1938 – Bradford, John Henry
1938 – JOHN HENRY BRADFORD, Ripper, 46
John Henry Bradford of 16 North Crescent, Duckmanton, was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire. He had been employed as a miner at Markham Colliery for twelve years, and he was one of those who helped in the rescue work at the explosion which occurred at the colliery the year before. He was keenly interested in sports and had been a goalkeeper for the Sutton Junction team. On Christmas Day 1915, John Henry married Annie and had a daughter Joyce, Annie later died aged thirty-one years. Walter then married Mary in 1924 and had a son Harry. He left his widow and two children. He was buried at Duckmanton.
John was commemorated on 29th May 2019. The location of the artwork can be found in zone 18 on the trail map which can be downloaded here.
Family History Researched by Paul Burkitt:
John Henry Bradford ( 1892 – 1938) was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire. His parents were John Bradford (1867 – 1948) and Mary Ann Robson (1868 – 1917). His father was from Alfreton and his mother was from Grantham in Lincolnshire. On the 1901 Census, John Henry was living with his parents on Leabrooks Road, which is a road between Somercotes and Leabrooks. His father was employed as a coal miner – hewer. On Christmas Day 1915, John Henry married Annie Robbins (1892 – 1923) in Blackwell, Derbyshire. Their only child, Joyce Bradford (1916 – 2006) was born the following year. In 1923, at the age of 31, Annie died and was buried in Blackwell Cemetery. In 1924 he married Mary Jane Wright (1905 – 2001). John Henry and Mary Jane had a son, Harry, in 1925.
In 1933, John Henry was a witness at the inquest of Harold Morpus (28), who was severely injured by a roof fall at Markham No 1 Colliery and later died at Chesterfield Royal Hospital.
John Henry was killed at Markham Colliery on the 10thMay 1938, when 79 men died. He was employed at Markham Colliery as a ripper. The family were living at 16 North Crescent at the time of the accident. His wife, father and son were still living at the same address on the 1939 Register. His daughter, Joyce, had married Robert Grierson in 1938, and they were living at 62 North Crescent, Duckmanton in 1939.
Derbyshire Times 13th May 1938
Bradford, 16 North Crescent, Duckmanton who was 46 years of age, was born in Somercotes. He had been employed as a miner at Markham Colliery for 12 years, and he was one of those who helped in the rescue work at the explosion which occurred at this colliery last year. He was keenly interested in sports, and had been a goalkeeper for the Sutton Junction team. He leaves a widow and two children.
More information can be found here.
Further Information.
Markham Colliery 1938 disaster
List of miners killed and injured in the 1938 disaster
List of miners killed in the 1938 disaster who were buried in Duckmanton
