes.

When they looked through the glass they saw a ginger haired miner holding a pit pony.

When the area was declared safe they removed the walls and as soon as the air got to the body it disintegrated into ash. There were two miners that had been in the explosion that had ginger hair and so both families buried the ashes.