A MEMENTO of the area's worse pit disaster has resurfaced and tells the story of a hero.

Brenda Hutchinson, 74, wanted to find out more information about a medal given to her grandfather, who was one of the rescuers in the 1909 West Stanley Burns Pit Disaster.

Mrs Hutchinson has contacted The Advertiser after learning of our campaign to mark the mass burial graves of 54 men and boys who died in the pit explosion which killed 168.

Mrs Hutchinson remembers her grandfather, miner John Smiles, having the small medal on his watch chain. It was then passed on to her father and she now wears it on a necklace.

The inscription on the medal bears the name J Smiles and the name of the man who presented it, P Joice.

However Mrs Hutchinson has no idea about the role her grandfather or the rescue team played in the disaster.

She said: "I remember my grandfather having the medal but I don't remember him or my father ever talking about it. I don't think men really talked about such tragic things in those days. However I'd really love to know more to pass on to my family."

The Advertiser has been able to tell her of the rescue of 26 men and boys including the legendary hero of the disaster, Mark Henderson.

Mr Henderson, whose great niece Wendy Haydock lives in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, made sure the men and boys stayed in a pocked of uncontaminated air.

Earlier, seven other members of the group had made a run for it, but each had died.

Another miner, 14-year-old Jimmy Garner, whose legs were crushed, died as his comrades sang the hymn Lead Kindly Light.

Mr Henderson kept his nerve and, after 14 hours entombed in the mine, left to raise the alarm. He then went back and brought out a small group of the men to a point where the rescue team could easily find them.

He made that journey, passing the bodies of his workmates, another five times.

One of the survivors was Frank Keegan, the grandfather of former Newcastle United player and coach Kevin Keegan.

For information about the appeal or to pass on information to Mrs Hutchinson, telephone Chris Webber on (01642) 675678.