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Auction: 14002 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 11

The Superb and Rare Edward Medal (Mines) Pair to Harry Robinson [G.C.], For His Gallantry During the Louisa Colliery Disaster, County Durham, 22.8.1947
a) Edward Medal (Mines), G.VI.R., 1st type, silver (Harry Robinson, Louisa Colliery, Durham, 22 Aug. 1947.), surname partially officially corrected
b) Jubilee 1977, very fine, mounted as originally worn (2)

E.M. London Gazette 20.7.1948 Harry Robinson, Deputy, Louisa Colliery, in joint citation with William Younger, Joseph Shanley and John Hutchinson, 'Shortly before midnight on the 22nd August, 1947, a serious explosion of fire damp coal and coal dust occurred in the Louisa Old Section of Louisa Colliery, Durham. William Younger, Joseph Shanley and Harry Robinson, Deputies, who with an intimate knowledge of the main roads and ventilating circuits of the mine could have made their way quite easily to safety, went instantly to the scene of the disaster, where they were soon joined by John Hutchinson, Overman, who came down from the surface. Twenty-four persons, all of whom were incapacitated either by injuries or carbon-monoxide poisoning were in the district at the time. Nineteen of them died and but for the prompt and continuous heroic work performed by Younger, Shanley, Robinson and Hutchinson, who voluntarily faced conditions of acute danger for a period of one and a half hours, there can be little doubt that not one would have survived.

The circumstances and conditions would have tested the courage and endurance of the bravest and strongest. The atmosphere was so thick that the beams of the cap lamps could penetrate only a foot or so which meant that the rescuers could do nothing to guard against danger from falls of ground, a very real danger after an explosion, and the road in places was almost completely blocked by tubs de-railed by blast.

Five of the injured were brought out alive from the affected workings, two of them died later in hospital and three recovered.'

Harry Robinson, G.C. (1916-1987), born New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham; educated at New Kyo School; employed as a pit pony driver at the Morrison South Pit, Annfield Plain, County Durham, from 1931; moved to the Busty Pit, Medomsley, County Durham, 1935, and his father (also a miner) died in a pit accident the following year; returned to the Morrison South Pit in 1937, and was appointed Deputy in 1942; he trained as part of the mine rescue team; when the pit closed in 1945, he moved to the Louisa Colliery; extracts from Harry Robinson’s draft statement to the Commission of Enquiry into the Louisa Pit disaster gives the following additional detail:

"We reached the 2nd West bord in the middle of the landing in the Low Main seam…when the air current stopped momentarily. This was immediately followed by a rush of dust-laden air in the normal direction of the air current. The time would be approximately 11.55 p.m. We realized something was wrong and immediately picked up the bird and flame safety lamp. We then proceeded outbye towards the 4th North Hutton Offtakes and when we had travelled only 60 yards we found Charles Bolam, Arthur Chapman and Stephen Gibson, Bricklayers, standing together. Bolam was in a semi-collapsed state, being supported by the others….Shanley returned with them to 4th Bankhead into fresh air coming from the Louisa Pit....

Younger and I went down the 4th North Hutton Drift to find out what had happened. On the way down to the Drift there were rollers and loose timber scattered about, and the atmosphere was very thick. We went first into the Straight East Loading Gate….We saw one light and heard someone moaning. We found three men about 30 yards inbye side of the canvas door and only one showed signs of life. I returned to the South Curve and went along the south heading. Some derailed tubs about 12 yards down stopped me and I returned. I then went out to the 4th North Hutton Offtakes to seek help and to telephone for Houghton Rescue Brigade. After telephoning, I went down the Drift and when half way down heard Younger who had come out, shout that he wanted a reviving apparatus as there were two men alive out of the three. I went back up the Drift and then met Shanley at the Offtakes. As I was out of breath Shanley asked Gibson (bricklayer) to accompany him back to the 2nd West Bord where they had reviving apparatus available.

John Hutchinson then arrived at the 4th North Hutton Offtakes in answer to the telephone calls for help.

Hutchinson and I proceeded down the Drift and met Younger at the bottom and a few minutes later we were joined by Shanley, who came down the Drift with the reviving apparatus.

It was then decided to split the party, and Younger and Shanley went back into Straight East while Hutchinson and I went into
South….We got past by climbing two or three derailed tubs tilted over sideways towards the East and then we heard someone at that point say “what’s happened?” Hutchinson asked “who is that?” and the reply was “Jimmy Killgallon.” The air was still very thick but when close to it was possible to see someone standing, leaning on a tub. He stated he could not see so Hutchinson climbed over a tub and assisted him inbye to the Kist Bord where he was made comfortable. Johnson was lying, moaning, on the floor near where the first one was standing. We made Johnson as comfortable as possible where he was and we then proceeded inbye by climbing
over three derailed tubs. We found another man lying between the points and the crossing at the inbye end of South Landing. He was alive and bleeding from the mouth, so we turned him to lie face downwards so that the blood would not choke him and made him as comfortable as possible. We went further inbye and found two more men lying in the middle of the tub way, both appeared dead. We went a few yards further and concluded there could be no-one else alive so we returned together to the bottom of the Drift,
and I joined Younger and Shanley at Straight East, who in the meanwhile had been bringing out two injured men from Straight East Loading Gate. These men, Minto and Bailey, were brought back to the south curve and by this time stretcher bearers had reached the Drift bottom and they carried the injured men to the Morrison North Shaft. With Shanley and Younger, I then brought out the third man (Talbot) from East and he was dead. We went into the South Landing and commenced re-railing the tubs to clear the road to the two injured men behind the tubs. Johnson, who was injured was carried out to the Drift bottom and immediately afterwards we returned for the other (Killgallon). These injured men were then sent outbye to the shaft with stretcher bearers. McKeever, Roe and Martin were carried out to the Drift bottom and when bringing out Rowlands and resting the stretcher near the Kist moans could be
heard from the direction of the Kist and on investigation, myself and R. Briggs who had now joined the party, found Estell the Deputy, and he was alive but appeared to be badly injured. Rowlands was carried out and then the Deputy, Estell, was carried out.

Shanley and I were instructed to adjust the regulating door near the Straight East Loading Gate. While here we saw a light further East and on investigation we found a body (afterwards identified as Westgarth) with clothing smouldering. We came back to the South curve and notified Superintendent Coulshed and Houghton Team went down and recovered the body….”

Robinson was presented with his Edward Medal by King George VI at Buckingham Palace, 20.7.1948; he also received a Carnegie Hero Trust Fund Certificate and a gold medal for 15 years service in the mine rescue team; he retired in 1974.

1 of 10 Edward Medals (Mines) G.VI.R., 1st type, silver medals awarded.

On 21st October 1971 living recipients of the Edward Medal were deemed, by Royal Warrant, to be recipients of the George Cross, and were invited to exchange their awards; two silver (including Robinson) and seven bronze medallists elected not to do so.








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