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Coal powered much of Britain's war effort during World War One - with the country's mines working to produce enough to power factories, trains, homes and ships.

In North Staffordshire, around 50 mines were producing coal, including the Minnie Pit in Halmer End. On 12 January 1918, 248 men were working in the pit when there was an explosion. Eleven men died from the explosion itself while 144 died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The captain of the mine rescue team died later that month because of faulty equipment during the rescue attempts. Of the 155 who died, 48 were under the age of 17.

It was decided that all of the men who died should be recovered but, because of the gas in the mine, it took 18 months before the last body was removed. They were taken to the Methodist Chapel in Halmer End which served as a temporary morgue and funerals were held over the course of several months after the explosion.

An investigation into the disaster finally concluded that it was almost certainly down to a faulty safety lamp which caused an explosion of gas and coal dust.

The mine closed several years after WW1 and now all that remains is the concreted-over pithead in Halmer End. Nearby are memorials to the disaster and those who lost their lives.

Location: Minnie Pit, Halmer End, Staffordshire ST7 8AA
Image of the Minnie Pit on 13 January 1918 after the disaster
Photograph courtesy of Newcastle Borough Museum and Art Gallery

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