"HOW many miners died in the Pretoria Pit disaster - 344 or 343?" was the headline on one of my stories a few weeks ago.

It followed details from a Mrs Florence Rogers, of Bicester, Oxfordshire (and forwarded to me by Ernest Ford, of Esther Fold, Westhoughton) who said that one of the dead was her grandfather, Walter Woodward, who had not been a miner, but a signwriter, and was on a job down the pit for only an hour or so yet died in the explosion.

Now Brian Clare, of Park Road, Westhoughton, an authority on the subject who gives talks on the disaster, has written to say that Mrs Rogers' details are incorrect.

To prove this he has sent me information obtained from documents and records of the casualties, and also from compensation documents from the Hulton Colliery Co. to his widow Alice Woodward. Walter Woodward was not a signwriter, but a company joiner," writes Brian. "His only son Percy, aged 18, was also killed in the explosion, and left behind were Walter's widow Alice, aged 44, and seven daughters aged from eight months to 16 years. The family lived at 487 Leigh Road, Westhoughton.

"Walter's Tally No. (Pit Number) was 890. His was the 41st body to be recovered (on Christmas Eve, 1910). He was found on the Spur Wheel. Walter and his son Percy were identified by Walter's brother, Robert Woodward, of 500 Leigh Road, Westhoughton.

"The cause of Walter's death was given as explosion and gas. On his body was found a knife, keys, tin of tobacco (chewing, not smoking!), and a watch and chain.

"Next to Walter was found the body of Orlando Gerrard, 170 Church Street, Westhoughton, (Tally No. 889) who was a colliery fitter. His body was identified by his father Samuel Gerrard.

"Both Walter and Orlando were members of the maintenance staff at the colliery, and would be below ground to measure up for required equipment which would be made in the joiners' and fitters' shops, and would be taken below ground later for assembly to the requirements of the engineer in charge.

"Percy Woodward (Tally No. 1152) was the 305th body to be recovered, on January 3, 1911. He was a Dataller (a below ground labourer employed on a day basis). His injuries and cause of death were due to a gas explosion and a fractured skull."

Mr Clare concludes: "I hope that this information will clarify the matter for Mrs Rogers, whose cousin and family still live in Westhoughton."