Lot 895
A PRESENTATION S/GILT KEY & A SCARF FROM THE POW's VISIT TO WHITEHAVEN 1927.
Original photographs of the visit of the then Prince of Wales, on Thursday 30th June 1927. Sent to the manager of the Whitehaven Colliery, Mr W H Johnson by the Daily Express, etc. His original copy of the Official Programme for the visit, to the Borough of Whitehaven.
A cased silver-gilt key presented to his relative, when opening cottages for aged miners at Whitehaven.
'Presented to Mrs Mary S S Johnson, on opening the Monkwray Cottages, April 29th 1926'. On the other side, 'Whitehaven Collieries Employees Aged Miners Homes, Assocn. Weight 39.2 grams.
Mr Johnson is photographed with the Prince of Wales and others, in the mine workings. Some are duplicated, by enlargement (39) others are original postcards (10) of the visit.
A chequered scarf presented by the Prince of Wales to Mr Johnson, is with the photographs and a souvenir miniature of the Prince.
A letter from the Daily Express to W H Johnson Esq, The Whitehaven Colliery Co Ltd, 51 Duke Street, Whitehaven. 'Dear Sir, Will you kindly accept the enclosed photo of the Prince of Wales as a miner, with the editors compliments'. Yours faithfully, Eva Morris, Secretary.
Later disasters included the loss of 104 lives in 1947.
Walter Lyulph Johnson was born in 1872, he died in October 1938. Residing at Arncliff Hall, Middlesborough. He had been since 1924 a Deputy Lieutenant of the County.
A Former Director of Bell Bros Ltd, later after amalgamation a Director of Dorman Long & Co Ltd. Also a Director of the National Benzole Company. Aged 66 years.
Among the victims of the 1922 Disaster where he had gone below ground to help in the rescue attempts, were a father and two sons. (George McCreadie and sons Robert aged 19 and Gordon aged 17). The area was devastated by the loss of life, including residents from numbers 3-4-16-22-29-30 Thwaites Ville. Another father identified his son and a resident of his home (Army Huts), when recovered. Two brothers William 21 yrs (recently married) and Jackson Sparks 19 also lost their lives. The Reverend F K Fell of Holy Trinity Church, had his student son home to experience mining underground, before taking a Managerial Post above ground. Douglas Fell was killed in the disaster, whilst undergoing a short stint experience.
The mine closed in 1986, with the loss of 3,500 jobs. In 1922 and 1927 the Mine was owned by Lord Lonsdale.
