RESEARCH by amateur historians together with the family archives of readers of The Northern Echo is beginning to reveal the final resting places of those who died in the area's worst mining disaster.

Archivists at Durham County Council were shocked to discover that the graves of just 128 boys who died in the Stanley Burns Pit disaster of 1909 appeared to have been recorded, even though 168 people died in the explosion.

Now, it seems that the names of a number of men and boys have been found on gravestones in Stanley, although they were never recorded.

Three others have been confirmed as buried elsewhere in County Durham, even though all but one of the dead were given addresses in Stanley and the immediate area at the time.

One of the three not buried at Stanley was George, or Jack, Gittins, who was recorded as Gittens at the time.

The 30-year-old was living at Hilda Street, Stanley, on the fateful day of February 16. But the father of four's family home was in Low Garbutt Street, Shildon, in the south of the county.

His great-grandson, Keith Gittins, lives in the former railway town.

He said: "I saw the article about the lost graves in the Northern Echo and thought, 'well, I can help with one straight away'.

"We have even got a memorial card and postcard of him. The funeral cortege actually left from the street where I live, in Freville Street, and he is buried at St John's.

"As well as his children he left a wife, my great-grandmother, Lizzie, who carried on living in Low Garbutt Street until 1964. She brought up the children and never married again."

Meanwhile a Stanley amateur historian, who did not wish to be named, has located two of the other men's graves.

Thomas Short, 18, whose address was given as Manx Street, Stanley, was from Ouston, Chester-le-Street, but is buried at nearby Pelton.

George Bowers, sometimes recorded as Bowes, was living at Wood Street, Stanley, at the time of his death, but was buried at Sacriston, near Durham City.

The Northern Echo has launched a widely-supported campaign to have the victims' final resting places marked with a simple tribute.

But first we will work with others to establish as far as possible exactly who lies in the trenches in the old council cemetery, behind St Andrew's Church, Stanley

Anyone with any information, or who wishes to support the campaign, is asked to call (01207) 282719.

For further information, visit the Internet website at thisisthenortheast.co.uk/news/campaigns/memorial