Mexborough and Swinton Times September 13, 1919
Cortonwood War Memorial
On Saturday next a monument to the employees of the Cortonwood Colliery Co, Ltd who fought in the war will be unveiled by Mr F.Howard Pochin, Chairman of the Cortonwood Colliery Co, Ltd
The monument, a photograph of which is annexed, is erected on the Colliery premises immediately in front of the offices. It is constructed of particularly hard and durable material called Heptonwood stone, the sculptor being Mr. J. H. Morcom, and the architect, Mr. S. Perkins Pick, both of Leicester.
It stands on a plinth, and it is cenotaph form. Its height is about 12 feet. The names of the Cortonwood employees who have served are inscribed on slate tablets round its sides, and the names of the fallen appear on a separate tablet. Seventy-seven Cortonwood men gave their lives, and of these 42 were married. The total number of Cortonwood men who served in the forces was 531.
Above this silent record of wonderful patriotism stand two beautifully executed figures in bronze, flitted into opposite niches of the monument. One of these can be seen on the photograph of the monument, and both are reproduced in the wing photographs. They are two feet high, and they typify the miner at work and the miner at war.
Of the many Cortonwood men who fought with splendid bravery, 18 had the good fortune to be noticed and honoured.
The following is the list of Cortonwood men who gained decorations:
Distinguished Service Medal
Petty Officer D. Buller
Military Medal
Pte. Longden, Sergt. Speight, Lance-Cpl. Hutchinson, Gunner Kelly, C.S.M. Gray, Sergt H. Sykes, Pte. R. Edge, Sergt Gibbs, Corpi. J. T. Edwards, Pte. Bradley, and Pte. Wilson, Rfn. Barker, Corpl. G. L. ‘ Haynes, Corpl J. Foulstone, Pte Frank Holland, Lance-Cpl. T. R. Ayscough, A.P.C. Harley (killed).
In spite of the large number of men who joined up, the record of the Colliery with regard to output of coal and munitions of war compares favourably with any undertaking in the country The enormous production from the By-Product Coke Oven Plant ‘ (which is the largest in the county) of the raw material for the manufacture of lyddite picric acid, and the high explosive T.N.T., supported the Military forces and helped to pave the way to victory.
Large sums were raised for the assistance and support of the dependents, of the men who had donned khaki. A few days following the outbreak of war the men agreed to levy themselves in order to supply funds so that the dependents of the Men who had enlisted could be made a weekly allowance.
At first the sums raised in this way were distributed between the Public Relief Funds estabiished at Wath and Wombwell. This arrangement continued until the middle of October, 1914, when it was decided to form a separate fund for the Colliery. A scheme was drawn up and it was decided to give relief, which, together with the State allowance, made an aggregate of 20/- to wives and, 2/6 per week for each child, to which the Cortonwood Collieries Co., Ltd., contributed an equal proportion to the men. The Colliery Company also supplied the dependents of married men who had joined up with free coal, and the men on their part paid for the leading of the same. A Committee to administer the fund was formed with Mr. F. Simpson, President of the Cortonwood branch of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association, as Chairman. The original levy in support of this Fund was fixed at 3d. per man and 1 ½ per boy, but this was quickly increased to 6d. and .3d., and in ;1915 a voluntary subscription outside the levy raised nearly £500.
With the progressive increase in the number of dependents the scale of workmen’s contribution increased to 3d. in the £ on all wages’ drawn, and in 1918 the contribution was brought up to 4d. in the £. Every Christmas after 1914 an extra 5s. was given to each wife or widow, and 2/6 to each child. The allowances were always paid by post; the scheme was economically, as well as humanely and sympathetically, administered. The Committee took the deepest interest in the work, and were animated by a keen desire to do their very best for the families of the soldiers and sailors. The number of persons receiving allowances from the fund has been as high as 260, and is now down to 66. From the latest balance sheet it appears that the total income to date is £26,844, of which the workmen, have given £14,602 and the Company in various farms £12,158.
Various grants, in addition to the ordinary system of weekly relief, were made to the parents of single men officially reported killed. The credit balance of the fund now stands at £301. With regard to the men decorated for distinguished military or naval service, gold watches have been presented to a number of those, and the remainder are to be similarly recognised. The cost of this has been borne equally by the Company and the workpeople, who are jointly undertaking the cost of the memorial which is to be unveiled next week. This is the first war memorial yet provided in the district.