The Latcham family and the Montagu Pit Disaster
Thomas Alfred Latcham Jr lived on Norwich Street in Benwell. He was only 14 when he was killed in the Montagu Pit Disaster on the 30th of March, 1925. He was the son of Jane Latcham who is also buried at St John’s Cemetery in Elswick.
The tragic story of the pitmen can be heard in the poem ‘Gone to the Lord’, which is written and performed by John Thomas White, living relative of the Latcham family. John has also written a poetic tribute to his great grandmother, ‘Jane Latcham, 1887-1960′.
The Latcham family and the Montagu Pit Disaster
Thomas Alfred Latcham Jr lived on Norwich Street in Benwell.
He was only 14 when he was killed in the Montagu Pit Disaster on the 30th of March, 1925.
The tragic story of the pitmen can be heard in the poem ‘Gone to the Lord’,
which was written by John Thomas White, living relative of the Latcham family.
Remembrance of the Montagu Pit Disaster,
30th of March, 1925
By John White
Gone to the Lord they are, men, boys as fit props fell
Tunnels submerged. Not even foul air to breathe
Gases, tepid waters merged
Torrid tidal waves of wretched filth
No look for these lads
They the right to dig King Coal from muck
But not in ground, so unsound, no plans or maps to see
Greed of owners pushing their might with glee
Gone to the Lord they are, too far to reach
Men of cloth they do preach
As families at pit head they wait
Too late, for the thirty-eight poor souls are gone
As one by one taken to hearse they are
Then down so silent streets save for sobbing wives
Mothers, sisters, children, small
It’s them that bear such pain, such cost as well
Damn the owners all to hell
Gone to the Lord they are. Men, bairns, the mate
Ninety years past since ‘High Monty’s’ loss
Went the lads through Heaven’s gate
God bless him. History does not forget them yet
Gone to the Lord they are
Jane Latcham 1887-1960
By John White
As a bairn, I sat on my Great Gran’s knee.
She was born in the Victorian age,
I learnt of her grief, her son sat on her knee-
Thomas Latcham, age fourteen
died in the Montagu Pit disaster,
a monument raised in Elswick Cemetery,
her story sustained my politics,
it’s the red banner for me.
