A local newspaper cutting dated Friday 31st December 1943

Killed by Fall of Clay

WORKER’S TRAGIC FATE IN A DORSET MINE

First Fatal Accident there for Nearly Half Century

    Circumstances in which a fall of clay killed a miner at work in the Mine were related to the East Dorset coroner (Major R. N. Neville-Jones) at an Inquest held at Wareham on Thursday on William George Stockley (40) of Redcliffe-view, Bestwall, Wareham.

            Mr. Harry Kirk represented Messrs. Pike Brothers ( Wareham ), Ltd. Mr. R. Butler (H.M.Inspector of Mines was also present.

            Dr. Alan Maitland Cunningham ( Wareham ) stated that on Tuesday he was asked to go to Messrs. Pike Brothers’ clay mines as there had been an accident. On arrival he saw the body and found there was an extensive crush injury on the right of the skull and face. The cause of death was a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain, these injuries being consistent with the man having been crushed by a fall of clay. In reply to Mr. Butler’s witness said that everything in the way of first aid that could have been rendered had been done satisfactorily.

CHRISTMAS EVE CALL

William George Stockley, 3, Sunnyside, Ridge, Wareham, a clay cutter, gave evidence of identification. He said his son was a married man; he had not suffered from illness and his eyesight and hearing were good. Witness last saw him alive on Christmas Eve, when he called on him (witness) before leaving with his wife to spend Christmas at Parkstone. Replying to the Inspector of Mines, witness said that his son had worked underground for a good many years.

            William Charles White, a clay miner of 2, Penlee cottages Stoborough, Wareham, said that at about 12.15p.m. on Tuesday he was working with deceased in Cotness clay mine, East Creech . “At the time we were working in the lane leading to the air shaft and repairing the lane with timber.” He said. “Deceased was about five feet ahead of me and was getting a piece of timber. When doing so he threw several lumps of clay on one side and then threw out a piece of timber me. He stopped to throw out a few knobs of clay.”

KNOB TAPPED AND SOUNDED
“Previous to this at 7.30am, I had noticed a lump of clay that we call ‘V’ shape in the ceiling of the lane where we were working. We didn’t know it was a lump, but it’s the procedure for any miner to take a sounding. Before we started work we both tapped and sounded this knob and came to the conclusion that it was safe to work under, which we did. We did this again just before we went to breakfast. According to the soundings neither of us had the slightest idea it was going to drop. It was shored up with two or three sets of timber – three I think. We carried on with our work, and all at once I heard the crack of timber; and on looking up, I saw this lump of clay had fallen on deceased, pinning him to the ground on his knees. It was that that particular piece of clay we had sounded.”

ABOUT A TON OF CLAY

Witness said he rushed to assist deceased, and found the clay was covering his body. He said several times: ”My face.”

            Witness said he tried to move the clay but was unable to do so because of the weight. “As far as I could see it was about a ton of clay.” said witness, who added that help arrived, and Stockley was released, but was dead.

            Replying to inspector, witness said that he did not know the lump was “V” shaped until it had fallen. They would have put something different underneath it if their soundings had told them it was unsafe. If it had not been in good condition it would have sounded “drummy.” At the time it sounded solid and good.

            Inspector: It was supported by timber? – Witness: Yes

            It was a ton? – Yes

            Then why didn’t the timber hold it up? – I suppose something or other gave way unforeseen to us. I can’t answer you that; all I can say is the timber was in under.

TIMBERS STRAPPED

Witness added that the timbers were about two feet apart, and there were two or three sets supporting the lump which when it fell, must have rolled some timber out.

            He told the inspector that timbers were strapped to prevent rolling out, but there were places where this could not be done. “We generally try to lock them together as much as we can,” declared the witness, who also stated in reply to another question: “I haven’t run any risk for 40 years and I don’t think I should have run it on Tuesday.”

FOREMAN'S EVIDENCE

            William George Rawles, of Corfe road, Stoborough, Wareham, foreman at the mines, said he visited all the workings, and was on his round when the accident occurred. The object of the particular work being carried out by White and Stockley was to “raise the ceiling” to put the road into proper order for travelling and air. He had used the road every day, and considered it safe; there was no need to test it, because the timber was in proper order. Since the last time he had visited this working the Christmas holidays had intervened, and it might have deteriorated in that time.

            The Coroner: Did the fall actually occur as the men were working to cut away the “lip”? – Witness: They were working inside of it, sir.

            The fall didn’t occur because they were taking timbers out? – Oh no sir. The timbers they were using were lying at the side of the “lane.”

CORONERS COMMENTS

The coroner said that from what he had heard, Mr. White and Stockley, two experienced clay workers, were working in the “lane” and had taken all the usual precautions one expected sensible men to take to satisfy themselves as far as possible that the workings were safe.

            He returned a verdict of accidental death, the cause being in accordance with medical evidence, and expressed his sympathy with the bereaved relatives.

            On behalf of Messrs. Pike Bros., Mr Kirk associated himself with this expression, saying that this was the first fatal accident the firm had had in the last 40 or 50 years, and, having taken all the precautions that could be taken, they felt the matter very keenly.

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The deceased William George Stockley is on the far right of this picture. His father also William George Stockley is in the centre also a clay miner, who used to ride home down the tramway to Ridge every evening in an empty wagon.
Ivy, in the dark dress, in front of the deceased, had been buried in Wareham on 25th November, having died in Winchester Hospital just over a month before Williams' death.

Others in the photo are starting from the left May Stockley, Mabel Stockley, Cliff Stockley, and at the back deceased's mother Blanche, (nee Dolman, born Lytchett Minster 1879) and in front of her is Ida, usually known as Queenie, who married Lesley Gover