Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
Yet another workplace death inquest took place this week. Held on Monday in the Temperance Hall, Batley, it concerned the death of Mount Pleasant resident Walter Bennett, a coal cutting machine man at Soothill Wood Colliery. Whilst working a cutting machine a huge stone, weighing about 15 cwt. fell from the roof crushing him on the floor. He was not a parishioner, but two men linked to the parish were mentioned at the inquest.
Robert Colbeck, first on the scene, called his mate Michael Moran (linked to St Mary’s) to help. The pair, though unable to lift the stone pinning Bennett down, were able to take the weight off Bennett for around 10 minutes until his release.
Amongst those giving evidence at the inquest was another parishioner, Edward Cairns of 35 Cobden Street, Batley, who was a night deputy at the colliery. He said:
…that at 4.30 the same morning he had tested the roof with a hammer and found it all right and no slip evident. The top had given a little, and the bar had been set.
The Coroner: You are subject to slips there-about?
Witness: Just here and there.
It is not a very good roof? —It is very fair on the whole.
Would it have been better to have bars where this accident happened? —If there had been a bar it would have prevented the accident.
What has been the arrangement, a bar here and there where it was necessary? —Yes.
There was no reason why there should not be more? —There are plenty of props.
If there had been a bar it might have prevented the accident? —Yes.
Mr. Flint [Inspector of Mines]: Since the accident have you made any alteration in the method of timbering? —Yes. They have a row of props to set.
Where? —In front of the machine.
Then you knock them out? —Yes, as they come up to them.
Have you arranged to set any more bars? —Yes.we keep up more bars.
What sort of bars are you using? —Both wooden and corrugated iron.
The machine will pass under the wooden bars? —Yes
What happens behind the machine? —They replace the bars again.
The Coroner: Does this case read a lesson to you in any way? There ought to have been more bars set ought there not? —Yes, there should be.
The Coroner: Then that is the lesson.
Mr. J. E. Fletcher (foreman [of the jury]): From the evidence it seems another bar would have been advisable.
The Coroner said there had been bars at considerable intervals only. Bars were not only set in places known to be dangerous, but as a precaution.
Mr. Flint: I think they might arrange some plan of timbering in which bars are systematically used…..
There was news this week of the war death of a former Soothill Wood Colliery employee John Leech:
Carlinghow Catholic Fatally Hit.
Within three months of being in hospital with a severe abscess in the groin, Lance-Corpl. John Leech (20), K.O.Y.L.I., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael, Leech, 44, Victoria Street, Carlinghow, is officially stated to have died of wounds on April 13th. He joined the Forces when just short of 19 years of age, and went to France in December, 1916. He previously worked at Soothill Wood Colliery, and was connected with St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church and Schools, Cross Bank. His photo will appear next week.
Following on from last week’s newspaper, there was more information about Patrick Carney, brother of Memorial man Lawrence Carney:
Hume Street Lad a Prisoner
A postcard stating that he is a prisoner-of-war has been received from Pte. Patrick Carney (20), son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carney, 43, Hume Street, Batley, who in last week’s “News” was officially reported missing from March 20th. He says he is quite well and was taken a prisoner at Bullecourt on March 21st. His brother, Pte. Lawrence Carney. Died of wounds at Warrington hospital in September, 1916, and was buried with military honours at Batley. Two other brothers are serving in France.
The Batley Tribunal dealt with 90 cases the previous Friday. In the review of mill group military service exemptions, James Cox, a 29-year-old married man living at Pearl Street and working as a cloth drawer for J. Newsome and Sons was one parish case, with his military classification being Ciii. Another was 21-year-old unmarried man John Flatley, a miller at G. and J. Stubley Ltd, with a Grade 3 military classification.
Finally for this week’s newspaper round-up, one death appeared in the Family Notices, as follows:
BATLEY
Johnson. —May 6, aged 52, Mary, wife of Alfred Johnson, 3, Fleming’s Square.
Past To Present Genealogy 