Medals for Six Bells Mining Hero

On the 21 October 1948, Arthur Bobbett from Aberbeeg risked his life to crawl beneath a fallen roof support at Six Bells Colliery to help rescue a fellow miner, Hubert George Light.  Despite pleas from comrades and superiors to desist, Arthur continued over 45 minutes to free the trapped Hubert.

According to an article in the London Gazette, Arthur was so exhausted he had to be taken home via ambulance.

Sadly within six weeks, Arthur was also killed by a roof fall in Six Bells Pit.

But his bravery did not go unseen.  Posthumously he received the Edward Medal for gallantry from the King, the Order of Industrial Heroism from the Daily Herald and a contribution from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust.

For the full story click below on the Abertillery Museum website.


http://www.abertilleryanddistrictmuseum.org.uk/bobbett.html

The Durham Mining Museum provides an account of these events from the London Gazette.

http://www.dmm.org.uk/galantry/z448.htm

Arthur Bobbett's medals are proudly on display at the Abertillery museum.

Abertillery Museum is full of interesting displays. Beware the lady scrubbing her front step, or the miner bathing in front of the fire. You may be able to scrub his back!

Look in the local press for details of interesting speakers.

No attribution could be found for this newspaper clipping. Should anyone have a problem with my
using it, it can be removed immediately.

People of Six Bells Miners' Memorial (sandstone)

Strange how information on public objects can disappear into the ether. I have been trying to learn the history of the sandstone miners'  monument sited at Six Bells. Not Guardian, but its predecessor, erected to commemorate the disaster on 28 June 1960 when 45 miners were killed in an explosion in'W' District. It is sited close to the Six Bells Colliery site, but not actually on it as the site had not been cleared.

Below I have included a few images  of the engravings on the memorial. They are disappearing due to erosion and, lichen, moss, etc. Do you know any of these faces?  Can you put a name to them?  If so, please add a comment to this blog, or call in to Ty Ebbw Fach, Six Bells and let them know, before the information is completely lost to the community.  There are twenty-eight in all which need identifying.

Prior to the Guardian project, in the late 1990's CADW was invited to check on this monument to see if it could be restored as erosion had taken its toll. Unfortunately ground water and weathering meant it could not be saved. It was this conclusion that started discussions on a suitable replacement memorial. 
The outline of the miner's lamp and the pit wheel are already heavily pitted and damaged.

On the side walls the artist has carved portraits of local people. I recently met a man walking his dog and he pointed out his portrait - a really excellent likeness. This started me wondering about the rest of the faces, who they are - and more about the piece itself. 

Showing the hillside position.

I will add to this article if I discover more, but these are the details so far.

It was erected by Blaenau Gwent Borough Council, probably around 1986/7. Two gentlemen played a major part, Paddy Burn and Jim Watkins, I believe both their portraits are carved here. 

The scheme was delivered by a Cardiff based artist by the name of Cassidy (not sure of his first name) He wandered the streets of 6 Bells sketching people that he met and designed them into the monument. (Some say he photographed people who passed the monument as he worked. 

There was an on going consultation process that lead to the final design and I think a time capsule was buried somewhere within the monument that captures all the background. 

The Community Council leased the monument and took over its maintenance for the 30th and 40th anniversaries, but it has since reverted back to the Borough Council.

Sandstone memorial with Guardian visible on the colliery site

http://www.pinterest.com/margaretgurney/guardian-six-bells/

Bravery in rescuing fellow miners

William Walters was awarded the Albert Medal of the Second Class by Queen Victoria in recognition of his bravery in rescuing fellow-miners trapped underground.  The medal raised £6,900 at auction last week.

The Abercarn colliery disaster of 11 September 1878, when 262 people were killed in an explosion, remains one of the worst mining disasters in British history.

With fear of another imminent explosion, rescue teams were withdrawn.  William was one of a nine volunteers who descended the two-mile shaft.

On 20 August 1879 the Guardian described the rescue:

"The men ... without hesitation descended the pit, and

although they discovered that fires were raging in the

mine and that the chances of another explosion were

considerable, they remained... not ascending the shaft

until they had satisfied themselves that no-one was

left alive below."

82 men and boys were crowded at the bottom of the shaft awaiting their escape to freedom, many severely burned. All were brought to the surface.

Reported by the South Wales argus on 9 July 2013 by Will Bain
01633 777242
wb@southwalesargus.co.uk
Twitter@ArgusWBain

Tom Arthur & Llanhilleth Miners Institute

Llanhilleth Miners Institute

I have been researching the Institute for a couple of years now, but always seem to have more questions than answers.   Here's one puzzle I have been working on, if anyone can help.

The Tom Arthur Conundrum

In the early 1900’s, Tom Arthur was a runner with Newport Harriers.   An international athlete, he won several international cross-country races, including one in 1906 at Caerleon.   He would have been a wonderful role model for the youth of his day.   He was later killed during World War 1.

Merlyn Neads, in the 1980’s, found a photograph of Tom Arthur at the Institute.   In a press article, he then requested information to confirm that this gentleman was a founder of the Institute.  I have no way of knowing if this information was ever forthcoming.

Both Blaenau Gwent and Llanhilleth Institute websites state that Tom Arthur opened the Institute in May 1906.   This seems unlikely as the miners at Llanhilleth Pit were on strike at this time.  The dispute ended later that year.

The South Wales Gazette reported the opening of the Institute took place in September 1906 with Theo. Jones, President of the Institute, and Dan Lloyd, the architect.   In 1904 the Gazette reported the stone laying ceremony, which took place in October of that year.   Many people laid stones, some on behalf of others.

Both articles are quite lengthy and detailed, but Tom Arthur is not mentioned in either report.

I would appreciate it if anyone reading this could clarify the involvement of Tom Arthur with Llanhilleth Institute ?

http://www.stilltydscommunitiesfirst.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=64