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Auction: 15003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 248

Hartley Colliery Disaster Medal, 52mm, silver, the reverse embossed 'Presented to those who risked their own lives in attempting to save the lives of their fellow workmen buried in Hartley Colliery, January 1862', the edge engraved 'Thomas Hetherington.', with silver ring and loop suspension, converted from silver straight bar suspension, this still present, otherwise very fine, with integral top riband bar, in Wyon, London, fitted case of issue

'On the 10th January 1862 Disaster struck at the Hartley Colliery in Northumberland, leaving in its wake a death toll of some 204 Miners. A cage carrying 8 people proved too much weight for the massive pumping engine beam which, although weighing over 40 tons, gave way and tumbled down the colliery's single shaft, carrying with it a mass of machinery and debris. Much of it came to rest a little over 400 feet from the surface on the immense oak beams which held the centre set of pumps in the shaft. The unwalled sides of the shaft collapsed, piling tons of rock and rubble on top of the initial fall, sealing the shaft. It took six days of dangerous and strenuous work by the rescuers to reach the men trapped by the fall, but all were found to be dead. One of the dead, James Armour, kept notes of the ordeal in a book whilst trapped underground, and it appears certain from the dates of the entries that all had died not later than the afternoon of the day following the accident, having fallen victims to the noxious gases generated in the pit.

The 204 bodies were recovered from the pit on Saturday, 25th January, and they were all buried the following day- a crowd over 60,000 strong gathered for the funeral. The oldest victim was 71 years of age, and the youngest just 10. A monument to their memory stands in Earsdon Churchyard.'

Mr. Thomas Hetherington, born West Moor, Northumberland, 1828.

One Gold and 37 Silver Hartley Colliery Disaster Medals were awarded for the rescue operation.

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Sold for
£3,200