"Lest we forget" eh?
I went to school in Hucknall, a Nottinghamshire (ex) mining town. Many of my class mates went on to become miners themselves, following their dad's and grandads down t' pit. One class mate was involved in the rescue at the Bilsthorpe Colliery disaster in about 1994 (I think).
It was hard, thankless work especially in our ancestors time, crawling on their bellies in hot, dangerous and claustrophobic conditions. Apart from the obvious and often imminent dangers there are the long-term health risks of lung-disease and white-finger etc.
A place well worth a visit is Eastwood's (Nottinghamshire) Mining Museum. There are also links with DH Lawrence who ran to collect his dad's wages on pay day.
Thanks to miners for all their sacrifices.
Michelle