b. 07/01/1901 Hanley, Staffordshire. d. ? 1961 Staffordshire.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 17/01/1935 Hanley Colliery, Staffordshire.
Albert was the third of at least six children born to James Thomas and Hannah Maley (nee Adams), on 7th January 1901 in Hanley, Staffordshire. His father was a miner, and from a young age, Albert followed in his footsteps and became a fireman at his local pit, Hanley Deep. In February 1919, Albert enlisted with the North Staffordshire Regiment on a Short Service Attestation. In the summer of 1921, Albert married Mary Jane Hulme in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, and they had two daughters, Joan (born 1924) and Joyce (born 1927). Little else is known about Albert’s life following the Second World War.
EM CITATION
On the 17th January, 1935, a fall of roof occurred at Hanley Deep Colliery, North Staffordshire. Tom Harrison, a collier, was knocked down and his legs and feet wore fastened. He was saved from fatal injury in two further falls by a steel prop and bar which were placed over him by another worker. After rescue operations had proceeded for some considerable time it was found that the only way to release the imprisoned man, apart from amputation, was for someone to work his way alongside him under the fall and scrape the debris away with his hands, passing it out piece by piece. The space was so small that only a man of slim build could undertake the task and in doing so he had to lie prone over the imprisoned man. Mr. Bennett, the colliery manager, and Albert Maley carried out this extremely dangerous work. Maley, with the aid of a pick, managed to set Harrison free after he had been imprisoned for about 6½ hours. Bennett was present most of the time and Maley for 4 hours. During the latter stages the rescuer had to lie under the fall with his head beside Harrison’s feet. Another fall while he was in such a position would probably have proved fatal to the rescuer.
BURIAL LOCATION: UNKNOWN.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
