b. ? 1882 Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. d. ? 1948 Doncaster, Yorkshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 31/05/1917 Askern Main Colliery, Doncaster, Yorkshire.
Thomas James was born in 1882 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the eldest of four children of James White. Little is known about his mother other than she had passed away prior to the 1901 Census. James White was a general labourer but had enough income to be able to pay for a servant. By the time of the 1901 Census the family were now living in Liversedge, Yorkshire. Thomas had become a miner and in 1904 he married Emily Pickles at St Peter’s Cathedral, Bradford. By the time of the 1911 Census, Thomas and Emily were living in South Kirkby, Yorkshire and they had two daughters, Margaret and Florence Mary. As mining was a reserved occupation, he chose not to enlist in the Armed Forces for World War I, hence why he was at Askern Main Colliery near Doncaster at the time of the accident on 31st May 1917. Little is known about his life following the award of the Edward Medal. He died in Doncaster, Yorkshire in 1948, aged 66.
EM CITATION:
On the 31st May, 1917, an accident occurred at the Askern Main Colliery, Yorkshire. Two men were trapped by a fall of roof weighing about thirty tons, and extending over an area of about 160 square feet — one of them completely buried near the edge of the fall, and the other was partially buried and severely injured. Eight of their fellow-workmen were soon on the spot, and after working bravely for two hours succeeded in releasing both men alive. All the four men recommended for medals ran considerable risk, for a space of two hours, of being buried by further falls, and, had it not been for the presence of mind and self-sacrifice, their two comrades would certainly have lost their lives. Taylor and Stokes were exposed to the greatest danger, and displayed special initiative.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
