West Stanley Colliery Disaster Badge
This scarce badge is belived to have been commissioned by the Southmoor Police Service, County Durham in c.1994/5. The badges were sold to raise funds for the erection of the "West Stanley Colliery Disaster Memorial".
The huge explosion at West Stanley Colliery (also known locally as the Burns Pit) on 16 February 1909 claimed the lives of 168 men and boys and was one of the worst pit disasters ever to occur in the Durham Coalfield. One of the local Mines Inspectors, Frank Keegan, was acclaimed a hero for his part in rescuing 26 men from the wrecked mine workings. Many years later Frank's grandson (Kevin Keegan) was also to become a local and national hero in his own right as both an England football player and later the team manager.
A fund raising and colliery disaster commemorative badge. Actual size 20 mm by 13 mm. Badge has a stud & pin type attachment mechanism (picture courtesy of John Soppitt).