b. 1861 Oldham, Lancashire. d. 1st Quarter 1937 Gateshead, County Durham.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 21/10/1911 Felling Colliery, Gateshead, County Durham.
James was the youngest of eight children of William and Elizabeth Booth, and lived in Oldham, Lancashire. After a basic schooling, he began a lifelong career in the mining industry. By the age of 20, he was a Clerk to a Mining Engineer, and was living with his widowed father and older brother John, living at 53 Ashton Road, Oldham. On 18th June 1884, in Prestwich, Manchester, he married Edith Eleanor Whittaker, and soon afterwards, they moved to County Durham, where James was a mining surveyor. James and Edith had no children.
EM CITATION:
On the 21st October, 1911, John F. Booth, Surveyor at the Felling Colliery, Durham, accompanied by two men named George Padbury and William Robson, was engaged in the exploration of some disused workings. The workings were not ventilated, and, with a view to obtain experience in the practice of rescue apparatus under actual mining conditions, it was arranged that the men should wear the Draeger breathing apparatus. Owing, it is supposed, to some defect in the stipply of oxygen, Robson became affected by foul air about two hours after entering the workings, and became unconscious. Padbury, who had gone for assistance, leaving Robson under Booth’s care, was also overcome. Booth then returned to the surface, obtained a fresh supply of oxygen, and went alone to the rescue of his companions. He was joined after a time by the remainder of the Rescue Brigade belonging to the Colliery; but it was not until additional assistance had been obtained from Elswick that Padbury and Robson could be removed to a place of safety. Both were found to be dead.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
