Need help finding the following info out

[jon_hall]

A very good friend of mine is looking for some info.

Firstly does anyone know where i can or she can find out anything about a tunnel collapse (think one of the mersey tunnels) going back to the 1930's. Her granddad was trapped in one for several days.

And secondly who would keep info on infant deaths that might have been recorded in the 40's and 50's.

I'd assume central library and possible Merseytravel / Council for first and maybe me going to the wigwam personally to ask for help on the second, unless someone has better ideas.

Ta!

[PhilipG]

I've never heard of any Mersey Tunnels (road or rail) collapsing.

Infant deaths would have been registered, so if you know when they died you can find enough details in the Record Office on the 4th floor of Central Library to enable you to get a death certificate.

[jon_hall]

Yep appears to be a collapse in approx 1931/2 when it was being built.

So the central library might be the best place for both.

Ta!

[edwardo]

jon hall, please put your findings if any on here,this is new to me,I have never seen or heard of a tunnel calapseor.Love to see what you dig up.Ted

[Cadfael]

There is a small report in the book Underground Liverpool which says:

Digging the tunnel was a hazardous occupation and the work was hard and wet. Seventeen hundred men were employed and salt boils were common. No workman was allowed to work by himself but this did not stop casualties and, in all, there were nineteen fatalities. When one of the workmen, Bert Jones, was killed by a falling rock, his workmatees took the day off without pay to attend his funeral.

It would be only natural that there would be collapses at some point without the modern machines and health and safety - I wonder if the nineteen men have been recognised by a plaque or something?

[Walden]

This site might help it has some links on it here (http://www.tunnelusers.org.uk/history.htm)

http://www.tunnelusers.org.uk/images/wowe.jpg

[jon_hall]

Will post up anything i can as and when.

It's something personal for my friend due to the fact it is her family, so not sure if i could or would post everything, but will take things as i see them if she is happy with it.

[marky]

There is a plaque giving details of those who died during the construction of the Mersey tunnel. It's visible from the small car-park (the Goree)

JOSEPH BONNER 26th July 1926 Aged 26
JOHN JOSEPH McNULTY 17th September 1928 Aged 29
JAMES HERBERT BROWN 29th November 1928 Aged 18
JOHN WILLIAM BLAKELEY 7th July 1929 Aged 34
JOHN McNICHOLAS 13th September 1929 Aged 55
HENRY FRANCIS GARRETT DE MOUL 28th September 1929 Aged 25
JOSEPH COLLEGE 11th December 1929 Aged 62
JAMES MICHAEL WILMOTT 27th December 1929 Aged 42
JOHN CARBERRY 24th March 1930 Aged 26
ALBERT WHITE 27th November 1930 Aged 42
ALFRED PITMAN DUKE 16th July 1931 Aged 45
HENRY DENTITH 15th September 1931 Aged 24
PATRICK JOSEPH DURR 29th September 1931 Aged 33
THOMAS ARTHUR BECKINGHAM 16th May 1933 Aged 57
JOHN CARR 14th July 1933 Aged 23
JAMES GREEN 14th November 1933 Aged 22
DONALD LESTER 15th September 1934 Aged 24


THIS MEMORIAL WAS ERECTED AS PART OF
THE QUEENSWAY TUNNEL DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO DIED DURING
ITS CONSTRUCTION.
WORK ON THE TUNNEL WAS COMMENCED
ON 16TH DECEMBER 1925 AT THIS SITE
BY
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCESS MARY
AND THIS GREAT FEAT OF ENGINEERING
WAS OPENED AT OLD HAYMARKET ON
18TH JULY 1934
BY
HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE V

[marky]

Mersey Tunnel Memorial (17 names)

[jon_hall]

Cheers for that Marky, might take a wander in the morning to have a look.

[chippie]

Very interesting item brought up there mate thanks

[skgogosfan]

The one I remember reading was a collapse in Dale St. when it was under construction. I think it was in the "Liverpool Transport" series of books,due to the disruption caused to the trams.

Dave.