Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 01 August 1942

Prison For Shirker

For absenting himself without reasonable cause from Barnburgh Main Colliery, Herbert C. Ellis (28), collier, of Goldthorpe, was at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court on Tuesday sent to prison for three months.

Prosecuting for the Ministry of Labour and National Service, Mr. W. L. Crawford said it was an extremely bad case. After attempts had been made to get Ellis to work regularly he was medically examined.

He complained that he was only getting about five hours sleep a night and that he was a ” bit liverish.” In January last Ellis was fined £10 in that court and he had been interviewed five times and fined by the Pit Production Committee. He ignored letters from the Ministry of labour, but eventually said he thought the work was too much for him. As a result he was medically examined and found to be perfectly fit for work. In 26 weeks up to June 27th, Ellis had been absent 54 shifts out of 84.