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Charlie Atfield (1909-1988) - Mineworker, Rothbury Colliery. Recorded 19 April 1988. Part 1/1.

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SummaryCHARLIE ATFIELD
Recorded 19 April 1988
Part 1/1

0:33
Charles Raymond Atfield.

Born 1909 in Moruya – “state school boy”. Now aged 79.

Moved to Branxton at the age of nine.

1:18
Recalls being given gold watch on retirement – presented by Mrs Miller at the Bowling Club – all dated 1970 for 30 years of service.

Began working in mines at age 16, 1924.

First started work at Old Rothbury Colliery.

3:05
Dick Thomas – manager at Merewether’s mine.

First job was as "jigger boy" – but they complained about him.

Recalls starting driving pit horses – No 4 Level down the pit.

4:02
Distance between "levels".
"Thistle", "Shamrock" (name of jigs) – he liked dog watch
Number of tunnels, Rothbury – haulage and travelling tunnels.

5:59
Number of pit horses, Rothbury – 6 in No 4 then 3 at No 2 and 2 at No 3.
Horses pulled nine skips at a time.

Coal was brought out to main headings and the clippers clipped it on to the endless rope.

Used "endless rope" haulage system – there were 9 boards when you went up the jig. Hand wheeled – no horses.

Recollection of old workings in pit – cut throughs.

8:42
Recalls electrical generators being burnt in the engine room when Miller owned the mine.

Mr Peacock, pit-top boss.

Description of long steam-powered boilers – Charlie was put in at Christmas time to “scale them out” – to clean them.

He went back to work at Cwmdu Colliery after the Lock Out.

10:38
Recalls working at No. 6 tunnel – they had the “gator” – taking the horses down by cage. Taking six horses and returning to the top at the end of the day.
Recalls how No. 6 coal was mined – tipped straight into the gator.

Bill Hartcher – electrician in his 70’s.
Method of loading coal on trolley.

Horses were kept in pit top stables.

15:16
Ventilation of No. 6 tunnel – propeller fan.

Recalls pit horses staying underground – there were horse stalls down there and when they brought them back up they were blinded by the light. The travelling road went right down to 4 level not to 5th level. There was a small mines union when Miller started. He had a mix of men - some Federation, some outsiders.

Number of miners, No. 6 tunnel – about 70.

18:21
Miller opened up Ayrfield. Charlie retired in 1970.

There were horses still be used when he retired. Recollection of coal lorries.

Recollection of Rothbury coal washery. Bill Hartcher made a small washery. The best went straight went into the wagons.

21:52
Obby Butler – Charlie’s mate, still working at Rothbury.
Bede Kelly.
Recollection of the Lock Out period –“just waited around”.

23:54
Coal shaker was driven by steam.

Recollection of "pit whistle" at Rothbury – the whistle would blow in the morning 5.45am if there was work.

24:27
Recalls brick chimney stack, Rothbury – had been there as a boy.
Rothbury dam originally built by convicts - gravestone.

Alf Skinner – ostler tells the story about the boss of the dam building returned from town drunk one Friday– and he killed the “nigger” with a bullock whip. There’s a brown headstone there.

26:09
Harold Russell owned the saw mill.
The house was shifted from Elderslie Road. Original location of house at Branxton but it had to be moved because they were going to build a road. The road in this area was always flooded.
Recollection of Branxton floods.

28:45
Kenny Hartcher (Bill’s son) electrician – Ted Peters, a pit worker.
Recalls signage on Hebburn - A.A. Co. wagons.

29:47
End Last edited by: Dave Trimble

SubjectCoal mines and mining-- New South Wales -- BranxtonRothbury Colliery (N.S.W.)Ayrfield No. 3 Colliery (N.S.W.)Atfield, Charles Raymond, 1909-1988 Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

PersonJack Delaney Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Depicts or Relates To"Obby" Butler Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Ken Hartcher Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Bede Kelly Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

CreatorAtfield, Charles Raymond, 1909-1988Delaney, Jack, 1919-2010CollectionVoices of the Hunter Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Date Created19th April 1988Location^[1]Rothbury Colliery, NSW Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

Identifier405B Last edited by: lyn.keily@newcastle.edu.au

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