b. 05/03/1880 Ecclesfield, Yorkshire. d. 20/06/1955 Blackpool, Lancashire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 04/03/1908 Hamstead Colliery, Birmingham.
John Henry Thorne
EM and Bar
DATE OF EM BAR ACTION: 11/05/1910 Wellington Colliery, Whitehaven, Cumberland.
John Henry was born in Ecclesfield, on 05 March 1880, to parents George and Sarah Thorne. Little is known of his early life but census records show him to be a Colliery Deputy in 1901, at the age of 21. He came to fame as a member of the Tankersley Mines Rescue team that distinguished itself at the Hamstead Colliery Disaster in March 1908. For his part in that disaster, Thorne was awarded the Edward Medal (first class) and also received one of the especially minted Gold Medals, also in recognition of his work at Hamstead.
In 1910 John Henry Thorne became one of only two men ever to be awarded a ‘Bar’ to his Edward Medal, effectively meaning he was awarded the honour twice. This time the award recognised his endeavours in working at the Wellington Pit Disaster in Whitehaven following an explosion and subsequent fire on 11 May 1910. Almost certainly due to his knowledge and his experience in these disasters John Henry was appointed, in 1912, as Superintendent in Charge of the Dinas Mines Rescue Station, built and provided by the Rhondda Collieries Rescue Association.
He was reported, by the Coal Magazine (September 1948) as the Chairman at the Conference of Mine Rescue Superintendents held in that year. John Henry retired in 1950 after 38 years of service and died on 20 June 1955 in Blackpool. He is buried at Tankersley, South Yorkshire.
EM CITATION:
On the 4th March, 1908,a fire broke out at the Hemstead Colliery; 24 miners were entombed. The above named miners (together with John Welsby, who succumbed) descended the mine at various times at great personal risk to rescue the miners. They were provided with oxygen apparatus, but were unable to effect their object. His Majesty has been graciously pleased to allow the widow of John Welsby to receive the Medal which would have been granted to her husband.
BAR TO EM CITATION:
On the 11th May, 1910, a terrible fire occurred in the Wellington Pit, Whitehaven, at a point about 4,500 yards from the shafts. Various rescue parties, with great courage and self-devotion and at considerable risk, descended the mine and endeavoured to extinguish the fire and penetrate to the persons in the workings beyond the same. Thorne and Littlewood, fitted with breathing apparatus, reached within a distance of 150 yards of the fire, but were driven back by the great heat and effusion of gases. The others got to within about 300 yards of the fire, working in the smoke backing from the fire. It was found impossible to penetrate to the scene of the fire or to rescue any of the entombed miners. Had an explosion occurred — a by no means unlikely eventuality, seeing that the mine is a very gassy one — they would undoubtedly all have been killed. Special gallantry was shown by John Henry Thorne, to whom the Edward Medal of the First Class has already been awarded, and by James Littlewood.
BURIAL LOCATION: ST PETER’S CHURCHYARD, TANKERSLEY, SOUTH YORKSHIRE.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
Acknowledgement –
Philip Clifford – Image of John Henry Thorne EM and Bar