Maltby Pit Disaster of 1923

The Kings' Message

The following message was received by the Manager of Maltby Colliery:

The King and Queen are very distressed to hear of the disastrous explosion, and are anxious to learn any particulars of the condition of the sufferers.

Colonel Lane-Fox, M.P., Secretary for Mines, sent a telegram from Tadcaster expressing sympathy with the relatives and asking for further news.

Later a further official statement was issued:

As a result of deliberations held today it has been decided to erect certain stoppings close to the pit bottom with the object of, at some future date, which it is hoped will not be far distant, being able in safety to reopen the majority of the workings in the mine. These stoppings will be erected by volunteers from the official staff of the colliery.

About 2,500 men were out of work for an indefinite period, bad news for the village which had a population of 13,000 wholly dependent on the Maltby mine.

It was suggested that at the very earliest, three or four weeks would elapse before the colliery could be reopened. continued »