Alfred Horn EM

b. 06/1881 Frizington, Cumberland.  d. 1936 Whitehaven, Cumberland.

DATE OF EM ACTION: 22/07/1918 Margaret Iron Ore Mine, Frizington, Cumberland.

Alfred was born in the summer of 1881, the fourth of seven children born to John and Grace Horn. He was baptised at St Paul’s Church, Frizington on 22nd June 1881. From a young age, Alfred followed in his father’s footsteps and began working as a miner at the Margaret Iron Ore Mine in Frizington. Little else is known about Alfred’s life after the incident at the mine on 22nd July 1918. It is believed he died in Whitehaven in 1936, aged 55.

 

EM CITATION:

On the 22nd July, 1918, two miners were buried by a fall of ground in the Margaret Iron Ore Mine, Frizington, Cumberland. The fall swept out all the timber and left exposed a dangerous roof, in parts 20 feet high and fully 20 feet wide, from which masses of rock were liable to fall at any moment. As the place could not be made safe by means of timber in any reasonable time, several men took the risk of working under the exposed and dangerous roof in order to release the two imprisoned miners who were buried amongst a mixed mass of timber, stone and iron ore, while others stood on the fall and watched the roof, thereby inspiring confidence amongst the men engaged immediately underneath. The actual danger the rescuers ran was that of being trapped by a fall of ground from what was known to be a dangerous roof. Fortunately no fall took place during the work, which lasted about 1¾ hours, or the rescuers could hardly have escaped injury. One of the men rescued succumbed afterwards to his injuries. Eight men were engaged in the work of rescue. Horn and Nevin specially distinguished themselves.

 

BURIAL LOCATION: ST PAUL’S CHURCHYARD, FRIZINGTON, CUMBERLAND.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.