People Australia

Marshall, Arthur (1907-1983) miner and trade union official

Birth: about 1907 at Beamish, Durham, England, son of Joseph Marshall (1873-1936), mine hewer, and Mary Ann, née Johnson, late White (1876-1966). Marriage: on Boxing Day 1929 at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Fairy Meadow, New South Wales, to Emma (Amy) Appleby (1903-1991), who was also born at Durham, England. They had one daughter. Death: 14 December 1983 in his usual residence at Shoalhaven Heads, NSW. 

• Began as coal miner at age of 14 in 1920 in West Stanley district of County Durham.
• Arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, aboard the SS Diogenes on 12 April 1926. Lived and worked in Victoria and then in Portland, NSW. Worked at Mt Pleasant mine, on the NSW South Coast from 1928 until 1930, when the mine closed. Was unemployed for two years during the Great Depression.
• Secretary of the Unemployed Movement in Balgownie and during Depression became interested in left-wing politics. Gained work at Old Bulli mine, NSW South Coast from 1935 to about 1941.
• Moved to Corrimal mine, NSW South Coast, until 1954, when he was elected secretary of the NSW Southern District. Undertook work as Compensation Officer while in district secretary position. Retired in 1966.
• Treasurer of the Corrimal miners’ lodge for twelve years.
• Cause of death: myocardial infarction, ischaemic heart disease, pneumoconiosis and chronic bronchitis.

Sources
Common Cause, 29 October 1966.