William Browell Charlton

William Browell Charlton (1855 – 30 January 1932) was a British trade union leader.

Photo of W.B. Charlton taken in 1907, when giving evidence before Royal Commission.

Charlton was born at Burnt House, just west of Chester-le-Street, in County Durham. He began working at Edmondsley Colliery when he was eight years old, and then later became a boiler fireman at Littleburn Colliery. He qualified as a winding engineman in 1874, and worked in this role in a variety of mines around the county.

On March 9, 1875, at 20 years of age and with his occupation listed as brakesman, he married (after banns) Mary Green age 19 years, spinster, daughter of John Green, overman at Littleburn Colliery in the parish church at Brancepeth, in County Durham. Both parties residing at Littleburn Colliery.

On November 12, 1882 his wife Mary gave birth to Robert Charlton at 143 Front Street, North Brancepeth Colliery, Brandon, Brandon & Byshottles, UD, their only son to survive until adulthood. W.B. Charlton's occupation at the time is listed as brakesman.

After the marriage, he was employed at Seaham Colliery and later Hetton, when he was elected as the representative of the township on Durham County Council. After periods at Usworth and Hamsteels, he returned to Littleburn in 1894 and took a lively interest in the public affairs of that district. He was the first chairman of Brandon Urban Council, his contemporaries being William Willis, Mr. William Green and Mr. Samuel Galbraith, and was one of the pioneers of the Brandon Co-operative Society. Brandon Urban Council a.k.a Brandon and Byshottle Urban District Council.

Mr. Charlton's connection with the Durham County Colliery Enginemen and Boilerminders' Association began in 1878 when he was elected by the Hamsteels Lodge as delegate to the council of that body. He soon became an ardent trade unionist, and was selected by his fellows for high office, which he carried with dignity and restraint, always exercising an independent judgement on the great issues that cropped up from time to time. In 1889, upon the death of Joesph Routledge, Mr. W. B. Charlton, who had represented the winding enginemen on the executive committee for the twelve months previously, was, at the annual meeting of the delegates, elected president to succeed Mr. Routledge. For four years he was president of the Association, and succeeded in the treasurership Mr. Thomas Hindmarsh when that gentleman was killed at Birtley in July 1893, the result of a fall from the cylinder top while at work. The executive committee resolved that the Chairman, W. B. Charlton, act as Treasurer in place of theIr deceased comrade until the end of the year. At the Annual Meeting following, Mr. W. E. Nicholson, of Ferryhill, who had served on the Committee at various periods, was elected President, and Mr. Charlton, Treasurer.

In 1893 Messrs. W. E. Nicholson, W. B. Charlton and W. H. Lambton were appointed as the chief officers representing the enginemen on the County Federation Board.

AGED MINERS' HOMES

In 1899, the first Aged Miners' Homes were opened, at Haswell, by the late Dr. Westcott, Bishop of Durham. Many laboured in this noble and Christian enterprise, but no name will ever be so cherished and hallowed in this connection as that of Joseph Hopper. A "toiler in the dark" himself, he was a true believer in the democracy of the home and the empire of the hearth. He realised the tragedy of a homeless old- age, and, out of this, conceived the great ideal which he lived to see materialise, and in the hundreds of cottages, erected over the country for these aged workers, stands the eloquent monument to his courage and vision. It was an ideal but, like most ideals, so lofty in its aspiration that it met with the censure and criticism of the public and press, and even of those men who should have stepped forward with help to make it practicable. But Joseph Hopper was a man with the courage of his convictions, and by the sheer, dogged force of his personality, swept difficulties and doubts aside; sustained failure after failure, without losing heart or faith until, with the assistance of the, then, Canon Ede, the late John Wilson, M.P., Henry Wallace, W. F. Hall, John Johnson, W. B. Charlton and others, he started a voluntary scheme, which resulted in the opening of the hundred and twelve homes and gardens at Haswell.

STRUGGLE FOR SAFETY

On June 25, 1901, W. B. Charlton addressed a select committee of inquiry formed to examine the proposed Steam Engines and Boilers (Persons in Charge) Bill. The bill never passed although it had much to recommend it. It asked that there should be instituted a system of granting certificates of competency to all persons intending to take charge of steam engines and boilers. Every person before taking charge of an engine should pass a properly constituted board of examiners. Attention was drawn to the frequency of accidents arising from incompetency, a thought which inspired the promoters of the Bill all along, but opposition was invariably raised, with the result that it never passed beyond the second reading, and it reached that stage on no fewer than five occasions. At varying intervals the Bill was piloted in Parliament by Mr. Broadhurst, the late Mr. John (now Lord) Morley, when Member for Newcastle; Mr. William Crawford, of the Durham Miners' Association; Mr. John Wilson, Mr. Charles Fenwick, Mr. Thomas Burt, and many other gentlemen prominent in the northern industrial world. No body of men ever worked more energetically in behalf of a parliamentary bill and none had worse luck and greater disappointment. A Select Committee on this Bill was held on Tuesday, June 25th, 1901, under the Presidency of C. B. Renshaw. Unfortunately the finding of the Committee was against the Bill. I can do no better here than quote from W. B. Charlton's Presidential address to the National Federation Conference at Cardiff in May, 1902:-

"We moved for efficiency in 1875, and in every succeeding year, until this present, we have all along urged the Government to authorise a gauge of fitness and efficiency by having proper tests applied to all persons seeking to manage engines and boilers. To minimise dangers, risks, and liability to accidents arising from boiler explosions, and from over-running of machinery, has ever been our aim; also to have a reasonable guarantee that the persons whom we are compelled to teach the art of winding men and minerals into and from our mines, and the doing of critical work with engines about factories are at least not physically incapacitated for such work, that they have good eyesight and good hearing, and are mentally fit to be trusted with the management of valuable machinery and the care of human lives."

"This Federation has succeeded in pressing the Bill, making such tests compulsory, through the second reading in the House of Commons six times. At last Conference we were all on the tip toe of expectancy, for the Bill had been relegated to a Select Committee of Inquiry. Select it was, it was composed of 10 members, seven of whom were opponents of the Bill; three were favourable. That this was the Government's mode of shelving the question we have no doubt."

""What we cannot understand in this is that a Government, professing such a true regard for the social and industrial well-being of the people, should so stubbornly oppose this object. They cannot be suspected of having less regard for the lives of the workers employed in and about the mines and factories in this country than the Govern- ments of Australia, Victoria, Africa and in many of the mining States of America, from which mining centres we have the most satisfactory results reported of their tests by examinations and the granting of certificates of efficiency.""

""Whatever may be the mind of the Legislature on this important matter, there can only be one mind for us, and thus is a larger quantity to-day than ever in the past; no less than I7,000 men connected with the steam practice of the country are here represented. That one mind for us is unanimity of action in pressing our Engine and Boilers Certificate Bill until it is on the State Books of the nation.""

""Not only at our Annual Conferences is this desirable, but in all our Chief Councils, in every Lodge in the Federation the rank and file of our men ought to be induced to make this their central aim, members in every constituency ought to approach their Parliamentary Members, and urge, and urge, until it becomes the law of the land. A true regard for the lives and limbs of our fellows demands it. We hope that no side issue will be allowed by you to in any way belie our pretensions or jeopardise the chances of the Bill ever becoming law.""

Before this ill-fated Bill finally drifted into the archives of the past a Royal Commission on Mines was held in July, 1907, and there were present the following: Lord Monkswell (Chairman); W. Abraham, M.P., F. L. Davis, Enoch Edwards, M.P., Thomas Ratcliffe Ellis, John Scott Haldane, F.R.S., Robert Smillie and S. W. Harris (Secretary). W. B. Charlton attended to give evidence as a representative of the National Federation of Enginemen's and Boilermen's Association of Great Britain.

Statement of Witness: 228I9.

(1) The evidence I wish to give will be confined to: What steps could be taken for the better prevention of accidents from winding and haulage.

The Federation of Enginemen's Associations have for 25 years urged that for the better prevention of accidents from winding and haulage, the Government ought to force all persons before being placed in charge of engines, to give evidence of their fitness by test to eyesight, hearing, that they have no mental or bodily infirmity, that they are of good moral character, and have a practical knowledge of the construction of engines, and that they have had a period of preliminary training in some kindred employment, thus preventing accidents like the following:-

(2) An inquest was held on the death of William Hutchinson, miner, Hummerbeck Colliery, Durham, in April, I906. In the verdict the jury expressed the opinion that the person in charge of the engine was not a capable brakesman.

(3) I attach a copy of regulations enforced by the Durham Enginemen on all persons seeking membership and it is generally admitted that such stipulations, as are here given, have resulted in a very efficient staff of winding and haulingmen being employed in the County of Durham. The enforcement of those regulations rests with the Enginemen's Association, and sometimes much friction and bad feeling is created between the management and the enginemen. We urge that the Government should claim to be satisfied as to the fitness of persons placed in those important positions.

In spite of the evidence, no further action was taken by the Government. I take this opportunity ot reprinting the following letter received afterwards : -

"NATIONAL FEDERATION OF ENGINEMEN'S AND BOILER-MEN'S PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATIONS. November 9th, 1907. Dear Mr. Charlton,

Your evidence was splendid, and does the Federation credit. The attacks were shrewdly and adroitly made, but were equally shrewdly and adroitly answered. One thing stands out most prominent, is the fact that the whole of your answers were straightforward, no attempt in anyone instance to resort to subterfuge.

I shall notice this in another place.

Kind regards, C. HEARSE."

The ultimate findings of the Royal Commission on Mines, if it did not secure the complete legislation we sought, certainly moved a step in the right direction. In their report relating to the prevention of accidents I make the following quotations : -

UNDERGROUND HAULAGE. General Rule 24, 2nd clause of the Coal Mines' Regulation Act, 1887, requires,

• That persons in charge of any engine, windlass, or other machinery, by which persons are taken up, or down, or along a shaft plane, or level under- ground, shall be competent male persons, not less than eighteen years of age.
• They agree with the Committee in thinking that this rule should apply in every case whether persons are being conveyed or no.
• In the case of Mechanical Haulage, they think persons should be altogether prohibited from riding on the sets.Haulage ropes like winding ropes should be systematically re-capped at least every six months.
• That in future Boilers underground should be discouraged.

WINDING ENGINES.

• Several witnesses considered that the brake power on engines should in every case be sufficient to hold a loaded cage in any part of the shaft without the application of the pressure of steam against the engine.
• The attendance of Banksman and Onsetter should be required so long as there are anyone in the mine.
• In order to secure the safety of persons riding in the shaft, the Commissioners think they should be prevented as a general rule from entering the cage except at one level. The use of Keeps should be made compulsory.
• Where there are mid intakes, the practice of stopping the cage to allow men to enter, or get out, should be avoided as far as possible.
• They agree with the Committee in thinking that riding with, or against minerals, or gear should be prohibited.
• They agree with the Committee in thinking that the principal signals should be uniform throughout the Coal Field, and that the signals should be communicated simultaneously to the engineman and banksman.
• They agree with the Committee that it is desirable that winding engines should be separated from other machinery which has no connection with winding, thus preventing the windingman's attention being distracted.

ROLE as UNION SECRETARY

Upon the death of their Agent, William Henry Lambton on September 21, 1905, the Durham County Colliery Enginemen and Boilerminders' Association chose W. B. Charlton as Secretary of their union in the Spring of 1906 when a good deal of unrest and dissatisfaction prevailed among the members. In his first quarterly report Charlton said:

""Our Agenda to-day gives evidence of considerable unrest among Enginemen in this country. The complaints, underlying the motions seeking changes, are affecting conditions, forced by unscrupulous managers taking advantage of individuals, pressing them to accept terms other than those suggested by agreements. . . . . There is no new way in dealing with the elements that war against right. In all this, let every man know that duty is his highest law, and only in the fulfilment of that duty by individual members can we hope to right those wrongs. The effective power of unionism is proportionate to the quality of the unionist, and the strength of an executive lies in the vigour of the body it represents. . . . . . The aspect of trade is much brighter. . . . . .The It per cent. advance recently obtained is, I believe, only the forerunner of further advances. . . . . So far as I have been privileged to move amongst our men, I am sorry to find a thorough want of sympathy with, and a faith in, each other. There is some- thing approaching class variance with us, and until we let class and sections sink in the common interest we shall be the weaker in our efforts. Now let me appeal to you for the solidarity of our united effort and cause, to come together hand in hand and heart to heart, then we shall know our- selves better, others will know more of us, and have a higher respect for such a compact. It is the isolation among us that is giving licence to the unscrupulous.""

HIGHLIGHTS

• Eight Hours Bill - In 1907 the Enginemen's Association came into conflict with County Federation Board (of which they as representatives of enginemen belonged) over the issue of an 8 hour working day. An article in the Northern Echo outlined the basis of the disagreement, stating, "Is it not absurd, in the first place, to expect Enginemen and Miners to agree on the Eight Hours question in the circumstances which obtain in Durham? The adult Miner works from 6 to 7 hours per day; the working day of the Engineman is usually 12 hours. The Enginemen are, of course, strongly in favour of the shorter day; the Miner objects to the Bill because he is told that his day's toil would be increased to eight hours. Is it not placing too great a strain upon poor human nature to expect that the minority will always be prepared to allow the majority to have its say unchallenged? The position has not been made more acceptable to them by the fact that they have not only been out-voted but ignored. Very little was heard of the existence of any opposition from any section until the Englnemen, wisely we think, decided to make their own views public." -- By the exercise, however, of forbearance on both sides agreement was finally reached, and when the Bill finally came before the House it was with extreme delight we learned that the Durham Miners had requested their Members of Parliament to vote for the Bill. The Bill finally came on to the Statute Book in July, 1909, except in the Northumberland and Durham areas, where it commenced to operate in January, 1910. The result was in favour of our Association, the Home Office finding that the men concerned were due to eight hours as provided under the Act, instead of nine and a half hours, as was insisted upon by the Coalowners' Association. The Act was regarded as a humanitarian measure in regard both to the toilers above and below ground.
• Wage Agreement - In 1907 new agreement was entered into between the Durham Coal Owners' Association and the Durham Enginemen's Association in the September of 1907. The agreement outlined the new base wages for winding enginemen (4s. 4d. per day), underground hauling enginemen, steam and electric (from 4s. to 4s. 6d., and for locomotive enginemen at bank from 3s. 9d. to 4s. 3d., according to the work to be done, and the skill necessary for such work, except in such cases where the management is able, owing to the less important character of the work, to employ boys or unskilled workmen). With respect to enginemen at bank (surface enginemen working main and tail rope hauling engines hauling underground 4s. per day), enginemen at pumping, fan, air compressor, and electric generating engines (3s. 11d on the understanding that the present practice as to men attending to more than one class of work shall continue, and except in such cases where the management is able, owing to the less important character of the work, to employ boys or unskilled workmen), for enginemen working in connection with jiggers, belts, crushers, and apparatus (3s. 6d. per day), boiler minders (3s. 9d.per day). That the overtime shifts for enginemen shall be at the rate of 8 hours for all special shifts, excluding time worked during their regular hours and that occupied while taking the place of a marrow for his ordinary shift. That the higher percentage be paid to boiler minders and enginemen working in connection with jiggers, belts, crushers, and apparatus. That free houses or rent allowance be granted to all bona fide enginemen and boiler minders who are married householders.
• Workmen's Compensation Act - In May, 1908, we secured for Durham County a concession from the Secretary of State for the Home Department, under the Compensation Act of 1906, for the Enginemen's and Boiler Minders' Association. The agreement covered minimum compensation for non-fatal accidents and provision for an Arbitration Committee comprised of three Members of the Durham Colliery Owners' Mutual Protection Association, and three Members of the Durham County Colliery Enginemen's and Boiler Minders' Association, and the Presidents and Secretaries of the two Associations be appointed to consider and determine any matters under the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, arising out of either fatal or non-fatal cases between members of the Associations, and which may be brought before the Committee by or on behalf of either Association; if deemed desirable in any case, the Associations may also be represented by their Solicitors in addition to the Members of the Committee named above.
• Eight Hours Agreement - In connection with the passing of the "Eight Hours Act," an agreement was made between the Durham Coal Owners and the Durham County Colliery Enginemen's and Boiler-Minders' Association. The agreement spelled out some of the finer details of the Act including no individual who is now working less than the maximum provided by the Act shall have his hours increased in consequence of the change. That the Owners will agree to continue the present basis rates of wages to those enginemen whose hours are reduced by the operation of the Act. That the Enginemen's Association and their members shall at all times give every facility for the training as Enginemen of any men who may be nominated for that purpose by the Manager of the Colliery. And that the rates of wage arranged for the underground Enginemen shall not in the future be used as an argument in support of an advance of wage to any other engineman. A further agreement was reached in June 1910 with the Owners relating to the payment of Rent allowance in lieu of Colliery Houses.
• Old Age Pensions - on New Year's Day, 1909, the Union witnessed the coming to pass of a measure which had been the debate and dream of labour-men for years-namely the Old Age Pensions, which enabled all our old members who had established their claims, to draw their first week's pension. This was again a great step forward in industrial progress, but it was only born as the result of years of hard fighting.
• New Mines Bill - At the Quarterly Delegates Meeting in March, 1911, a protest was made against certain provisions made the New Mines Bill, but, on the other hand, certain phases of it could only be met with hearty commendation. For instance, it provided that a Steam Boiler shall not be placed underground in any new mine or seam after the passing of the Act. It would have given a needed relief if the clause had prohibited the working of boilers in all mines after the passing of the Act, as few people know the cruelty to nature, firing underground boilers means. The raising of the age at which persons may be placed in charge of any apparatus, worked by mechanical power on underground haulage, may do some little to lessen the number of hauling accidents causing death and injury. The Act proposed making signals uniform throughout the Coalfield and would make it easier for Winders changing from pit to pit. The constant use of keeps and attendance of persons at the top and at every entrance to the shaft would kill a practice which had furnished many blood curdling startles; the cry of a man set bye in the shaft, men getting out of the ascended cage when the Engineman only knew of men going down, too often had these unpleasant experiences come in the working shift of Winders. The clause, providing that there shall be one or more brakes of sufficient power in themselves to hold the loaded cage in any part of the shaft, would be welcomed by many of our members in this County; the anxiety of a man trying to keep the cage still while men are getting in and out at a seam, by cushioning the piston as his judgment of the varying weight dictated; if there was a time for sweating we believe this was it. It provided that every engine used for winding shall be completely separated by a substantial partition from every other engine used for that purpose and from machinery used for any purpose. Efficient control and management depends so much upon the close and undivided attention of Winding Men to signals, to alarms, and to every beat of the engine's stroke when running, in order that any signal, alarm, or irregular movement indicative of danger may have immediate response. These with other minor clauses would move from the Winding Man's vocation much anxiety and embarrassing feelings. Omissions in the new bill which had been sought included closing loopholes in the required attendance of winding-men for the purpose of lowering and raising persons into and from the Mines. It was also seen as a deficiency that Winding-Men's Certificates where not made mandatory. The ruling on this left the standard of fitness and efficiency entirely with the manager; saying it is nobody's business, except the employers, to say whether a person is competent or not.

Misc.

Having served as treasurer and then president before, in 1905, he was elected as secretary of the union. He was also politically active, winning election to Durham County Council in 1903, and later also becoming the chair of Brandon and Byshottles Urban District Council.

Charlton was keen on the creation of retirement homes for miners, and was involved in the Durham Aged Miners' Homes' Association. He also chaired the Durham County Mining Federation Board, and the National Federation of Colliery Enginemen and Boiler Firemen, spending a short period in the 1890s as general secretary of this organisation.