1938 – THOMAS GEORGE YATES, Timber Drawer, 38

Thomas George Yates of 5 Poolsbrook Cottages, Poolsbrook left his widow Gladys  and five children Elsie, Alan, George, Ronald and Harold.  His father was also employed in the mining industry as a hewer.  He was buried in Brimington Cemetery.

Thomas George was commemorated on the 26th September 2018. The location of the artwork can be found in zone 5 on the trail map which can be downloaded here.

Family History Researched by Paul Burkitt:

Thomas George Yates was born in January 1900 in Brimington in Derbyshire. His parents were Thomas George Yates (1878 – 1960) and Isaline Bagshaw (1877 – 1923). Thomas George was a few months old when the 1901 Census was taken. The family were living in Brimington Common and his father was working as a coal miner. On the 1911 Census, Thomas George was 11 years and attending a local school. They were living at 164 South Moor Road in Brimington. His father was still working as a coal miner – hewer. Thomas George, married Gladys Smith in March 1919, when he was nineteen years of age. Gladys was slightly older. They had five children: Elsie, Alan, George, Ronald and Harold. Thomas George was 38 year old at the time of the disaster in 1938 and was living at 5 Poolsbrook Cottages in Poolsbrook. He was employed as a timber drawer. He was buried in Brimington Cemetery on 14 May 1938.

Two years after the disaster, the relatives of Thomas George placed ‘In Memoriam’ notices in the ‘Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald’

Treasured memories of a dear husband and father,

What would I give to see his face,

And see him smile again.

Never will his memory fade,

While our love does still remain.

 From Wife and Family. Poolsbrook.

“We’ve been lonely since he left us,

Home has never been the same,

All this world would be like heaven,

To have our father back again.

 From the boys.

Further information can be downloaded here:

Thomas George Yates

Thomas George Yates Family Tree

Further Information on the disaster.

Markham Colliery 1938 disaster

List of miners killed and injured in the 1938 disaster