b. 23/07/1880 Alfreton, Derbyshire. d. 31/08/1960 Spilsby, Lincolnshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 22/09/1920 Holmewood Colliery, near Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
Harold was born on 23rd July 1880 in Alfreton, Derbyshire, one of eight children of Charles Samuel and Annie Jane West (nee Kerry). By the age of 11, the family had moved to Wilford, Nottingham, where Charles had moved for work. Harold became a miner from a young age, and had the specific job of a stallman. In 1903, he married Rose Emma Willgoose in Nottingham, and they had three children, Roland, Doris and Thomas. He gained employment as a stallman at the Holmewood Colliery, near Chesterfield, a position he held when being awarded the Edward Medal. Little is known about his life following the incident, though in later life, he lived in Lincolnshire. He died on 31st August 1960 in Spilsby aged 80. He was cremated at Grimsby Crematorium on 2nd September 1960.
EM CITATION:
On September 22nd, 1920, a heavy fall of earth occurred in a seam of the Holmewood Colliery, near Chesterfield, imprisoning two men who were working in the seam. It was ascertained that the men were uninjured, but, as it was obvious that the work of reaching them would occupy somedays the first necessity was to supply them with food. Peters, the undermanager, with great ingenuity, passed food through a cycle tyre enclosed in iron piping. Further falls occurred during the forty-eight hours following the original fall, but it then became possible to pass some timber through, although gas appeared in the cavity and began to give trouble. A small hole was made through to the imprisoned men, and they were eventually freed after being four days in the seam. Peters, West, Harrison and Calladine all distinguished themselves greatly in the work of rescue, and were engaged for practically the whole time in a dangerous: position at the face of the fall. They were exposed to the risk of injury from falling stones and displayed a dogged courage and endurance.
BURIAL LOCATION: GRIMSBY CREMATORIUM, GRIMSBY, LINCOLNSHIRE.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD. SOLD AT SPINK’S IN NOVEMBER 2015.
