Finally managed to track down a photo of the man himself.

There's also this song by the Houghton Weavers (I detect some little pieces of The Little Piecer in this):


Coal Hole Cavalry

Early mornin' dreaming is shattered
One clitter clatter on't cobbles outside
Th'owd knocker upper's rat tattin' on't window
Makin' sure nobody's 'oer lied

CHORUS
Clitterin' clatterin' coal hole cavalry
Gallopin' rain or fine
Clitterin' clatterin' coal hole cavalry
Gallopin' down t'mine

Father yawnin' drizzle on't window
More clitter clatterin' comin down'thill
Stairs are creakin' th'oven doors bangin'
Father a'waitin' for uncle bill

CHORUS

Mam is fillin' his bottle wi' waiter
Clatter clitter clatterin' rattle on't latch
Clogs in't lobby and talkin' quiet
Arguing toss abeawt satday's match

CHORUS

Come on billy lad best get going
Clatter clitter clatterin' front door bang
Going deawn t' mucky owd coal pit
Hear t'pit hat and snap tin clang

CHORUS

Colliers ridin' a million horses
Clatter clitter clatter all over the word
Beggar off injuns cavalry's comin'
Picks and shovels and banners unfurled

CHORUS

Buzzer's blowin' out t'sound o't'victry
Clatter clitter clatterin's over and done
All goes quiet and sleep is comin'
I wish I was a collier it must be fun



Then it gets bizarre...

There was a UK TV advert for Mother's Pride bread in the late 60s, featuring Dusty Springfield singing the following ditty:

I'm a happy knocker-upper and I'm popular beside
'Cos I wake 'em with a cuppa ... and tasty Mother's Pride,
Then they're up in a flash and a rush (it's the bread)
And a dash and a push (it's the bread)
With a flash and a dash and a rush and a push (I can say it's the bread).
It's the Mother's Pride bread! It makes them love work!
They're going berserk to get off to work!
It's in the way I wake 'em by bringing to their side —
The bread (we freshly bake 'em!)....
Fantastic Mother's Pride!

Words and music by one Malcom Mitchell, ca. July 1968