Memorial unveiled to mining disaster victims

A memorial has been unveiled for 199 victims of mining disasters at Thornhill Colliery near Dewsbury, some of whom were as young as 12.

The two largest disasters commemorated are the 1893 explosion in the Combs Pit, which took the lives of 139 men, and a 1947 incident at Ings Pit that left 12 workers dead.

The memorial wheel and information plaque bearing names from incidents between 1870 - 1972 was installed in Rectory Park, organised by Thornhill Community Mining Memorial Group.

"Bringing it together in the way that we have... it's such a wonderful group of people who have all worked together - it's fantastic," group co-chair Jackie Ramsay said.

She added that the group was "incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated people who have given their time and energy to this project".

Ramsay added: "I would especially like to thank Paul and Diane Hutchinson who have been the driving force behind it.

"Without their enthusiasm and hard work, we would not have reached this final stage."

The majority of the victims from the 1893 incident were from Thornhill village, with generations of the same family killed in the tragedy.

The explosion, which happened on 4 July, is believed to have been caused by a naked flame igniting gas in the mining shaft.

Only seven men working the pit that day survived.

Former miner Tony Rock was employed at the Thornhill Colliery Combs pit between 1959 and 1972.

He said his grandmother had not wanted him to work at the site because she had been a child when the 1893 explosion happened.

"She remembered little bits about that disaster," he explained.

A dedication for the memorial wheel was held by St Michael and All Angels Church, alongside the Bishop of Huddersfield.

Reverend Debbie Nash, the rector for Thornhill and Whitley, said more than 100 funerals were held in one day after the 19th Century event.

"We've tried to put things into the service that would be recognisable to the people from 133 years ago," she said.

Thornhill resident David Gaunt produced biographies for the 199 men and boys who were killed in the two pits, Combs Pit and Ings Pit.

Rock added he recognised some names on the plaque who died while he was working at the mines.

"You remember them in here," he said, pointing to his heart.

"We're here to remember them who passed in that time."

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