South Yorkshire Times July 30, 1954
Brave Cadeby Deputy
Posthumous Award of Queen’s Commendation
The posthumous award of the Queen’s commendation for Brave conduct to Mr Arthur Sidney Lawrence (49), of Lesley Avenue Conisbrough, a deputy at Cadeby Main colliery, was announced this week. By his bravery in holding up the roof in the Barnsley seam last March he saved the lives of two workmates.
A fellow employee, Mr. Bernard James Hampton, of high Woods Road, Mexborough, and Mr Peter Williams, of Fibeck Street, Denaby, got clear when a stone in the roof moved. Mr Lawrence was however unable to get away himself and was caught by the fall. He was completely paralysed and died in Doncaster Royal infirmary four days later. He left a widow and family.
At the inquest, the agent of Denaby and Cadeby Main collieries, Mr John Halford, said : “he died as he always lived – he tried to do what was right.”
A Coal Board spokesman said that this week: “To Lawrence this was a routine job. He died doing his job and upholding the best traditions of the miner and of the underground official.”
Lawrence had worked at Cadeby colliery for 32 years – all his working life – and has been a deputy for 16 years.
At the funeral, the biggest in Conisbrough for many years, there were 22 cars and coaches in the cartage and 150 walking mourners. Many of them was miners.