Memorial service held for 57 miners killed in Sneyd Colliery disaster
FIFTY-SEVEN miners who died in a pit disaster seven decades ago have been commemorated at a special service.
Friends and relatives of Sneyd Colliery disaster victims came together for the memorial service at Holy Trinity Church in Burslem last night.
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Derek Hulme
The miners died following a massive explosion 800 yards underground early on January 1, 1942.
Fifty-five men and boys were killed immediately, with two more dying of their injuries in hospital.
The memorial service had previously been held at Hot Lane Methodist Chapel and then at Hamil Road Methodist Church in Burslem, but both have now closed.
Father Brian Williams at Holy Trinity invited the service organisers to his church so the tradition could continue.
A plaque commemorating the 57 victims, which had previously been at Hamil Road, has also been moved to Holy Trinity.
Father Brian said: "A single death can be just as tragic as a major disaster, but I think remembering the big tragedies helps us remember the small ones.
"It also helps remind us of the dangers the miners faced in their work place, dangers which miners around the world are still facing.
"And a memorial can also re-humanise the victims of disasters. If you're not a relative or friend or neighbour of someone who has died, they can just become a statistic, rather than an actual human life."
The service included a roll call of the 57 men and boys who lost their lives, with a candle being lit for every victim.
There were also several readings, including an account of mining conditions at the time from George Orwell's The Road to Wigan Pier and a speech by Winston Churchill, praising the importance of miners.
Miners usually regarded working on New Year's Day as unlucky, but the victims of the disaster had willingly gone to work that day in 1942 to help the war effort.
Service organiser Derek Hulme's father Charles and brother Joe were both involved in the rescue-and-recovery operation following the explosion.
He said it was important that the memory of the disaster was kept alive for future generations.
Derek, aged 79, from Norton, said: "My father and my brother never really talked about what they saw that day, but it stayed with them their whole lives.
"I think it's a similar experience to going to war – if you haven't been through it yourself, there's no way you can fully understand it."
He added: "I think it is very important that we continue to hold this memorial service for the Sneyd Colliery disaster, especially for those relatives who are still living.
"These days it's the grandchildren of the victims who come along.
"As long as my family is still here, we will continue to organise these memorial services."
Following the service, Ray Johnson's documentary film, "The Sneyd Pit Disaster", who shown in the church hall.
Former miner Keith Meeson, who campaigned successfully for a permanent memorial to the Sneyd Colliery disaster victims in Burslem Town Centre, also attended last night's service.
The 66-year-old, from Stanley, said: "It is a credit to the people who came tonight that we had such a good turn-out. I think if the 57 could see this they would be very proud that people are still remembering their sacrifice, 70 years later."
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