Death of a Boy
The very modest memorial headstone adjacent to the roadside in St Oswald’s churchyard was placed there in 1896 by Robert Benjamin and Anna Mary Shaw in memory of their son Harry.    This young man who was only 14 years of age was killed in a tragic accident at Foxholes pit on 30th July that year.     Engraved on the headstone is the simple message  ‘Thy will be done’.
Little imagination is required to figure out that Robert and Anna  were by no means wealthy, the fact that their son Harry had taken employment at the pit certainly confirms the view that the family had experienced or been near to hardship throughout their lives.
The grief and distress at the loss of their son must have driven those parents to have a headstone placed to his memory totally out of proportion to their means  and indicates the great sacrifice made by  them for this memorial.  In many ways it is one of the biggest memorials in the churchyard.
The incidence of coal mining disasters during the 19th and early  20th centuries are well documented, what may be less well remembered were the individual accidents which occurred with equal certainty and effect during these times.
Examination of records produced by researchers from Sheffield University regarding mining fatalities from 1860 to 1914 add much more to the tragic loss of Harry Shaw.
During the 20 year period from 1881 to 1900 there were 13 fatalities at Foxholes 3 of which were to workers of 15 and under.
 During the same period 3 men died in accidents at Savile Colliery and 1 at Methley Junction, a total of 17 - almost one death per year in the coal mines in this village.