South Yorkshire Times October 25, 1947
The Three Musketeers
Amputated Limbs, Fractured Back
Their Price in Battle For Coal
All battles result in many casualties and the battle for coal is no exception.
A “South Yorkshire Times” reporter visited Montagu hospital this week and interviewed three of the many colliery casualties in the surgical Ward there. There are many grumblers nowadays but these men who have a real reason to grumble had not one complaint to make. Three men occupy adjoining beds. Two have lost a leg and the third has a fractured spine.
Mr Ernest Wignall (42) 12 Greenwood Rd, Kilnhurst was injured by a fall of stone at Kilnhurst colliery. He has been in hospital for about 17 weeks with a fractured spine and fractured thigh.
He is married and has one child. This is not the first time Mr Wignall has been in hospital as a result of a colliery accident. In May 1946 he was hit by steel prop at Kilnhurst colliery and was admitted to the hospital with head injuries. Mr Wignall has worked at Kilnhurst colliery all his life with the exception of five years at Manvers Main.
Next to Mr Wignall was 24 years old Jack Robinson 41, Chapel Lane, Thurnscoe East.
Mr Robinson is married and lives with his parents, Mr and Mrs J W Robinson. Seven weeks ago one of his legs was badly crushed at the shaft side at Hickleton Main Colliery. The leg was amputated after the hospital staff had fought a fortnight to save it. Mr Robinson has been at Hickleton Main colliery since he left school and this is the first serious accident has been involved in.
Asked how he received a deep scar on the finger on his right hand he replied, “Oh, I trapped my finger, but down the pit we think nothing of doing that.” Mr Robinson’s final comment was “It’s a good job there are places like this.”
“Earned his Keep.”
In the third bed was the secretary of Mexborough Allotment Society, Mr H Goodlad (60), 62 Harlington Rd, Mexborough. After the nurse on duty arousing from a contented sleep it was revealed that he had “earned his keep” because over £400 has been contributed while he has been secretary of the Montagu Hospital Show Committee.
This is the first time he has been off work as a result of an accident in 47 years at the pit. He was stood on a conveyor belt hanging telephone wires in the Haigh Moor seam at Manvers Main Colliery five weeks ago when the belt started to move and his leg was pushed between the belt and the frame of the machine. He has one leg fractured and the other amputated.
Mr Goodlad is married and has two children and his daughters husband Mr Francis Nash, who is Mr Goodlad’s assistant as foreman wire man at Manvers Main, and was working with him when the accident happened. “Everybody has been good to me and we are enjoying ourselves here,” and Mr Goodlad.
The men in the ward having a merry singsong now and again and Mr Goodlad plays the piano which is next to his bed. Newspapers are delivered every morning and the men enjoy their cigarettes.
These men are heroes, often unsung of the fight for “Black Diamonds.” They do not regard themselves as such, but to the ordinary man in the street in this district their courage and fortitude is an example worthy of a place on the industrial roll of honour.