Commemoration ceremony for the mining accident at Radbod colliery !

On November 12th in 1908 one of the most severe mining accidents in the history of the German hard coal mining industry occurred: 350 miners died at Radbod colliery in the suburb called Bockum-Hoevel of the city of Hamm (Germany). Two days after the firedamp explosion it could be seen that the fire that had developped underground could not be extinguished so that the entire colliery was flooded with water from the river of Lippe. Most of the victims could be brought to the surface more than one year later after that the water was pumped out of the colliery again, but 13 miners found their last resting place about 700 metres under the surface.

It is quite sure that the reason for this accident will never be found out. In the early 20th century the working conditions were very hard and the safety regulations very bad. Those who tried to change this situation had to take serious consequences: About 5.000 miners were on a so called Black List, i.e. none of the owners of a colliery in the entire Ruhr area would ever employ them.

It can only be guessed, but perhaps the victims at Radbod colliery saved the lifes of other miners: After the accident the unsafe petrol lamps have been forbidden and they were replaced by much safer electric lamps. Maybe other severe firedamp explosions have been avoided in that way.

The commemoration ceremony at the memorial site in the Ermelinghof Street in Hamm (Germany) took place on November 12th in 2008 - and by that exactly 100 years after the mining accident. Lots of guests came at the sunset of that day in November and a cold wind blew over the memorial site. The corresponding speeches, the songs of the choires, the music of the miners' band and the smell of the torches created a very special mood. The song "Ich hatte einen Kameraden" ("I had a companion") also caused that the about 300 people taking part in the ceremony have got goose pimples during the laying of the wreaths. If you discover yourself in one of the pictures and if you do not want the photo to be published here, please send me an e-mail.

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The memorial site in the city of Hamm.

It is also dedicated to seamen.

The names of all seamen are shown here.