Cadeby Disaster Victim – Hewitt, Henry Richard

July 1912

Henry Richard Hewitt

Age 46, HM Inspector of Mines, Explosion 2nd ( Inspector ) Sheffield.

The loss of Mr. Henry Richard Hewitt, who was among the three Government Inspectors who were killed, will be keenly felt in mining circles.

Mr. Hewitt, who was forty-six years of age, was born at Swannick, near Alfreton, and was the son of the late Mr. John Richardson Hewitt, M.I.C.E.

In the month of March 1911, he took up his residence in Sheffield, on being promoted to the senior inspectorship of the Yorkshire district.

Mr. Hewitt leaves a widow and two young children.

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 13 July 1912

Simple Funeral at Ecclesall.

The interment of Mr. Henry Richardson Hewitt, aged 46, of Rustlings Road, Sheffield, who lost his life in the heroic effort to save the lives others in the disaster at took place yesterday in Ecclesall Churchyard.

The ceremony was extremely quiet and simple. Owing to the time and place not having been made public only a few spectators were present, but the high regard which was entertained for the deceased by those who were professionally associated with him was manifested the very large attendance of inspectors of mines and managers and others connected with the mining industry.

Only two carriages followed the hearse, and carried the following mourners: —Mr. C. R- Hewitt, Derby (brother), Mr. A. B. Hewitt. Chesterfield (brother), Mr. H. A. Hewitt, Derby (nephew), Mr. Vessey, Millhouses (nephew), Mr. W. Olorenshaw, Coventry (brother-in-law), Mr. W. M. Orme, Derby, Mr. B. D. Aspdin, Derby.

Many beautiful wreaths were sent.

Among those present at the ceremony were:— Mr. J. R. R. Wilson (H.M. Inspector) representing the Home Office.

Representing the Institution of Mining Engineers : Messrs. W. B. M. Jackson (Chesterfield), Jonathan Pigford (Loversal), G. H. Winstanley (Sheffield), Professor L. T. O. Shea (Sheffield), Professor E. W. Hardwick (Sheffield), Messrs. Charles Rhodes (Rotherham), J. Elce (Rotherham) J. G. (Derby), G. H. Lewis (Derby), W. H. Hay, and R. Laverack (Nottingham).

Representing the Midland Institute of Mining Engineers: Professor Hardwick, Mr. Jonathan W. Roe and Mr. J. Gill.

Representing the Midland Branch, National Association of Colliery Managers: Mr. R. Laverack.

Representing the Midland Counties Institution of Mining Engineers: Messrs. W. Hay (Shirebrook, past president), G. J. Bums, and G. A. Lewis (secretary).

Representing the Yorkshire Colliery Managers’ Association: Mr. F. H. Waterhouse, manager, Denby Grange Collieries. Representing the Leicestershire Collieries; Mr. Y. Hay, Whittick Colliery, and Mr. F. Tatham, Coal Orton Colliery, Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

The following H.M Inspectors of Mines were present: : Messrs. G. Poole (from the Home Office), J. R. R. Wilson (inspector in charge of the Yorkshire and North Midland Division), E. H. Frazer (Nottingham), C. D. Mottram, H. M. Hudspeth, W. Gawthorpe. Messrs. M. Fryar, Denby Collieries, Derby ; C. F. Ford, Mary Main Colliery, Derby; H. C. Jenkins, Mining Engineering Co., Ltd., Sheffield; T. Greensmith, managing director J. and G. Wells, Ltd., Eckington; H. Bnrgin, J. and G. Wells; M. E. Cottereli, Sheffield; H. E. Richardson, Sheffield; Robert Cuthbertson, general manager, Staveley Coal and Iron Co., J. Neal, Staveley Coal and Iron Co., Ltd.; T. Stubbs, M.E., Stubbs and Brown, Sheffield ; C. H. Heathcote, Sherwood Colliery Co., Mansfield; H. R. Watson, manager, Butterley Colliery Co.; G. Spencer, general manager, Mapperley Colliery Co.; J. Richardson, manager, Ireland Colliery, Staveley; W. Gainsford, Sheffield Coal Co.; C. W. T. Fincken, Rotherham; E. H. Barraclough, Aldwarke Main.

The wreaths were numerous. One from the National Association of Colliery Managers bore the following message; “In appreciation of services always willingly rendered in times of danger and difficulty.” Others were sent by J. Greensmith, Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield, Orme Hill, Mr. and Mrs. Hay, B. D. Upton. Mrs. Aspdin, “Mother, Florrie and Bertie,” Mr. and Mrs. Frank Oxley, Midland Counties Institution of Engineers, the directors of the Maltby Main Colliery, Maurice Deacon, directors of the Dinnington Main Colliery Co., G. A- and P. W. Lewis, Cissie and Will,” G. Olorenshaw and family, directors of the Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co., Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Hewitt, Mr. Vessey, Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Hewitt Mr. W. Gainsford, the Maltby Main Colliery Co., “Bertha and Bernard (“To him who gave his life for his fellow men.”).

The service in the church and the graveside was conducted by the. Rev. T. Houghton, Vicar of Ecclesall.