Dear Alan
I am doing some family history and would like to find out some more details of my Great Grandfather’s death at Shipley Colliery which is listed on your website as:

9-Jan-1922 George Arthur Wright 48 Shipley Crushed by wagons on surface.

I have found an article in the Nottingham Evening Post dated Monday Jan 23rd 1922 giving some details from the inquest but wondered if a more detailed account exists and if so where I might search for it.

I remember my Grandfather giving a moving talk on his 80th birthday about how as a young man of 21 he was called to his father’s bedside after the accident, and how after his father’s death he had to take over as the head of the house.

Any assistance would be appreciated.

The Nottingham Evening Post, Monday, January 23, 1922

"TO THE DRESSING STATION!"

FATALLY INJURED SHUNTER’S ORDER TO DRIVER

SAD SHIPLEY COLLIERY CASE.

Mr A. N. Whiston, coroner, held an inquest at Ilkeston Hospital today, on George Arthur Wright, who died in the hospital on Thursday last. Mr W. S. T. Hantley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, was present and Mr R. H. Ferens, manager, represented the Shipley Colliery Company.

George Wright of 83 Nottingham Road, Ilkeston, clerk said deceased was his father, and was a foreman shunter employed at Shipley Colliery. He was 46 years of age. He met with an accident on January 10th, whilst at work, and witness saw him in the hospital the same afternoon. His father told him they were shunting some full wagons of coal on the Nutbrook sidings, and he was struck by the locomotive and knocked under the wheel of the last wagon of a train just released.

Harry Garley, an engine driver at Shipley Collieries, said that on January 10th, at 8 a.m., he was in charge of an engine, and had been down the G.N. No. 2 for more waggons. Deceased gave him the signal to go. Then he heard a shout from his guard.  When deceased gave him the signal he was standing between No. 5 Midland and No. 2 G.N.  He appeared to stand clear of the engine. When he heard his guard shout witness at once applied the brake.  They got deceased on the engine and ran him to the dressing station.  Deceased practically jumped on the engine himself, saying “Dressing Station; my arms off”.

CAUGHT BY THE ENGINE

Frank Latham, 87 Loscoe Road, Heanor, said he was a shunter at Shipley Collieries. On January 10th he was with the last witness when the accident happened. Deceased had given the signal for them to proceed, standing with his back to them at the time.  He was standing in the centre of the six-foot, and was clear a few seconds before they reached him. He then appeared to be leaning forward, when the corner of the engine frame caught him at the back of the left shoulder. It flung him round and he fell downwards.

Dr. J. J. Tobin said he saw deceased on admission to hospital. He was examined with the X-Rays.  The injuries were a fracture to the left shoulder joint, the upper arm being smashed, including the collar bone and shoulder blade. The forearm showed a compound fracture of both bones of the forearm. He was suffering so severely from shock that amputation could not be carried out at once.  He continued in a critical condition, and on the day he died witness amputated the forearm, the easier operation of the two. Wright lived about three hours after the operation.

The cause of death was shock, as a result of the injuries. But for the operation the deceased would have died from septic poisoning.

The Coroner said it was a very sad death, but there could be no doubt it was purely accidental, and no blame whatever was attached to the driver of the locomotive. His verdict would therefore be one of “Accidental death.”
Mr Ferens, on behalf of the Shipley Colliery Co., expressed sympathy with deceased’s widow and family.