Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 03 October 1942

Loss of a Good Workman

Inquest on Wath Collier

While working at Wath Main Colliery on September 16th, George Lidster (61), collier, of 6, Park Road, Wath, complained of pains in the head. He was taken out of the pit and sent home. The following Sunday be admitted to Mexborough Montagu I. where he died on September 22nd.

At an inquest on Friday, the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Grille) recorded a verdict of “Accidental Death” in accordance with medical evidence.

Martha Annie Lidster, widow, said her husband had worked at t Wath Main for 40 years. He had had good health until recently and had not had medical attention for about 20 years. When he left home on September 18th about 4.30 a.m. to go to work he seemed to be in his usual good health. About 10.20 a.m. he was brought home in the colliery ambulance and complained of feeling ill. He said he had pains in the head. Dr. Todd. of Wath, visited him two and three times a day and on Sunday, September 20th, advised his removal to hospital. Her husband had worked regularly since the outbreak of war, working five and six shifts a week. He had not had a day off for over 12 months.

William Earley, collier, of 28, Kingsway, Wombwell, said he and Lidster were engaged in their usual work, packing, in 469’e. Lidster carried on his work for two hours and then made a complaint about 8 o’clock. Lidster was covered with perspiration and said “I do feel ill. My head seems ready to burst.” Witness told him to sit down for a few minutes. He then asked Lidster if he felt better, but he replied in the negative. He gave Lidster a drink of water and then fetched the deputy, who made arrangements for Lidster to be taken out of the pit. The work they were doing was not heavy and they had to kneel.

In answer to Mr. J. A. Braithwaite (representing Wath Main branch of the Y.14.A.), Earley said they had done a little drawing off that morning. It would cause a certain amount of bending and strain. Witness then demonstrated the operation of drawing off supports with a Sylvester, and said it was their usual work.

Dr. P. Milligan, pathologist, of Doncaster, who conducted a post-mortem examination, said the cause of death was haemorrhage, due to congenital cerebral aneurism. Apart from this haemorrhage which could have caused death at any time, the man was perfectly healthy. Death could have been caused by the strain of the man’s work.

At the request of Mr. Braithwaite, Mr. Alwyne Fairhurst, manager at the colliery, gave evidence. He said he was fully acquainted with the conditions in which Lidster was working. He was at this working place two days later and conditions then were similar to the day when Lidster was taken out of the pit. From evidence he had gathered, Earley and Water were working back to back on opposite pack. They stopped building the pack to draw off more supports with a Sylvester. The Sylvester would be anchored by a derrick and the chain would be attached to the role they desired to draw. The chair would then be drawn tight by Lidster, drawing the Sylvester towards him. It would be at this moment that more pressure would be required. There was no more weight than ordinarily on the supports. Lidster was not too old for the job.

The Coroner said he felt the strain was the cause of the rupture of the aneurism and because of this he would return a verdict of “Accidental Death.” He gathered from the evidence that Lidster was a good workman who had done his utmost to contribute to the output of coal and was an example to everyone in the district.