1938 – CLARENCE HILL, Belt Hand, 29

Clarence Hill was a native of Calow and had recently moved to Bonds Row, Barker Lane, Chesterfield.  He had been employed at Markham Colliery since he was thirteen years of age.  William Hill was one of the first volunteers to help with the rescue.  ‘He stumbled across a body and found it was that of his brother Clarence’.  Speaking later he told how his brother Clarence nearly missed the shift that night because his baby had the whooping cough and thought he would give his wife a rest, but in the end he decided to go because they needed the money.  He left his widow, Louvain, and baby daughter Doreen.  He was buried at Boythorpe

Clarence was commemorated in July 2020. The location of the artwork can be found in zone 10 on the trail map which can be downloaded here. You can watch a short commemorative film here.

Researched by Local Historian Sandra Struggles:

William Hill of 4, Edward Street, Staveley was one of the first volunteers to help with the rescue. “He stumbled across a body and found it was that of his brother Clarence”. Speaking later he told how his brother Clarence nearly missed the shift that night because his baby had the whooping cough and thought he would give his wife a rest but in the end he decided to go because they needed the money. He was buried at Boythorpe.
He left his widow, Louvain, and baby daughter Doreen.

Derbyshire Times 13^thMay 1938

Clarence Hill, who was killed is a native of Calow, where he lived until recently, having only just moved into his present home, Bond’s Row, Barker Lane, Chesterfield. He had been employed at Markham Colliery since he was 13 years of age. He leaves a wife and one little girl.

Further Information

Markham Colliery 1938 disaster

List of miners killed and injured in the 1938 disaster

If you have any information to contribute to the research please contact us.