b. 07/1881 Derby, Derbyshire. d. ?
DATE OF EM ACTION: 08/01/1913 Markham No 2 Colliery, Staveley, Derbyshire.
Arthur was the youngest of eight children born to John Richardson and Jane Hewitt, who lived in Derby, in July 1881. He was baptised at St Andrew’s Church, Derby on 24th July 1881. Soon after his birth, the family moved to Alvaston, in the Shardlow district. Following his schooling, he studied to become a mining engineer. On 9th April 1912, he married Frances Bertha Handley at South Wingfield, Derbyshire. Little is known about his life following the award of the Edward Medal in 1913.
EM CITATION:
On the 8th January last a stteel girder fell from a roof in the Markham No. 2 Colliery, Stavely, Derbyshire, causing a fall of the roof. Mr. Cooper, the under manager of the mine, who at once went to the place, took steps to repair the damage, and, while the debris was being removed in tubs, a second fall occurred without warning and buried three men engaged in the work of removal. Though fragments of the roof were still falling, Mr. Cooper dashed over the heap of debris and, being joined later on by Mr. Hewitt, the manager, he succeeded in rescuing two of the men. They then proceeded to search for the third man and discovered him completely buried. George Thompson, a workman employed at the mine, came to help, and the three worked for about fifty minutes in order to extricate the unfortunate man. They had all but succeeded, when a further heavy fall took place killing him outright. Notwithstanding the risk of further falls, the work of rescue was continued for four hours, till the dead body was reached. The three men incurred prolonged and serious risk in their efforts to save life.
BURIAL LOCATION: ALL SAINTS CHURCHYARD, SOUTH WINGFIELD, DERBYSHIRE.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
