Medical Appeal Tribunal case file for William Smith, aged 53, Coal miner at Renishaw...

Date of birth: 16/03/1903
Marital status: Married
Address: Elfryn bungalow, Clifton Avenue, Barlborough
Type of injury: Injury - back
Description of accident: Slipped and fell
Further information: Chronic bronchitis - discharged from army 1945'. A 1948 accident involving a roof fall is noted and led to a 5 per cent life award at appeal on 1 June 1951. Letter from Smith May 1951 was written from the Government Training Centre, Leicester. A claim for industrial dermatitis was turned down in September 1951. orthopaedic opinion June 1953 : 'I do not think the injury in 1950 did anything more than cause a temporary exacerbation of arthritis'. File includes letters from Smith early 1957 from 13 Bonchurch Street, Leicester 'on the advice of Mr Barnett Janner, MP' outlining a worsening of the arthritic condition and stating no NCB compensation had been received since 1952 and requesting help in an appeal; 'Since my accident my home has been Broke up [...] the Blame is due to these accidents'. Smith's final letter includes: 'I am very sorry that in this time of trouble and need of help and assistance you decide that you cannot do this after all the years I have been a member of the Miners Union'.