Bentinck Colliery Disaster: Victims' Funerals, 3rd July 1915

The funerals of five men killed at Bentinck Colliery were held on 3rd July 1915.

“The Colliery Victims.

“SCENES OF MOURNING AT THE INTERNMENTS.

“THE UNIDENTIFIED MAN.

“Extremely sad were the scenes at Kirkby on Saturday [3rd July 1915], when the mangled remains of five of the victims of the Bentinck Colliery cage disaster, which occurred the previous Wednesday morning were laid to rest in the cemetery at East Kirkby. Never has the town been so touched as by the scenes which were witnessed, and the hearts of the inhabitants went out to the mourners in their great sorrow. Blinds were generally drawn in the parish as a mark of respect and sympathy with the deceased, and along the Cemetery road there was not a house at which such a token was not shown, whilst townsfolk stood reverently on each side of the road in vast numbers, notwithstanding the rain which descended.

“Widespread Sympathy.

“The men buried on Saturday were:-

“Amos Allen, aged 32, Crocus street, Kirkby;

“Ferdinand Wright, aged 45, 48 Milton street, East Kirkby;

“George Simpson, aged 54, Lindley’s lane, Kirkby;

“Willis King, aged 25, of 49 Derby road, Mutton hill, East Kirkby; and

“A victim who has not yet been identified.

“Of the five victims the first to be interned was Amos Allen, a well-known member of the Baptist Church. The first part of the service was held in the church, and there was a large congregation. The rostrum was draped in black, and in front of it was placed the coffin, surmounted by several beautiful wreaths.

“The service was taken by the Rev. D. J. Lawrence, pastor, and the Rev. S. C. Cook, of Sutton, offered prayer. At the close of the service the Dead March was played. In addition to the family mourners there were present the following officials of the Notts. Miners’ Association: Messrs. G. Banfield (secretary), A. Spencer (treasurer), W. G. Hancock, S. Cotterill, J. T. Turner, A. Beardsmore, and B. Searson. Messrs. J. W. Wardle and J. Shaw represented the Annesley and Newstead Wesleyan Bible Class.

“At the cemetery entrance the cortege was met by officials of the New Hucknall Colliery Company, Mr. P. Muschamp (agent), Mr. P. F. Day (manager of Bentinck Colliery), Mr. W. Sharp (under-manager), and Mr. W. Staples (the deputy). Standing with them were mourners of the Kirkby Mothers’ Union and the Red Cross Society.

“Each funeral was attended by officials of the colliery company and the Notts. Miners’ Association, and officials of the company laid a wreath on the grave.

“Strange Name Plate.

“The second funeral was that of a man whose body has not yet been identified. Representatives of the Colliery Company and Miners’ Association followed the remains, as there were no other mourners, and the committal service at the graveside was conducted by the Rev. E. C. Hodges, vicar of East Kirkby. In this case the coffin bore this inscription: “Unidentified remains of the body of a man killed by accident at Bentinck Colliery, June 30th, 1915.”

“The Rev. D. J. Lawrence and S. C. Cook also conducted the last rites at the graveside of Ferdindand Wright, and Willis King, aged 25, of 49, Derby road, Mutton hill, Kirkby, brief services being held previously in the Baptist Church. Wright was a member of the Kirkby Lodge of the A. O. F., and Brother W. Smith read the Foresters’ funeral service. The other internment was that of George Simpson, aged 54, of Lindley’s lane, Kirkby. He attended the Christians’ Meeting House at Mutton hill, and Mr. H. G. Holmes, of Bulwell, conducted the service at the graveside. Deceased was also a Forester, belonging to the Underwood and Bagthorpe Lodge, and the friendly society’s service was read in this instance by Brother J. Street. The members of the Lodge wore mourning sashes.

“As the hearses proceeded one after another throughout the afternoon to the burial ground no-one among the onlookers could forget that the mangled remains enclosed within the coffins were the bodies of men who when death came to them in such horrible form were entering upon work of paramount importance to-day to the State. The cemetery was closed to the general public – a necessary restriction in view of the size of the crowd that thronged the entrance.

“Other Funerals.

“The victims who were natives of Sutton-in-Ashfield, were also laid to rest on Saturday, amid many manifestations of sympathy. The first funeral was that of Harold Brown, of 78 St. Michael’s street. Particularly sad was this case for Saturday was the 15th anniversary of his birth. The funeral service was held at the Congregational Mission, Chatsworth street, and the internment took place in the cemetery.

“The Rev. H. V. Turner conducted the second funeral, that of Willie Syston, aged 18, of 53 Charnwood street. A service was held in the Parish Church. Workmates of the deceased acted as bearers in each case, and a large number of floral tributes were received, including wreaths from New Hucknall Colliery Company, workmen, neighbours, &c.

“John Carrington Fletcher, aged 40, of 65 Prospect street, Kirkby, was buried on Sunday [4th July 1915].”

‘Hucknall Dispatch’, 8th July 1915.