b. 15/10/1884 Derbyshire. d. 3rd Quarter 1971 Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 01/11/1922 Shipley Coppice Colliery, Derbyshire.
James was born in Derbyshire on 15th October 1884, the son of Eli Beresford, and began a working career down the mines. On 5th October 1907, he married Alice Orme in Denby. He and Alice did not have any children. James died in 1971 only a few months before the opportunity was given to recipients of the Albert and Edward Medallists to exchange for a George Cross.
EM CITATION:
On the. 1st November, 1922, while two timbermen were at work in a deep seam of the Coppice Colliery, Derby, a fall of about sixty tons of debris took place. Both men were buried and completely hidden, but news of the occurrence reached some men close by and help speedily came. Timber was erected over the imprisoned men to protect them from further falls, and they were eventually extricated after about three hours’ work. Both Richards and Beresford took a leading part in the work of rescue at great risk to their own lives, as there were continuous falls of roof while the operations were in progress.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
