South Yorkshire Times, September 19, 1942

Changed Their Minds

Barnburgh Main Men

Agree to Work Down Pit

For failing to comply with a direction of an officer of the Ministry of National Service that they should work underground at Barnburgh Main Colliery, Frank Calladine (20) and Wm. Dunstan (19), of Mexborough were each fined £2 at the Doncaster West Riding Court on Tuesday

Mr. W. L. Crawford, prosecuting said the cases were similar. Defendants had worked on the screens at the colliery and orders that they should go to work as haulage hands underground followed a recommendation of the Pit Production

Committee. Calladine worked for a few days and then failed to attend. When interviewed, he said “I can’t stand the pit because of my health. I want to go back to the screens.”

The chairman, Mr. Mark Nokes said the Bench were compelled to deal with the defendants if they did not obey the direction. He asked Calladine if he would go to work.

Calladine replied. “I can’t work down the pit. If I could I would certainly go back.”

In reply to a similar question Dunstan said: “No. I’m not going down the pit.”

The magistrates decided to send the men to prison for three months each. Defendants then changed their minds and said they would work in the pit as ordered. The Bench then imposed