New Publication

Victims of the Minnie Pit Disaster 1918

A tribute to the miners who lost their lives in the Minnie Pit disaster in Halmer End published by the Audley & District Family History Society on the 100th anniversary of the disaster in January 2018. The book contains information on every victim and their immediate families, giving dates of birth, marriage and death, along with details of the occupations of the miners in the pit, recovery of bodies and burials. The information has been extracted from parish registers, census records, electoral registers, birth, marriage and death indexes, newspapers, the Minnie Pit Disaster Official Report and Sentinel Minnie Pit Relief Fund documents. Photographs of more than 90 of the victims are included along with photographs of memorials in local churchyards and cemeteries, and copies of various documents relating to many of the victims.

Book size A4, 187 pages.

Now available - go to Publications page

What readers say

Can I just say, fantastic book.’

‘I managed to buy one on Saturday and it's well worth the money. I found out that I had an uncle who died the year he was born when I was reading about my uncle who was killed in the Minnie pit disaster. Very interesting.

’ ‘a very worthy memorial to those who paid the ultimate price for coal. Many congrats to the organisers and all the people involved in the production of the new book. Superb!’

‘A tremendous record. Very impressive.’

‘Thank you for the delivery of the Minnie Pit victims book. It has revealed huge discoveries to my family's history.  I want to thank all involved for the time and commitment in producing such an awesome tribute. Please pass on my comments to all involved‘

‘Very impressed by the Minnie Pit book. Many congratulations to all the researchers. What a painstaking and wonderful work.’  

'A most impressive book, the compilers have done a fantastic job and the amount of personal detail about the victims is amazing.' 

'What a good resource. Well pleased.'

'Many congrats to the organisers and all the people involved in the production of the new book. Superb! '

'A tremendous record. Very impressive. What painstaking work'.

'I was surprised at the size of the book, looks like the compilers have done a comprehensive job'.

'What a brilliant book it is too. So much work has gone in to it. Well done to those involved'.

'Brilliant day and a brilliant publication, the society have done themselves proud with this book. The work and research that has gone into it is amazing'.

'So much detail and thank you to all that were involved in producing a wonderful book'.

'The book is fantastic it shows that these miners are not just from Halmerend but all the villages around and beyond'.  

“Congratulations on the book. I can hardly put it down. A very fitting tribute. I love the interrelationships noted. Gives a real feeling for what a close knit community it was.” 

Included in the Book

Victims of the Disaster

Hugh Doorbar was a member of the rescue team .

Corrections and Amendments

Unfortunately the following errors in the book have been brought to our attention. Please accept our apologies for the errors.

Page 29: The marriage of John Thomas Brockley is incorrect. He married Williamina H. Grant in 1934 at St John’s Church, Alsagers Bank (Thanks to Robert Mayer and family for this correction).

Page 39: John Brockley who married Annie Challinor is the cousin of nos.20 and 21 and not brother as stated. This error relates to that on page 29. (Thanks to Robert Mayer and family for this correction).

Page 45: Elizabeth Ann, the wife of Henry Dale, died in 1961 at Aspull, near Wigan, and not in Leek as stated. She in fact died as Elizabeth Ann Watmough, not Dale, as a result of a marriage in 1918 to Frank Watmough in Wigan, Lancashire. She separated from Henry Dale soon after 1901 and lived with Frank Watmough as housekeeper, during which time she had several illegitimate children by him. Frank died in 1919, just a year after their marriage. They are buried together in Aspull. (Thanks to Diane Leighton-Hall for this information).

Page 53: The photo source should read “Courtesy of Stuart Dean.”

Page 141: Payment for Edward Thomas (under documents) should read Edmund Thomas. (Thanks to Stuart Dean for this correction).

Page 142: Thomas Poole in the list of children is the same person as no.113 and should not be in the list. (Thanks to Stuart Dean for this correction).

Page 142: Henry Dean who married Annie Poole is the brother of no.40 and not the son as stated. (Thanks to Stuart Dean for this correction).

Page 167: The body of Ralph Steele was recovered on 28 August 1918 and not 28 January as stated.

Page 187: The inquest into the death of Hugh Doorbar took place on Wednesday 16 January 1918. The report of the inquest in the Staffordshire Sentinel of Thursday 17 January 1918 states that Hugh Doorbar went to the Minnie Pit with the Birchenwood rescue team on Sunday 13 January 1918 and was overcome by fumes as a result of a fault in his breathing apparatus. This date was taken as his date of death in the book as no other information was available at the time. The inquest on 16 January was adjourned until 19 February 1918 but the newspaper report does not give a date of death. However, other information seen since the book was published, gives the date of death as 14 January 1918.

The following note was unfortunately omitted on page 8: The names of the victims quoted in this volume are taken from all available sources found during research. The information listed about each victim will contain the source of any names which differ from those in birth registrations.  

IMPORTANT We have been notified that George Bailey, victim no.6 in the book, has been incorrectly identified. We are grateful to David Brown for bringing this error to our attention. After further research the correct George Bailey has been identified and the replacement entry for him is attached as a pdf download. The error means that Lydia Holland the sister of victims 63-66 and aunt of 137, has no connection to the correct George Bailey. Please accept our sincere apologies for this error.  

For information on George Bailey, go here