Miners and World War 1

In Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding districts thousands of miners lived and worked at the outbreak of the so called War to end all Wars (1914-1918).

Miners were divided into two sections, one half were in Europe fighting and getting killed and wounded in the trenches, the other half were still in Great Britain fighting for their rights through the Union and still being killed and maimed down the mines. To their wives and families hob nail boots sound the same whether they are marching to War or to the Pit. The women wait at home not sure if their men folk are coming back alive or dead.

Eileen Paddock and John Lumsdon have been researching these powerful stories. Read more.