Timeline of mining accidents in south wales/Avon valley

Afan / Llynfi Back
1890
1891
1892
1897
1900
1901
1905
1911
1914
1920
1921
1927
1932
1934
1942
1946
1947
1952
1954
1988
1990
1964
1965
1966

South Wales Back
1890
1892
1893
1896
1899
1905
1907
1909
1913
1923
1927
1929
1932
1937
1941
1955
1956
1960
1962
1965
1966
1971
1894
1929 : 2

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Front Page1890
Morfa Colliery, Taibach
The Morfa Colliery was well known to be a very gassy mine. In 1863, 30 miners had been
killed in an explosion and in 1870, 38 miners had died in another explosion.
In the early hours of Tuesday 10th March 1890, when about 250 miners were working below
ground there was another violent explosion. Those who made their escape did so only after a
long and painful struggle. Everyone was so weak that as men fell insensible they had to be
abandoned. Even the rescue parties suffered casualties. In total 87 Miners lost their lives,
only 42 bodies were recovered.
Locked safety lamps were in mandatory use and after the disaster members of the
exploration party examined every safety lamp found near bodies, all were in a safe condition
except one lamp that had been unlocked and they believe this caused the explosion.
In the glass cabinet there is a hatchet head from the incident labelled: Item 1
Death Roll

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Front Page1890 Death Roll Back
William Barras Manager 75 Body not recovered
Griffith Bevan Collier 27 or 32 Taibach Body not recovered
Daniel Brownsell (or
possibly Brownsill)
Explorer 36 or 40 Constant After Damp, cardiac failure
Daniel Buckley Pumper 29 - Firedamp, Burns
John Buckley Pumper 35 - Firedamp, Burns
William Henry
Clathurthy (Clatworthy)
Pumper 18 Morfa Firedamp, Burns, both arms
fractured
Thomas Daniel Airwayman 29 - Body not recovered
James (or John) David Collier 42 or 40 Bridge Row Body not recovered
Thomas David Repairer 46 or 47 Bridge Row Fire Damp, Burns
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Front Page1890 Death Roll
David Davies Repairer 33 or 35 Gwarrycaeau Body not recovered
Ebenezer Davies Collier 31 or 36 Miners Row Body not recovered
Meridith Davies Collier 31 Constant Body not recovered
Thomas Davies Hitcher 19 or 20 Stone Row Firedamp, Burns
Evan Eley Collier 37 or 40 White Row Firedamp, Burns
Edward Ellis Collier 37 or 40 Chapel Row Firedamp, Burns
Edward (Ted) Floyd Collier 25 or 32 Constant Body not recovered
William Francis Collier 28 or 34 Taibach Firedamp, Burns
Daniel (Dan) Griffiths Collier 40 or 42 Stone Row Body not recovered
John Griffiths Collier 42 or 52 Gwyncaeau Body not recovered
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Samuel (Sam) Griffiths Collier 50 Stone Row Firedamp, Burns
Evan Hedley Repairer 30 or 40 Kenfig Hill Body not recovered
Bethuel Heycock (Haycock) Haulier 19 Bridge Row Afterdamp, Aspyxia
David Hopkins Haulier 48 or 52 Incline Row Firedamp, Burns
Thomas Hopkins Collier 51 or 53 Brick Row Body not recovered
John Hopton Haulier 24 - Body not recovered
Samuel Howells (Howell) Collier 46 Panymach Body not recovered
William James Collier 35 Constant Body not recovered
William James Collier 40 or 41 Stone Row Body not recovered
Frederick William Jenkins Greaser 16 Brick Row Firedamp, Burns
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Daniel John Collier 57 Bridge Row Firedamp, Burns
David John or Manney Jones Collier 50 or 52 Aberavon Firedamp, Burns
John Jones Collier 26 Taibach Body not recovered
Joseph Jones Collier 52 Bridge Row Body not recovered
William Jones Collier 35 or 40 Constant Body not recovered
William J. Jones Hitcher 18 Taibach Firedamp, Burns
Thomas Kemp Haulier 19 - Firedamp, Burns
Patrick (Pat) Kennedy Pumper 46 - Firedamp, Burns
David King Collier 33 or 38 Miners Row Body not recovered
Benjamin (Ben) Lewis Collier 28 or 40 Stone Row Body not recovered
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John Lewis Collier 33 or 38 West End Body not recovered
Simeon (Sim) Lewis Collier 27 Taibach Afterdamp
Thomas Lewis Collier 42 or 40 Goitre Body not recovered
William Lewis Collier 34 or 36 Brick Row Firedamp, Burns
William Lewis Collier 45 or 46 Goitre Body not recovered
John Leyshon Repairer 35 or 40 Taibach Firedamp, Burns
Thomas Leyshon Collier 30 - Body not recovered
Thomas Leyshon Collier 46 or 48 Stone Row Body not recovered
William Leyshon Collier 49 or 50 Constant Body not recovered
Richard Lucas (Lewis) Haulier 36 or 40 Taibach Body not recovered
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Noah Mandry (Mainwaring) Collier 34 or 50 Cwmbrombil Body not recovered
Thomas Mandry (Mainwaring) Collier 45 - Afterdamp
David Matthew (Matthews) Collier 28 or 30 White Row Body not recovered
Thomas Miles Collier 47 or 48 Penycae Firedamp, Burns
Evan Morgan Signalman 20 or 21 Brick Row Firedamp, Burns
Evan Morgan Collier 33 Taibach Body not recovered
John Morris Overman 46 or 47 Morfa Firedamp, Burns
John Morris Collier 46 or 44 Stone Row Fire Damp, Burns
John Nichols (Nicholls or
Nicholas)
Airwayman 62 or 65 Salt Lake Body not recovered
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John Henry Nicholls
(Nicholas) Junior
Collier 28 or 29 Taibach Firdamp, Burns all over
body
Thomas Oats (Oates) Junior Collier 20 Brick Row Firedamp, Burns
Henry Parker Labourer 44 - Body not recovered
Alfred Phillips Collier 40 Brick Row Body not recovered
John Pippin (Peppin) Collier 34 or 39 Brick Row Body not recovered
David Price Haulier 32 or 36 Tanygroes Firedamp, Burns
John Ready Repairer 50 or 58 Aberavon Body not recovered
David Rees Ostler 40 Groeswen Firedamp, Burns
Lewis Rees Collier 40 or 42 Brick Row Body not recovered
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David Richards Collier 35 or 36 Stone Row Body not recovered
William Scott Collier 29 or 31 Gibson Firedamp, Burns
William Taylor Junior Haulier 15 - Firedamp, Burns
Evan Thomas Collier 37 or 34 Cwmbrombil Body not recovered
Joseph Thomas Collier 50 Penycae Body not recovered
Thomas (or William) Thomas Collier 30 or 32 Margam Body not recovered
James Tippott (Tippett) Haulier 16 or 17 Taibach Firedamp, Burns
William Vanstone Collier 31 or 32 Penycae Body not recovered
Isaac Walters Collier 49 or 50 Taibach Firedamp, Burns
Joseph Weeks (Hicks) Hitcher 20 or 26 Aberafon Firedamp, Burns
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David Williams Collier 46 or 49 Stone Row Body not recovered
David Williams Hitcher 19 Stone Row Firedamp, Burns
Henry Williams Repairer 66 or 70 Aberafon Body not recovered
Isaac Williams Collier 47 or 50 Constant Body not recovered
Joseph (or James) Williams Repairer 16 or 32 Taibach Firedamp, Burns
Thomas Henry Williams Collier 31 or 36 Brick Row Firedamp, Burns
David Wyld (Wild) Roadman 40 - Firedamp, Burns
Thomas Yorwerth (Yorath) Haulier 33 or 38 Taibach Body not recovered
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Front Page1891
Scattern, Blaengwynfi
On the 30th September, eight of the Shaft Sinkers were killed when the bonk they were in
over wound.
An inquest was held and a verdict of accidental death was recorded. The mines inspector at
the time made the following comment:
“My opinion was, and still is, that the engine man had his attention taken off his work for a
moment by the entrance of his mate to relieve him. While raising the bonk with the men in
it, he allowed the bonk to ascend too far before shutting off the steam and appling the break.
Discovering his mistake he lost his head and over wound the bonk. I believe that the
machinery was in perfect order.
This mine closed in 1926
Death Roll
William Carpenter 45
William Evans 51
Humphery Jenkins 28
James O’Conner 35
Thomas Thomas 28
William Thomas 35
Dan Thomas 32

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Front Page1892
Avon, Aber/Blaengwynfi
The pit was sunk between 1877 and 1882 by Sir. Daniel Gooch, the chairman of the Great
Western Railway.
The decision to sink the pit came about upon the completion of the Bridgend to Blaengwynfi
branch of the Great Western Railway. The chairman, Sir. Daniel Gooch, decided to supply its
locomotives with coal from his own mine.
Like all mines there were accidents every year resulting in the deaths of miners, and this is an
example of one year.
Death Roll
May Edward Hughes 21 Run over by drams
July Isaac Jenkins 45 Roof Fall
November David Simeon 21 Roof Fall

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Front Page1897
Garth, Maesteg
This Colliery Started production in 1864 and closed in 1930, during this period of 66 years
there were 47 fatalities.
This is a record of just one of the accidents which occurred on 11th June, resulting in the
death of nine miners in an over winding accident.
The pit cage was over wound caused by a brake failure, following the accident legislation was
introduced to ensure that automatic breaking devices were used to prevent a repetition of
the disaster (overwind detaching hook).
Death Roll
George Akerman 17
John Davies 29
Lewis Guest 27
Edgar Howells 13
John Howells 31
David Lewis 25
John Rees 16
Thomas Rees 39
John Thomas 14

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Front Page1900
Glen Avon (level)
On Wednesday the 24th October a Fearful disaster struck this colliery resulting in the deaths
by drowning of five miners.
A heading in the colliery was being opened in the direction of some old workings from
Caerau Colliery. The new workings were apparently being driven under the abandoned
workings of the Caerau Colliery which were flooded, resulting in the roof collapsing and
water rushing into the new workings with fatal consequences.
The majority of miners underground at this time did manage to escape to the surface
Death Roll
Thomas Curtis 58
Evan Jenkins 40
David Jones 50
Rees Jenkins 42
David Jenkins 42
The photograph used on the
timeline was taken in 1927
and the colliers in the
photograph from left to right
are Dai Powell, Jim Ware Joe
Powell, and Dai Jones

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Front Page1901
Maesteg deep (Drift)
This Colliery started production in 1868 and closed in 1930, during this period of 62 years
there were 33 fatalities.
This is a record of just one year in the life of this colliery when 7 miners as a result of
numerous accidents.
Death Roll
24 April R.J. Llewellyn 36 Crushed By Machine
25 April David Williams 26 Crushed by Cage
18 June Evan Rees 24 Killed by Fall
11 July Henry Dodd 46 Struck by Dram
25 Nov William Hopkins 32 Run over by Journey
26 Nov Henry Radford 32 Run over by Dram
27 Nov Joseph Rees 59 Hit by Falling Rock

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Coegnant Maesteg
This Colliery Started production in 1881 and closed in 1981, During this period of 100 years
there were 101 fatalities, this is a record of just one year in the 100 years of this colliery
when five miners died.
Death Roll
1 January David Thomas 34 Roof Fall
17 May Thomas H Jarvis 28 Roof Fall
7 July John Thomas 60 Roof Fall
27 July Jonah Jones 26 Roof Fall
29 July Fred Barton 30 Fall of Coal

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Cynon Colliery
This Colliery was opened in 1894 by David Rees and Company of Port Talbot and employed
30 men underground and 4 surface workers.
The shaft was 20 feet in diameter and sunk to a depth of 200 yards. In an attempt to attract
labour to the area Cynonville garden village was constructed in 1910 but the start of World
War One prevented the completion of the scheme. After only two streets were built. In 1920
the workforce had grown to 500 men but did not reach this level of employment ever agin
and was closed by N.C.B. In 1947. However it was worked under licence from the N.C.B. In
the 1950’s and 1960’s.
This is a record of the miners who died in one year
Death Roll
6 July John David 24 Fall of Roof
30 August John Stone 45 Fall of Roof
28 September Thomas W. Williams 21 Crushed by drams

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Caerau Colliery
This Colliery started production in 1890 and closed in 1977. During this period of 87 years
there were 108 fatalities this is a record of one year in the working life of this colliery when
five miners died.
Death Roll
23 January Thomas Owen 22 Rum over by Dram
10 April Edward A Webb 16 Roof Fall
21 October Moses Evan 64 Roof Fall
George Williams 34
Gwilym Davies 39

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Oakwood, Pontrhydyfen
This mine consisted of numerous slants and pits. There were around 63 slants worked during
the life of the mine. The first was abandoned in 1851 and the last when the mine closed in
1927. On the 18th November an explosion occurred when three miners were killed and two
others were injured. Luckily it occurred at the end of the night shift when only 40 men of the
normal compliment were underground.
Death Roll
Father and son James and Handel Davies
A third, unknown, fatality

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Drift Mines and Levels, Llynfi Valley
There were numerous drift mines and levels working in the Llynfi Valley during the period of
this Timeline (ie between 1890 and 1990) and as with any Mining operation, be it large or
small, there are always fatalities.
This is a record of an accident in a level mine at Caerau.
Death Roll
28th August Ivor squires 26 Buried Under Fall
Charles Hall 42 Buried Under Fall
Cyril Gibbs 17 Buried Under Fall
The photograph on the timeline shows a typical drift mine of the time.

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Front Page1927
Argoed (Slant)
This Mine was opened in 1890 and worked by Llewellyn Howell And Company in the number
3 Rhondda Seam for house coal.
The High Point for the mine was 1916 when 250 Miners were employed.
It was Abandoned in 1927 Although it was worked under License from the NCB in the 1950’s.
One Miner, Mr William Thomas, aged 30, Died on the 6th July under a Fall Of Stone.

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Bryn Navigation, Maesteg
This Mine was sunk 1896 with one shaft to a depth of 380 yard and a 700 yard long slant.
Over the years this Colliery claimed several lives before it’s closure in 1963.
Among the fatalities was popular Billy Beynon a tough Professional Boxer who won the
British Bantamweight Championship in 1913. While working with his son Brinley, he was
killed by the fall of a large rock called a ‘Pan’ on the 20th July, His grave at Goytre Cemetery
Being marked by a Headstone Bearing a pair of boxing gloves.

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Nantewlaith
This mine consisted of a level and two pits and was opened by Gibbs Navigation Collieries
LTD and in 1915 it was listed as “sinking”.
It had its own coal preparation plant (Washery), producing class 201A drysteam coal Low
Volatile Usually non caking and used for steam raising in boilers for ships, Locomotives,
Power Stations, etc.
Nantewlaith was closed in November 1948.
Death Roll
David Miles Fall of Roof
Display photo

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Duffryn
Death Roll
Missing information.
Missing information.

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Caerau Colliery
An Accident Occurred in November which resulted on the death of a young boy, The following is
from a Newspaper cutting from 2nd November 1946:
“A 28 year old Colliery Brakeman and an 8 year old boy were killed on Saturday when
they were struck by a runaway truck at the Caerau colliery. The victims were Evan Tanner,
a married man with four children of Caerau Road and Walter Ashford, the elder son of
Mr and Mrs Ashford of Victoria Street.
The accident was not witnessed but it appears that the man and boy, alarmed by
unexpected noise from two runaway trucks, dashed from the brakeman’s cabin on the
colliery sidings into the path of the uncontrolled trucks and were both killed”
No reason can be found as to why an eight year old boy was on the colliery site.

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ST. Johns, Maesteg
This Colliery started production in 1908 and closed in November 1985. During this period of 77
years there were 52 fatalities.
This is a record of one year in the working life of this colliery when three miners died
Death Roll
30 June Percy Coleman 36 Struck by Drams
16 September William Jones 49 Struck by Drams
12 December Jonah Rowe 36 Roof Fall

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Garth Tonmawr
A National coal board broadsheet cites the opening date of this pit as 1864 but no records can
be found before 1917 wgen it was called Blaenmawr Colliery. It was taken over by Garth
Collieries LTD in 1929 who then renamed the mine Garth.
On nationalisation in 1947 it employed 201 men and the point of highest manpower was in
1957 when 211 men worked the mine. It closed in June 1964.
Two fatalities occurred in 1952.
Death Roll
Idwal Rowlands Killed in March
Thomas Treharne Killed in April

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Glyncorrwg
On 13th January there was an explosion that injured twenty four miners.
At around 9:30 AM a collier was adding roofing bars (these were called ‘Schloms’) which were
manufactured from aluminium and held rigid by a steel wedge for driving into a slot. A deflected
hammer blow produced a spark that caused an explosion of methane gas out of which a flame
shot along the coal face.
Out of the 32 miners that were working the coal face, 17 received severe burns, 7 were slightly
burned, and 8 were untouched.
Following the explosion, the use of aluminium at the coal face was prohibited.
List of Serious injuries
B. Baker C. Bowen D. Bowen R. Busher V. Casey I. Davies
R. Griffiths T. Griffiths V. Grinvalds G. Howells V. Lewis D. McGluskie
W.J. Owen W. Pinkham R. Sutton E. Thomas
List of Slight injuries
W.G. Davies W.D. Davies A. Grant R. Hill C. James B. Thomas P. Williams

This was a small Privately owned coal level in the hill above the little village of Bryn, Port
Talbot.
On a Monday morning in June, an explosion occurred which resulted in the deaths of three
miners and the injury of two others.
The cause of the ignition of gas which brought instantaneous death to the three miners
remains a Mystery, as they were the only miners working in the coal face where the Blast
occurred.
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Bryn Level (Private Mine)
Death Roll
Injuries
Gwilym Jones 39 Deputy
Richard Morgan 44 Collier
Terry Simmons 21 Collier
David Morgan 28
David Jenkins
1964

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Avon, Aber/Blaengwynfi
The pit was sunk between 1877 and 1882 by Sir. Daniel Gooch, the chairman of the Great
Western Railway.
The decision to sink the pit came about upon the completion of the Bridgend to Blaengwynfi
branch of the Great Western Railway. The chairman, Sir. Daniel Gooch, decided to supply its
locomotives with coal from his own mine.
Like all mines there were accidents every year resulting in the deaths or injuries of miners.
This accident Happened in February of the year
1965
Death Roll
Injuries
Mr G Harris 37 Deputy Croeserw
Mr T. Miller - - Villiers Rd.
Blaengwnfi

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Duffryn, Rhondda
This pit consisted of both numbers 1 and 2 pits and slants.
The number 1 slant was driven around 1878 and the number 2 slant in 1898 and was opened
by the Duffryn Rhondda colliery company.
The number 1 and 2 pits were sunk from 1903 and the pit closed in 1966, It produced house,
manufacturing and steam coals.
This accident happened to a mine worker employed on the surface as a crane driver, who lost
his life when the crane toppled over.
1966
Death Roll
Ivor Evans 53 Crane Driver
Photograph

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Maesteg Washery
The last mining death in the Llynfi valley happened at the washery at Maesteg on
the 4th February when Mr Lyw M. Thomas, aged 40 was buried in coal slurry

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Cefn Mawr (Drift)
This was a small drift mine worked under licence from British coal by Quotecast LTD.
There was an accident on 2nd February resulting in the death of Mr Raymond Enoch,
aged 47 who was crushed by a fall. He was the last miner to die in the Afan Valley.
Account by Alan
Price (a member
of our museum)

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“Friday the 2/2/1990 was just like any other day. David Williams, Reymond Enoch, Terry Coburn
and myself were working in the 18”Wenallt seam.
We broke into the coal and had filled 113 drams by 12 noon. We noted that the top was good
and sounded safe. We decided to go to the surface for a tea break and for the boys to have a
fag. I reported to the manager about the good condition of the coalface and how pleased we
were about it.
Well, After 20 minutes we again entered the mine and were at the coalface in about 10 minutes.
We then decided to split up into two groups. David and Ray would go into the face to fill coal,
terry and I would bore into the gate heading which could be fired and would give us extra drams
of coal. Suddenly we heard a scream coming from the direction where our butties were working
and we crawled in as fast as possible. When we got there I could see David screaming and in
terrible pain. He had been hit by this massive boulder, but was shouting that ‘Ray is under it’. I
told David to get to the surface and let the manager and surface workers know what had
happened . Terry and I then tried to lift the huge boulder off Raymond with an old dram rail, but
the boulder was too heavy. At this time Raymond was alive and shouting for us to release him
from this trap. In the end all I could do was comfort my butty until he died.
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PROTOTYPE
AFAN/LLYNFI
PAGE

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South Wales
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Front Page1890
Llannerch Colliery Explosion, Pontypool
The explosion occurred About 8:30 AM on the 6th February in a district called Cook’s Slope.
One Hundred and Seventy Six men were killed and another ten were injured. This was the
total number in that district and back to pit-bottom.
At the time of the explosion a very heavy fall of ground had happened at the mouth of No. 4
Heading and it appears that the cavity was full of gas. It appears that the gas was ignited by
the naked lights of the men who were repairing this area.
There were previous explosions in this colliery: Once in 1869 where seven men were killed
and another in 1889 which had no fatalities but two men were badly burned. This prompted
the inspector of mines to advise the mine owners to introduce closed safety lamps. A letter
dated December 5th and signed by Edward Jones, The managing Director of the mine, stated
“At present we think that the colliery is thoroughly well ventilated and safe to work with
naked lights.
Death Roll

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Adams. James 27 Potnwynydd
Allsop, William 54 Snatchwood
Ashman, George 20 Pentwyn Tips
Ashman, Thomas 22 Pentwyn Tips
Ashman, William 17 Pentwyn Tips
Bailey, William 15 Pentrepoid
Bayliss, William John 21 Abersychan
Beard, John 63 Abersychan
Bevan, Joseph 37 Pentwyn Tips
Bingham, Arthur W 15 Pontypool
Bridges, Frederick C 17 Snatchwood
Bridges, Lewis Albert 29 Snatchwood
Bridges, Mark 55 Snatchwood
Bridges, Williams 19 Snatchwood
Bright, James 14 Talywain
Bright, Samuel Francis 15 Pentrepoid
Brimble, David 12 Garndiffaith
Brimble, Oliver 15 Garndiffaith
Brimble, William 17 Garndiffaith
Bryant, Albert John 24 Abersychan
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Carey, John 31 Abersychan
Carpenter, Gabriel 47 Snatchwood
Carpenter, Jesse 15 Snatchwood
Cook, James 31 Snatchwood
Cook, John 37 Abersychan
Cullis, William 25 Pontypool
Davies, Daniel 24 Snatchwood
Davies, Edward 56 Snatchwood
Davies, Edward C 14 Snatchwood
Davies, George 37 Snatchwood
Davies, John 34 Garndiffaith
Davies, William 45 The British
Davies, William 14 The British
Dobbs, William 24 Abersychan
Downs, John 32 Abersychan
Driscoll, James 52 Talywain
Edwards, John 20 Abersychan
Edwards, Robert 15 Abersychan
Evans, John 12 Pontypool
Filer, Thomas 28 Talywain
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Finn, William 17 Tranch, Pontypool
Furber, Robert 15 Abersychan
Gauntlett, John 55 Snatchwood
George, Joseph 13 Abersychan
George, William 54 Abersychan
Godwin, William J 14 Cymffrwdoer
Gouch, Richard 60 Abersychan
Greasley, James 23 Pontnewynydd
Greasley, Samuel 27 Pontnewynydd
Greasley, Thomas 19 Pontnewynydd
Gwillyn, Charles 14 Talywain
Harper, William 28 Abersychan
Hayes, William 19 Abersychan
Hillier, Henry 31 Abersychan
Hoare, Henry 17 Tranch, Pontypool
Hoskins, John James 39 Abersychan
Howells, David 13 Abersychan
Howells, Henry 15 Pontypool
Howells, John 17 The British
Howells, Joseph 12 Abersychan
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Howells, Joseph 35 Pontypool
Ivory, Daniel 21 Pentwyn Tips
Ivory, Robert 26 Pentwyn tips
James, George 53 Talywain
James, James 14 Talywain
James, James (Iago) 60 Talywain
James, John 45 Snatchwood
James, Samuel 19 Abersychan
James, Thomas 14 Abersychan
James, Thomas 20 Talywain
Jeremiah, Azariah 57 Talywain
Jones, Albert 14 Abersychan
Jones, David 14 Abersychan
Jones, Edward 33 The British
Jones, Edward 60 Talywain
Jones, Edwin 34 Abersychan
Jones, James 31 Garndiffaith
Jones, John 41 Snatchwood
Jones, John 20 Abersychan
Jones, John Giles 64 Cwmffrwdoer
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Jones, Samuel 43 Talywain
Jones, William 17 Abersychan
Jones, William John 15 Snatchwood
Lacey, Thomas 19 Abersychan
Langley, Alfred 15 Pontypool
Langley, Oliver 41 Abersychan
Llewellyn, James 36 Cwmnantddu
Lewis, Elias 13 Pentwyn Tips
Lewis, James 31 Snatchwood
Lewis, John 17 Twynyffrwd
Lewis, Joseph 24 Abersychan
Lewis, Lewis 25 Abersychan
Lewis, Thomas 36 Abersychan
Lewis, Thomas 15 Cwmffrwdoer
Lewis, Thomas 41 Cwmffrwdoer
Loveridge, Nep 27 Abersychan
Martin, Frederick 21 Pentwyn Tips
Mathews, Edwin 42 Snatchwood
Meadows, Benjamin 52 Snatchwood
Meadows, James 31 Snatchwood
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Morgan, Henry 49 Pontypool
Morgan, John 17 Snatchwood
Morgan, Thomas 24 Pontypool
Morgan, Thomas 27 Pontnewynyndd
Morgan, Thomas 41 Tranch, Pontypool
Morgan, William
John
21 Pontypool
Morris, Willam 15 Pentwyn Tips
Oram, Thomas 18 Abersychan
Parfitt, Mark 21 Abersychan
Parfitt, Alfred Fred 41 Abersychan
Parfitt, George 12 Abersychan
Phelps, Ebenezer 22 Twynyffrwd
Phillips, Thomas Henry 24 Twynyffrwd
Plenty, William 35 Abersychan
Powell, Albert 14 Freehold Land
Powell, Philip 29 Abersychan
Price, Edmund 15 Talywain
Price, John Tudor 14 Abersychan
Pritchard, James 13 Snatchwood
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Pritchard, Rosser 37 Snatchwood
Pritchard, Thomas 12 Snatchwood
Pritchard, Joseph 19 Talywain
Reed, William 32 Abersychan
Rees, David 19 Abersychan
Rees, David 25 Pontnewynydd
Reed, Joseph 13 Pontnewynydd
Regan, John 16 Abersychan
Regan, William 14 Abersychan
Robertson, Edgar 14 Pentwyn Tips
Rogers, Watkin 37 Snatchwood
Rogers, William 13 Abersychan
Rogers, Lewis 29 Abersychan
Rossiter, George Henry 31 Pontypool
Ruck, Thomas 21 Pontypool
Rudge, George 27 Talywain
Samuel, John 23 Abersychan
Shaw, Alfred 13 The British
Shaw, Charles 14 Abersychan
Shaw, Sidney 37 The British
Back Next

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Silcox, Leonard 32 Abersychan
Skye, Richard 28 Freehold Land
Smith, Mathew 29 Pontypool
Sullivan, Jeremiah 14 Abersychan
Thomas, Alfred 21 Snatchwood
Thomas, Charles 26 Snatchwood
Thomas, James 41 Talywain
Thomas, John 24 Talywain
Thomas, Joseph 29 Talywain
Thomas, William 18 Snatchwood
Trollope, Francis 40 Abersychan
Trollope, George 29 Abersychan
Tudgay, James 46 Talywain
Tudgay, Joseph 22 Talywain
Tudgay, William 32 Talywian
Vater, David 61 Pontnewynydd
Walby, Thomas 28 Cwmffrwdoer
Weaver, Albert 18 Snatchwood
Webb, Daniel 21 Talywain
Webb, James 22 Abersychan
Back Next

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Webber, John Arthur 20 Abersychan
White, John 28 Pontnewynydd
Wilcox, Charles 17 Pentwyn Tips
Wilcox, John 54 Pentwyn Tips
Wilcox, Samuel 21 Pentwyn Tips
Williams, John 16 Pontnewynydd
Williams, Thomas 34 Abersychan
Williams, Thomas 63 Snatchwood
Williams, William 35 Pentwyn Farm
Williams, William 12 Pentwyn Farm
Williams, William 64 Garndiffaith
Williams, William 16 Talywain
Williams, William 34 Tranch, Pontypool
Williams, William 15 Abersychan
Williams, William H 18 Snatchwood
Woods, William 18 Snatchwood
Back

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Front Page1892
Park Slip, Aberkenfig (Drift Mine)
The explosion occurred at 8:20 AM on the 26th August sending clouds of smoke and flames
billowing from the mouth of the mine and is thought to have started because of a faulty
miner’s lamp, killing 110 miners. There were 146 men and boys working within the mine at
the time of the explosion.
The rescue operation started immediately and two survivors were found about sixty yards
inside the mine at a pumping station. Although badly shaken they were otherwise uninjured.
The rescue progress was hampered by huge roof falls which also restricted the flow of air.
They eventually came across the bodies of the first seven victims but because of the
accumulation of After Damp the rescue operation had to stop until the ventilation had been
restored.
It wasn’t until 6 o’clock the following morning before it was safe to continue the rescue
operation. By 4 o’clock in the afternoon a total of 112 miners had been brought out alive,
some of who died later of their injuries
Death Roll Photo

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Baker, Thomas
Barnett, Henry
Berwick, James
Berwick, John
Bowen, James
Bowen, Thomas
Bowen, David
Bromham, Moses
Burrows, Alfred
Carter, Thomas
Next
Chapel, John
Cockram, George
Cockram, Lewis
Cockram John
Cockram, Thomas
Curtin, John
Daniels, Thomas
David, Philip
David, Evan
David, David
Davies, William
Davies, Enoch
Davies, David
Davies, Richard
Davies, Richard
Davies, Benjamin
Davies, George
Davies, David
Davies, James
Down, Edward
Driscoll, Elijah
Driscoll, John
Dunster, John
Edwards, George
Evans, James
Gibbon, John
Gibbs, James
Hanley, Jonathan
Hanley, John
Harrhy, David

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Henson, George
Henson, Thomas
Hopkin, David
Hopkins, Thomas
Hopkins, Thomas
Hopkins, Evan
Howell, Elias
Howell, Elias
Humphreys, Edward
Hurley, Henry
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Jacobs, George
Jacobs, Thomas
Jenkins, Jenkin
John, John
Jones, David
Jones, David
Jones, Evan
Jones, David
Jones, Thomas
Lovell, John
Lowman, George
Lukins, Thomas
Lyddon, James
Lyddon, George
Lyddon, William
Lyddon, Henry
Lyddon, Herbert
Lyddon, Albert
Major, David
Martin, Arthur
Mitchell, Henry
Morgan, Evan
Morgan, Morgan
Moragn, Lewis
Morris, William
Nichols, Charles
Orchard, John
Osborne, John
Painter, William
Painter, Joseph

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Powell, David
Powell, David
Rees, Thomas
Richards, James
Roberts, Frederick
Roberts, John
Roberts, Griffith
Rosser, William
Rosser, John
Saunders, Herbert
Back
Stenner, William
Stenner, Thomas
Stenner, Charles
Strick, Henry
Tackle, George
Taylor, Thomas
Thomas, John
Thomas, David
Thomas, Ivor
Thomas, Rees
Warren, Christopher
Webster, Robert (father)
Webster, Robert (son)
Webster, Thomas
Williams, Thomas
Williams, Thomas
Williams, Thomas
Williams, William
Williams, William
Williams, Gwilym

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Front Page1893
Great Western, Pontypridd
On 11th April 1893 a fire in the colliery led to the deaths of 63 men and boys. The ages of the
dead ranged from 14 to 61.
It is believed that sparks from the wooden brake blocks of a Haulage Engine had set fire to a
nearby Brattice sheet. The fire spread quickly fanned by the strong ventilation and ignited
timber supports, sending dense clouds of smoke and fumes into the mine workings.
A total of 200 Miners were reported trapped but 150 were rescued. By 14th April 53 bodies
had been recovered.
The death toll would have been much higher had it not been for the actions of the District
Fireman Thomas Prosser who bravely ventured into the dense smoke and by opening a set of
air doors, diverted the noxious fumes out of the mine.
The Inquest The Death Roll

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Adolphus Dodge 14 Doorboy
Albert Pearce 16 Collier
Amazia Jones 15 Collier
Arthur Davies 33 Collier
Arthur Thorne 16 Collier
Charles Coville 50 Collier
Charles Godfrey 28 Collier
Coleman Williams 17 Haulier
Cornelius Hayes 18 Oiler
Daniel David 17 Collier
Daniel O’Shea 16 Collier
Daniel Spooner 35 Haulier
David Davies 29 Fireman
David Jenkins 31 Collier
David John 17 Collier
David John Powell 13 Collier
David W. Prosser 17 Collier
Ernest Thomas
Prosser
18 Collier
Frank Grainger 28 Inclineman
Frederick Nurse 16 Collier
George Bartlett 23 Collier
Next

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George C. Lewis 15 Collier
George Roderick 14 Collier
George Thorne 31 Collier
Gwilym Howells 17 Collier
Ivor Lloyd 22 Collier
James Devereux 39 Lampman
James Holbrook 25 Collier
Jesse Titley 19 Collier
Job Miller 18 Collier
John Llewelyn 45 Collier
John Maddox 33 Collier
John Nichols 26 Engineman
John Roberts 21 Collier
John Thomas 27 Collier
John Williams 31 Collier
John Williams 61 Labourer
Joseph Williams 37 Collier
Lewis Jacob 20 Collier
Lewis Thomas 25 Haulier
Lewis Williams 26 Collier
Mark Osborne 26 Collier
Morgan Williams 57 Collier
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Morris Potter 28 Collier
Patsey Sullivan - Rider
Phillip Jones 42 Collier
Richard Edmunds 25 Collier
Thomas Davies 29 Bratticeman
Thomas Henry
Williams
17 Collier
Thomas Lambert 27 Rider
Thomas Price 15 Doorboy
William Lewis 44 Collier
William Bowers 22 Collier
William C. Bollen 21 Collier
William Davies 17 Collier
William Edmunds 52 Roadman
William Hughes 17 Collier
William James Bond 16 Collier
William John 42 Collier
William Thomas 16 Collier
William Wheeler 16 Collier
William Williams 20 Collier
Back

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The inquest into the disaster was held before Mr. B. Reece, Coroner for Cardiff and Mr. R.J. Rhys,
Coroner for Aberdare and a jury at the New Inn, Pontypridd from the 27th to the 29th April. All
Interested parties were represented and the jury returned the following Verdict:
“We find that the accident the Great Western Colliery on 11th April, 1893 caused by a spark or
sparks emitted from the brake of the hauling engine at the hard heading, which came into
contact with some inflammable substance in the neighbourhood and we do not attribute any
negligence to any of the officials either before or after the accident, and that 61 men lost their
lives by suffocation from smoke arising from the fire and that Jesse Titley lost his life by falling
from the 4-foot landing to the bottom of the seam at Tymawr Shaft.”
The Jury also Recommended:
“1) That the code of regulations drawn up by Hugh Bramwell be sent to the Home Secretary
with the object that those, or similar ones, should be adopted by other collieries.
2) That Sufficient Width or surface for brake power should be provided at all haulage engine, so
as to prevent undue friction.
3) That every care should be exercised in letting down full journeys upon the east hard heading
at the Great Western Collier at a uniform rate and speed.”
Mr. Robson Concluded His report by saying that the loss of life would have been much greater if
the Tymawr upcast shaft had not been a winding pit.

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Albion Colliery, Cilkynydd
An explosion of gas occurred on the 23rd June, which was accelerated and extended by coal
dust, killing 276 miners.
Following an enquiry which lasted 9 days into the disaster a Jury of 17 men returned the
following verdict:
The Jury can not agree on the exact place at which the explosion had its origin, and
we are unanimously of the opinion that shot firing was practiced in the colliery when men
are at work, without sufficient precautions as to their safety and contrary to rules, we are
also of the opinion that the Under Manager neglected his duty in not seeing that his
subordinates in the night shift performed their duties in accordance with the rules, that the
firemen were negligent in reporting gas when found and there us not a proper system of
watering in the mine.
The Inquest The Death Roll

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Addis, Alexander 27
Allaroad, Herbert 22
Allen, James 36
Ashton, John 28
Ashton, Morris 33
Ball Henry John 23
Barr, William 29
Barrett, Patrick 50
Bates, Samuel 17
Bennett, Edward 53
Berridge, Walter 21
Bevan, John 31
Biddle, John 17
Bluck, Richard 28
Bowden, Edwin 14
Bowden, Richard 18
Bowill, Reuben 23
Boyce, George 17
Brain, Samuel 31
Brown, William 17
Bryant, John 24
Burford, George 20
Next
Burns, James 18
Bryne, Patsey 20
Cann, John 28
Canning, John 39
Carp, Frederick 25
Chamberlain, W. 21
Clarke, Enoch 16
Coles, John 23
Colwill, James 21
Comley, Isaac 25
Connell, Charles 20

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Cox, John 33
Cox, Sydney 22
Crocombe, Edward 50
Cronin, James 28
Cullen, James -
Daley, Timothy 27
Daniels, Edmund 16
Davies, Albert 17
Davies, Daniel 21
Davies, David 15
Davies, David 37
Davies, Price David 32
Davies, Elias 36
Davies, Evan 17
Davies, John E. 26
Davies, Richard 20
Diamond, John 18
Dobbs, William 39
Downs, Stephen 22
Edwards, Evan 19
Edwards, Nathaniel 19
Edwards, William D. 19
Back Next
Emmott, Fred 19
Evans, Evan Pearce 33
Evans, George 30
Evans, Henry 30
Evans, John 25
Evans, John -
Evans, John 26
Evans, Levi 45
Evans, Richard 28
Evans, Samuel 26
Evans, Stephen 28

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Evans, Thomas 38
Evans, Thomas 19
Evans, William 29
Evans, William 46
Eynon, Benjamin J. 58
Faceym Eli 36
Farrow, William 34
Fletcher, Philip 19
Freeman, George 23
Frost, William Henry 21
Furlong, Patrick 19
Gilfoyle, Emmanuel 24
Gittings, Thomas 26
Godwin, Edwin 43
Gould, John 24
Gregory, John 26
Grey, Joseph 25
Griffiths, David 17
Griffiths, John 47
Griffiths, Richard 26
Griffiths, William 24
Gronow, Cornelius 36
Back Next
Gronow, Evan 24
Gronow, Richard 21
Gronow, William 33
Guard, Philip John 18
Gulliford, Charles 17
Hardidge, John 25
Harding, William J. 16
Harris, John 34
Harvey, William 25
Haynes, William 16
Hazel, Sidney 32

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Hearne, John 18
Herbert, Richard 48
Hooper, Henry C. 23
Hopkins, William 21
Howe, Henry 43
Howells, Lewis -
Hughes, Charles 16
Hughes, David Dan 19
Hughes, Joseph 29
Hughes, Owen 20
Hughes, Thomas 48
Hughes, William -
Humphreys, John 30
Hunt, James 49
Hunt, George 17
Hurrell, Cornelius J. 22
Hurrell, William 38
James, David Owen 25
James, Henry 37
James, John 30
James, Richard 20
Jenkins, John Enos 35
Back Next
Jenkins, Rees 33
Jenkins, Roderick 38
Jenkins, Thomas 42
Jenkins, Thomas 34
Jennings Arthur 21
Jones, Charles 26
Jones, Charles A. 19
Jones, Daniel 25
Jones, David 42
Jones, Edward 60
Jones, Ellis 40

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Jones, Evan 37
Jones, Hugh 22
Jones, Humphrey 39
Jones, James 27
Jones, John 37
Jones, John 17
Jones, Lewis 24
Jones, Richard 23
Jones, Robert 25
Jones, Robert 40
Jones, Roland 29
Jones, Thomas -
Jones, Thomas 32
Jones, Timothy 26
Jones, William 30
Jones, William 26
Jones, William 18
Jones, William 31
Jones, William T. -
Joyce, Frank -
Kahoa, Patrick 20
King, David 20
Back Next
King, John 36
Knight, George 30
Knott, William 53
Lennon, George 33
Lennon, Morris 24
Leonard, Fred 35
Lewis, Henry 34
Lewis, John -
Lewis, William H. 26
Llewellyn, David 39
Lloyd, John 47

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Lloyd, Morgan -
Lowe, Thomas -
Lumley, John -
Manders, George 32
McDonnell, Patrick 21
McGrath, John 23
Mears, John 40
Morgan, David -
Morgan, Henry 18
Morgan, John 38
Morgan, Thomas 18
Morgan, William 24
Morris, David 40
Morris, David 26
Morris, Evan 30
Morris, William 22
Murphy, Thomas 24
Oliver, William 55
Osborne, Walter -
Owen, David 22
Owen, Richard 20
O’Leary, Thomas 17
Back Next
Packnell, James 34
Parfitt, John 45
Parkman, John 26
Parry, Jason 23
Parry, Robert 40
Parry, William 20
Pearce, John 40
Pincombe, John 24
Powell, Edwin -
Powell, James 60
Powell, Thomas 35

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Powell, Thomas -
Price, Walter 21
Price, William 29
Prout, Thomas 35
Provis, George 23
Pugh, David 27
Pugh, Hugh -
Pugh, Hugh 32
Pugsley, George 20
Pugsley, John 25
Pulsford, William H. 27
Quartley, John -
Reele, Walter -
Rees, Edward 18
Rees, John 38
Rees, John 38
Rees, Jonathan 29
Rees, Thomas 33
Reeves, Richard 23
Richards, William 19
Roberts, Adam 42
Roberts, Hugh 37
Back Next
Roberts, Richard 18
Roberts, Richard 32
Roberts, Robert 40
Roberts, William 39
Robinson, Thomas 40
Rogers, William 20
Rough, Gilbert 16
Rowe, James -
Rowe, James 25
Sanders, Fred 21
Saunders, Charles 43

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Scott, John 13
Searle, Walter 20
Shaddock, John 23
Sheppard, Joseph 24
Skyrme, Benjamin 23
Smith, Peter 19
Smith, Robert 23
Smith, Thomas 31
Spencer, Charles 25
Stevens, James 40
Stubbs, Benjamin 14
Sullivan, Timothy 47
Taylor, Samuel 30
Thomas, Albert E. 26
Thomas, Edward J. 16
Thomas, John 29
Thomas, Joseph 17
Thomas, Owen 18
Thomas, Richard 47
Thomas, Richard 20
Thomas, William 28
Thomas, William 30
Back Next
Tickle, James 23
Tombs, Arthur 30
Toozer, James 37
Topp, Frank 23
Tucker, Benjamin 20
Vile, Sam. Burgess 31
Ware, William 35
Watkins, David -
Watkins, David -
Watkins George 18
Webb, John 38

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Webb, Walter -
Weeks, Fred 22
White, Thomas -
Willett, Arthur G. 27
Williams, Edward 39
Williams, Edwin -
Williams, George 35
Williams, Isaacher 49
Williams, Richard -
Williams, Thomas 50
Williams, Walter -
Williams, William 23
Winter, George 31
Winters, Thomas -
Back

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Front Page1894 Inquiry Back
Next
The inquiry into the disaster at Albion Colliery, Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd on the 23rd. June
1894, was conducted by J. Roskill, Esq., Barrister-at-Law and by J.T. Robson, Esq., Henry Hall
Esq., and Joseph S. Martin, Esq., Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Mines and presented to the
Right Honourable H.H. Asquith, Q.C., M.P., the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
One of the survivors, George Bamford said he was working with others at the double parting
on Mordecai’s level in No.5 district when the explosion occurred and he gave his description
to the inquiry. He said-
“I heard a sound like thunder, the biggest I have ever heard. I heard two sounds without
scarcely an interval. Each just the same noise. I thought it was an explosion and I stood where
I was. I heard a door between us and the engine parting open and shut with a bang. The level
directly after was filled with dust and our lamps went out.

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Back
There were four of us together and two inside. I think I saw a shade of flame in the dust a
bluish colour. It was coming above us along the roof. I was standing up, The place was 7 feet
high. We started off to walk down the Pantddu dip. We met afterdamp in the parting near
the dip. The flame and dust passed over us and we came out. In the Pantddu dip the
afterdamp was very strong and I recollect no more until I came to myself when Dr. Little and
Henry Watkins were with me at the air bridge. I heard some one say at home that it was
about 8 o’clock when I got out. I was not singed by the flame except a little on my eye lashes”

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Tylorstown, Ferndale
The explosion occurred at 5:30 AM on the 28th January when most of the night shift had
ascended to the surface at the end of their shift and before the day shift had descended into
the mine. Thus, the eventual death toll of 57 would have been much greater if the explosion
had taken place when a full shift, which consisted of over 300 men, was working below
ground.
Following an inquest the following verdict was returned:
The cause of the explosion was the firing of shot in gas in no.8 pit and that the air
passing though the faces was charged with gas and the explosion was accelerated by coal
dust.
Next
The Death Roll

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How the Tylorstown Disaster Prompted Safety Change
Back
The inspiration for using Canaries to detect dangerous gases underground started in Wales
after this Disaster. The genius behind the idea came from Prof. J.S. Haldane, A medical
researcher and mining engineer from Scotland rather than welsh decent.
Prof Haldane insisted on visiting the mine and going underground before any of the victims
were moved. He discovered four dead miners in a chamber with a lit oil lamp still burning, so
the miners did not die from a lack of oxygen but some other cause. Following Post Mortem
examinations on the victims he came to the conclusion the miners died of carbon monoxide
poisoning.
The Death Roll
Next

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How the Tylorstown Disaster Prompted Safety Change
Back
He spent the next few months testing the effects of carbon monoxide on himself and a series
of smaller animals.
He concluded that whilst mice and canaries were 20 times more susceptible to the gas than
humans, canaries would give miners the best advance warning as they stopped singing and
would fall off their perch.
People mistakenly presume that the canary had to die to provide an early warning. This is far
from the truth and the Prof. Provided a gage “Halanes Human Gage” to relieve the canary.
At their height there were at least 3000 canaries employed in the coal mines.
The Death Roll

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Barrett, Walter 17
Bowen, John 24
Charles, Abraham 29
Collins, John 27
Davies, Henry 25
Davies, Sidney 37
Davies, Richard 34
Davies, Solomon 25
Davies, David 47
Davies, David 26
Davies, Thomas 18
Edwards, James 25
Evans, James 38
Evans, Richard D. 28
Evans, Jesse 20
Evans, Richard 48
Gardener, George 25
Groves, George 28
Hall, Thomas 17
Harris, David 49
Harris, Henry 19
Jackson, James 25
Jackson, Alfred 15
Jenkins, William R. 39
Next
Jenkins, Griffith 35
Jones, David 27
Jones, George 19
Jones, Jacob Elias 18
Jones, Gwilym 29
Jones, David 22
Lewis, George 56
Lewis, David 22
Lewis John 40
Morgan, Evan 34
Morgan, Samuel 21
Norman, Charles 22

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Olding, Albert -
Pearce, John 64
Phillips, Benjamin 52
Pride, Isaac 19
Pritchard, Amos 46
Reardon, Daniel 24
Rossed, David 41
Rowls, John 21
Saunders, Robert 52
Scourfield, Thomas 32
Stapelton, George 54
Sutton, James 38
Thomas, Richard 35
Thomas, John 37
Watkins, John 33
Williams, Lewis 19
Williams, Samuel 32
Williams, Davis 22
Williams Edwin 20
Williams, Joseph -
Wiltshirem Henry 17
Back

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Front Page1899
Lluest, Garn Valley (Drift Mine)
The explosion occurred on 18th August 1899 killing 19 men and boys. One of the victims,
William Thomas, was overcome by Afterdamp after leaving another part of the mine to
attempt a rescue of the stricken men.
Production ceased at this Colliery in 1902.
The Death Roll

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Bissett, Herbert Pontycymmer
Davies, Evan Pontycymmer
Davies, Hugh Pontycymmer
Evans, Fred Pantygog
Halkins, David Pantygog
Jenkins, William D. -
John, Frank Pontycymmer
Jones, Thomas Pontyrhyl
Lewis, William Laleston
Morganm John Pontycymmer
Owen, Owen Pontycymmer
Rees, Samuel Pontycymmer
Thomas, Jeremy Pontyrhyl
Thomas, William Llangeinor
Williams, Abednego Pantygog
Williams, Thomas Pantygog

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Front Page1905
National Wattstown, Porth.
The Explosion occurred on Tuesday 11th July resulting in the deaths of 120 men and boys.
Only three miners were rescued from the mine but two would later die of their injuries
leaving Matthew Davies as the lone survivor.
The report into the cause of the disaster concluded that the explosion was caused by the
illegal use of blasting materials underground.
The Death Roll

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Baines, James 55 Ynishir
Basset, George 14 Wattstown
Basset, William - -
Beard, Emmanuel 14 Wattstown
Billett, Ammon 22 Pontygwaith
Billett, Robert - Pontygwaith
Bird, Samuel 16 Newhouses
Chedzie, George 18 Taff’s Wells
Clancey, Charles 18 Taff’s Wells
Cross, Robert 38 Ynishir
Dando, John - -
Next
Daniel, William 40 Ynishir
Davies, Charles 18 Wattstown
Davies, Charles H. 15 -
Davies, David - -
Davies, David G. 26 -
Davies, David 26 -
Davies, D. 37 Wattstown
Davies, Enoch 22 -
Davies, Isaac 14 Tylorstown
Davies, John 26 Wattstown
Davies, Joseph E. 18 Ynishir

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Davies, Thomas 38 Wattstown
Eastment, William 42 Wattstown
Edmunds, Gwilym 19 Pentyrch
Edwards, Thomas 19 Ynishir
Evans, George 26 Wattstown
Evans, Morgan R. 25 Wattstown
Evans, William John 17 Ynishir
Fletcher, Fred 25 Porth
Flower, Tom 41 Wattstown
Back Next
Gibbons, James 45 Pontygwaith
Gibbons, John 25 Pontygwaith
Gibbons, Thomas 15 Pontygwaith
Goldsworthy, W.H. 20 Wattstown
Hallett, Robert - Treforest
Hallett, William 16 Treforest
Healing, James 14 Wattstown
Howells, John 42 Ynishir
Howells, Thomas 15 Ynishir
Hudd, Samuel - -
Hunt, Thomas Henry - -

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Hunt, William 16 Wattstown
John, Evan 18 Wattstown
Johnson, David 64 Wattstown
Johnson, David 16 Wattstown
Jones, Isaac 17 Stanleytown
Jones, John 36 Pontygwaith
Jones, Thomas 51 Taff’s Wells
Jones, Thomas 16 Wattstown
Jones, William 60 Wattstown
Jones, William T. 23 Ynishir
Kemp, Arthur 43 Wattstown
Back Next
King, Alfred 22 Wattstown
King, Thomas 47 Wattstown
Lewis, Benjamin 53 -
Lillicrop, Thomas 25 Wattstown
Lloyd, William Henry 16 Wattstown
Mahoney, Florence 17 Wattstown
Marshall, Albert - Wattstown
Mason, Samuel 34 Wattstown
Meredith, John - -
Meredith, William 56 Wattstown
Morgan, Edward 16 Pentyrch

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Morgan, John 59 Trehafod
Morgan, John 25 Wattstown
Morgan, Richard 18 Wattstown
Morgan, William 15 Wattstown
Morgan, William 17 Wattstown
Morgan, William J. 27 Porth Station
Morris, David T. 15 Wattstown
Owen, Tom 33 Ynishir
Perry, Charles Evan 40 Wattstown
Perry, Charles Evan 20 Wattstown
Perryman, Ceo. 48 Ynishir
Back Next
Perryman, Thomas 19 Ynishir
Perryman, William 14 Ynishir
Phillips, David 26 Pontygwaith
Powell, David - Porth
Oliver, Pritchard 38 Pentyrch
Probert, John H. 19 Ynishir
Prosser, Thomas J. 16 Wattstown
Rees, David 38 Wattstown
Rees, David 14 Wattstown
Rees, David John 40 Ynishir
Rees, John 17 Pontygwaith

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Rees, John - Pontygwaith
Reeves, David M. - -
Richards, Alfred 40 Porth
Richards, William 14 Porth
Roberts, Elias W. - -
Roberts, Elias - Ynishir
Sampson, Edward J. 18 Wattstown
Smith, Samuel 14 Wattstown
Smith, Thomas H. 17 Wattstown
Stuart, Morgan 15 Wattstown
Thomas, William 17 Wattstown
Back Next
Tingle, John 14 Wattstown
Turberville, John 14 Wattstown
Uzzel, Albert 40 Wattstown
Uzzel, John 14 Wattstown
Uzzel, W. 16 Wattstown
Walters, Benjamin 37 Ynishir
Walters, John R. 15 Ynishir
Williams, David 26 Wattstown
Williams, Idris 21 Wattstown
Williams, Richard - Wattstown
Williams, Edwin C. 16 Wattstown

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Williams, John 44 Ynishir
Williams, John M. 14 Wattstown
Williams, Thomas 16 Wattstown
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Williams, William A. 13 Wattstown
Wiltshire, Frank 14 Wattstown
Yell, R. 40 Wattstown
Plus at least one other not listed.

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Dinas Main Housecoal, Gilfach Goch
An explosion occurred in 1907 killing 7 miners. The other men escaped injury by clambering
up an old horse way.
The men who died were:-
The pit never reopened after this accident
Richard Evans Rider 33
Watkin Evans Ripper 39
William David 40
John Jenkins Roadman 65
David J. Mills Labourer 23
Nicholas White Ripper 45
William White Ripper 24

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Darren Garw
The explosion occurred about 4:00 AM on 29th October Killing 27 men. There were 50 Night
shift workers underground.
When the effects of the blast vented up the upcast shaft and shattered the pit head casing
on which two men were standing, both were badly injured.
The Darren was connected to the Gilfach colliery underground and those who survived the
explosion managed to make their way to the Gilfach shaft.
Death Roll

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Anthony, Sidney 18 Labourer
Baragwenith, John 27 Haulier
Barker, William 37 Labourer
Brown, William 44 Collier
Cleavy, Daniel 40 Collier
Coombes, Morgan 58 Repairer
Davies, William 25 Haulier
Edwards, David 45 Repairer
Edwards, Henry 17 Collier
Evans, John 18 Collier
Jenkins, David 45 Repairer
John, John 43 Fireman
Jones, Ambrose 55 Repairer
McCarthy, Dan 34 Collier
Morgan, Lewis 25 Repairer
Morgan, John 61 Haulier
Prosser, Evan 65 Repairer
Roberts, Ernest 32 Repairer
Tovey, John 16 Collier
Vaughan, Charles 36 Labourer
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Vincent, Joseph 18 Collier Jenkins, David 45 Repairer
Died In Rescue Attempt
Bowen, William 39 Manager
Edwards, William 48 Contractor
Griffiths, Gomar 52 Overman
Lewis, David 57 Under Manager
Morgan, David 36 Fireman

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Universal Senghenydd
The explosion occurred at 8 AM on 14 October killing 439 miners and one rescuer two days
later. It is the worst mining accident in the United Kingdom and one of the most serious
Globally in the terms of loss of life.
The cause was probably a buildup of firedamp (methane) being ignited by electric sparking
from equipment such as electric bell signalling gear. The initial explosion disturbed coal dust
present on the floor raising a cloud that then also ignited. The shock wave ahead of the
explosion raised yet more coal dust, so that the explosion was effectively self-fueling. Those
miners not killed immediately by the fire and explosion would have died quickly from
afterdamp, the noxious gasses formed by combustion, such as carbon monoxide, which binds
with haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in the victim suffocating.
The last survivors were rescued in the early hours of 15th october.
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Account of
rescue
Death Roll

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Front Page1913 Part 2
The mines manager was fined £24 for breaches of mines safety code whilst the owner was
fined £10.
The pit closed in March 1928.
The real tragedy of Senghenydd does not lie in just the 1913 disaster. Proving the old adage
“Lightning does not strike twice in the same place” is a mere fallacy, twelve years earlier on
Friday 24th may 1901 the same colliery had experienced it’s first disaster. At 5.00 am on that
day an explosion decimated the mine and killed 81 miners.
There was just 1 survivor.
The history of Wales and its industrial past is full of tragedy, Human grief and loss, but none
of the disasters that have befallen the country are worse than the Senghenydd mining
disaster, when tragedy struck the same village and community, not once but twice in a dozen
years.
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1901 Disaster
Death roll

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1913
Rescue Account
How three men escaped Universal Colliery October 1913
Those men who escaped with their lives when the explosion took place, and who have been
working incessantly with the rescue parties ever since, are just beginning to recount their
experiences.
William Pertherick a hitcher in the ‘York Pit’ Told the Evening Express reporter that he was in
the act of turning two trams of rubbish into the cage when he was overcome by stifling
fumes. He remained unconscious on the ground for some time, and then recovering began to
feel his way to a spot where he thought the air would be purer.
Eventually he crept from the York to the Lancaster Pit, meeting on the way four men, to
whom he called, “Come lads, follow me”, two of them did so, the others went to the cage,
but never reached the ‘knocker’.
At the ‘locking hole’ Perthick and his companions saw David Rees, the head pitman, and
William Williams, a lamp lighter. Jones was in flames and the others immediately stripped
him of his clothing.
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1913
Rescue Account
Part 2
“Then” Continued Petherick, “we came upon our gallant manager Mr Shaw, leading the first
rescue party, and we thank Almighty god for our safety. I hope the same salvation is waiting
for some of those poor men still below.”
This account of a successful rescue procedure was taken from a newspaper, reporting the
worst ever coal mining disaster. A newspaper at that time reported the rescue and a cutting
from this column was taken and kept safe by placing it in a small leather pouch. The little
pouch belonged to one of the young miners that were rescued from the aftermath of the
terrible explosion. The pouch and it’s contents have since been regarded as a memento and
handed down from father to son. Finally being passed down to Mr Ron Petherick of Margam.
Ron is now nearing 80 years old and felt it was time for the frail original newspaper cutting to
be copied and clearly printed for future Generations. It would also serve as a proud tribute to
his late father.
The pouch Is in the glass cabinet. Labelled Item 3.
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Attewell, William Thos 15
Abrahams, Harry 24
Adams, Thomas Davies 19
Alderman, Frederick 45
Anderson, Charles F. 32
Anthony, George David 17
Baish, William 50
Baker, Charles 14
Baker, Charles 42
Baker, Samuel 31
Bastyn, George 26
Bateman, Robert 18
Beck, William Edward 43
Benjamin, John Henry 20
Bennett, William 33
Berry, Walter 27
Bevan, James 32
Beynon, John Lewis 32
Bird, Samuel 49
Bishop, William 37
Booth, Samuel -
Bormeth, Frank 19
Boswell, Harry 49
Bowen, Griffith 38
Brooks, Henry John 25
Brown, Charles 31
Bullock, Edwin Francis 30
Button, Bertie 37
Button, Harold Arthur 26
Carnell, John, Fred 47
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Carpenter, John 23
Carr, Peter 45
Carroll, Dennis -
Carroll, Timothy 35
Chant, George 34
Chapman, John 42
Chard, Charles 30
Clarke, Francis Simon 44
Colley, James 45
Collier, Thos. John Joe 45
Cooke, Thos. Henry C. 15
Coombes, George W. 22
Copeland, Harry 33
Cotterell, Francis Pitt 21
Cottrell, Thomas James 19
Cronin, Thomas 26
Curtis, Samuel 25
Dando, Stan Heziciah 27
Davies, Benjamin A. 25
Davies, David John 29
Davies, David John 34
Davies, Ellis 22
Davies, George 19
Davies, George 30
Davies, Harry 32
Davies, Henry Francis 25
Davies, Henry 33
Davies, James 44
Davies, James 49
Davies, Jeffery James 28
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Davies, John Robert 22
Davies, John 27
Davies, Richard John 20
Davies, Robert James 20
Davies, Thomas John 26
Davies, Thomas 43
Davies, William F. 27
Davies, William 36
Davies, William 38
Davies, William 43
Dean, Albert Edgar 33
Deere, Thomas 41
Delbridge, Herbert J. 22
Dew, William 39
Dillon, John 36
Dodge, William 21
Dorey, Matthew Henry 21
Downes, George Henry 20
Downes, George Henry 43
Downes, Thomas 19
Druhan, James 26
Edwards, Ernest 25
Edwards, Evan 50
Edwards, George 19
Edwards, George 48
Edwards, Harry 19
Edwards, Henry James 37
Edwards, James David 33
Edwards, James 42
Edwards, Morgan 16
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Edwards, Richard C. 18
Edwards, Richard C. 20
Edwards, Richard John 20
Edwards, Thomas W. 30
Edwards, Walter 20
Eldridge, William 14
Emery, Charles 38
Etchells, James 34
Evans, Alfred Hugh 18
Evans, Charles 38
Evans, David Richard 20
Evans, David 51
Evans, Evan David 22
Evans, Evan 44
Evans, George Henry 24
Evans, Morgan 59
Evans, Rhys Jones 48
Evans, Richard 25
Evans, Robert John 19
Evans, Robert William 38
Evans, Thomas 41
Evans, William David 18
Evans, William John 22
Evans, William 47
Evans, William 49
Fern, Richard Morris 19
Fern, Thomas 20
Ferris, Frank 39
Field, Harry 32
Ford, Frederick John 35
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Ford, George 17
Ford, Henry William 28
French, Fred 21
George, Robert 14
Gilbert, Edward 55
Grainger, Walter 22
Green, Gomer 26
Gregory, Arthur Joseph 20
Griffiths, Albert John 21
Griffiths, David F. 28
Griffiths, Edward 18
Griffiths, Llewellyn 32
Gwynn, James 44
Hadley, Alfred James 59
Hall, Charles 36
Hall, Henry 35
Hallett, William Morgan 20
Harrison, George Thos. 45
Harrison, Reginald 18
Harvey, William John 28
Hearne, Thomas 42
Hemmings, William Henry 25
Henley, Walter 27
Henly, William 43
Herring, James 25
Herring, John 60
Herritts, George 22
Hill, Chas Fred 37
Hill, David Henry 16
Hillborne, William 36
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Hoare, Samuel Augustus 37
Hollister, Frank 20
Hopkins, Joseph 35
Howlett, John 39
Hughes, David 49
Hughes, Hugh 22
Hughes, Humphrey 19
Hughes, John -
Hughes, Ruben Thomas 21
Hughes, William Griff 22
Hughes, William 19
Humphries, Francis 33
Humphries, Idrisyn 31
Humphries, John Philip 23
Humphries, King Samuel 46
Hunt, Richard 34
Hyatt, Brynley 22
Hyatt, William Joseph 47
James, David John 34
James, Edward 16
James, Evan Hopkin 42
James, Richard 26
James, Thomas 28
Jenkins, David 17
Jenkins, Thomas Edgar 18
Jenkins, Thomas -
Jenkins, William 21
John, Thomas 31
John, Daniel 26
John, Owen Morien 22
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John, William -
Jones, Benjamin 34
Jones, Charles James 51
Jones, Christopher 25
Jones, David John 33
Jones, David -
Jones, David -
Jones, David 43
Jones, Drychan 22
Jones, Edmund 41
Jones, Edward 50
Jones, Evan Price 32
Jones, Evan William 27
Jones, Evan 52
Jones, Evan 53
Jones, Gilbert 24
Jones, Harry 33
Jones, Henry 33
Jones, Hugh 29
Jones, Humphrey 43
Jones, John Henry 29
Jones, John Thos. Bowen 34
Jones, John 34
Jones, John 50
Jones, Morgan 31
Jones, Richard Henry 16
Jones, Richard Owen 18
Jones, Richard 36
Jones, Richard 43
Jones, Ruben 14
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Jones, Samuel 21
Jones, Thomas David 19
Jones, Thomas John 19
Jones, Thomas Lloyd 37
Jones, Thomas 20
Jones, Thomas 36
Jones, Thomas 43
Jones, William Abel 21
Jones, William John 21
Jones, William Samuel 27
Jones, William 24
Jones, William 29
Jones, William 36
Jones, William 40
Kelly, John 22
Kenvin, Daniel 44
Kenvin, John 20
Kestell, Richard Davies 55
Kestell, Thomas 23
Kevil, Henry 33
King, William 25
Kinsey, Thomas 25
Kirkham, John Richard 19
Langmaid, Frank James 17
Lasbury, Sidney Alfred 26
Lewis, Charles Gordon 21
Lewis, Daniel 51
Lewis, David John 24
Lewis, Edward Morgan 51
Lewis, Edward Richard 50
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Lewis, Edward 23
Lewis, Griffith Robert 21
Lewis, John 35
Lewis, Joseph Thos. 31
Lewis, Rowland Edward 19
Lewis, Rowland 45
Lewis, Rowland 55
Lewis, Thomas Ivor 44
Lewis, Thomas 62
Llewellyn Edwin Samuel 26
Lngam, William 31
Lock, Joseph Arthur 20
Lock, Silas 17
Lower, James 18
Lower, Philip 22
Lynch, John 34
Maddocks, John 42
Maddocks, Thomas 16
Maher, James 37
Maldoom, John James 17
Manders, Aaron 51
Manfield, Samuel John 16
Manning, Rodney Austin 40
Martin, Alfred Charles 23
Matthews, Edward 61
Matthews, Richard 37
McMahon, Albert Edward 30
Mendus, Thomas Propert 32
Meredith, Thomas 43
Milton, Alfred 15
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Mogridge, John 29
Moran, James 24
Morgan, Benjamin 19
Morgan, David Lewis 35
Morgan, David 29
Morgan, Ernest 15
Morgan, Francis Lewis 35
Morgan, John 25
Morgan, Joseph 24
Morgan, Josiah 25
Morgan, William Henry 15
Morgan, William Henry 33
Morgan, William Thomas 46
Morgan, William Thomas 20
Morgan, William 35
Morris, Benjamin 38
Morris, Cadwaladr Wm 23
Morris, Edwin 23
Morris, John 31
Morris, Meyrick 30
Morris, Thomas James 19
Moss, Charles 20
Mulcock, Ernest Edward 21
Musty, Lewis 42
Newell, Richard 23
Owen, Charles 30
Owen, George 30
Owen, John Griffith 24
Pain, William Hadley 34
Parish, Albert 29
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Parry, Charles 47
Parry, Hugh 28
Parsons, Fredk. Charles 22
Pegler, Albert Edward 29
Penny, Harry 27
Peters, Charles 22
Peters, John Lot 27
Petherick, Ernest 16
Phillips, Thomas 28
Phillips, William John 20
Pingree, George 25
Price, George A. 28
Price, Harold 22
Price, Idris 18
Priest, Benjamin Joseph 36
Priest, James Victor 14
Priest, Thomas Benjamin 16
Pritchard, Albert Ed. 38
Pritchard, Frank 18
Pritchard, Henry 29
Prosser, William 28
Radcliffe, John 44
Rees, David James 28
Rees, Gwilym Morgan 29
Rees, Lewis 41
Rees, Oliver 19
Rees, Richard David 26
Rees, Richard 30
Rees, Thomas Henry 21
Rees, William John 43
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Rex, Richard Stephen 47
Richards, Arthur Morgan 24
Richards, David Thos 37
Richards, Frederick 32
Richards, John 34
Richards, Thomas John 16
Roberts, Griffith 20
Roberts, Griffith 20
Roberts, John 31
Roberts, Morgan 27
Roberts, Robert G. 20
Roberts, Taliesin -
Roberts, William Henry -
Roberts, William T. 26
Robinson, John 33
Rook, Robert 49
Ross, Peter Ronald 20
Ross, Robert 31
Ross, William John 22
Ross, William 45
Rosser, James John 22
Rowland, Robert John 31
Rowlands, Edward 48
Rowlands, Evan Thomas 20
Rowlands, John 39
Rowlands, Samuel 28
Rowlands, William 59
Saunders, Thomas 21
Scott, John Henry 26
Scriven, James 45
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Seager, Richard 26
Smale, George -
Small, Edward Samuel 44
Small, Edwin John 21
Smith, James 31
Spreadbury, George E. 32
Stanley, Thomas Edward 31
Stanton, Edwin Albert 27
Stephens, James Edward 32
Sullivan, Patrick 37
Sullivan, William John 33
Symes, Robert John 33
Taylor, Isaac James 25
Taylor, William John 33
Thomas, David 51
Thomas, Enoch Rees 23
Thomas, Henry 44
Thomas, Howell 38
Thomas, Hugh 30
Thomas, James 39
Thomas, John 31
Thomas, Joseph 33
Thomas, Levi James 37
Thomas, Rees 23
Thomas, Rees 42
Thomas, Richard 29
Thomas, Thomas Philip 21
Thomas, Thomas 28
Thomas, Thomas 47
Thomas, William Chas. 21
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Thomas, William Frank 28
Thomas, William 24
Thorn, Albert Wm. Henry 28
Thorne, Edwin George -
Tooze, Francis 40
Tucker, Thomas 21
Tudor, Alfred Rees 14
Twining, Evan 14
Twining, Erza 30
Twining, James 16
Twining, John Edward 28
Uphill, William Ewart 15
Vranch, Arthur 19
Vranch, Ernest 21
Waddon, William Frank 22
Walsh, Henry 40
Walters, Frederick 20
Watkins, William 23
Weston, Evan 40
Whitcombe, Gilbert 37
White, John 33
White, William Henry 24
William, Davies 43
Williams, Albert 23
Williams, Archibald 19
Williams, Arthur Henry 19
Williams, David 24
Williams, David 53
Williams, Emrys Hughes 20
Williams, Frederick 43
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Williams, Frederick 43
Williams, Glyndwr 14
Williams, Job 52
Williams, John 18
Williams, John 43
Williams, Joseph 26
Williams, Llewellyn 21
Williams, Noah 50
Williams, Patrick 28
Williams, Richard 43
Williams, William Hugh 39
Williams, O. William 22
Witherall, John Henry 24
Withers, Caleb 56
Wood, William Leslie 17
Worman, Simeon 57
Wright, Joseph 33
Yardley, Robert Eli 40
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1913 Death Roll
for 1901 Disaster
Back
Anslow, William -
Bennett, Edward 39
Blackmore, Albert 33
Bowles, David 31
Coombes, Thomas 29
Crocket, Charles Henry -
Crook, William 42
Davies, David -
Davies, Ebenezer -
Davies, John 25
Davies, John 36
Davies, Jonah 59
Davies, William -
Davies, William 36
Diegan, Andrew 22
Dobson, Thomas 26
Edwards, James 30
Evans, George -
Evans, John 54
Evans, William T 33
Filer, George -
Fisher, Thomas -
Fullerlove, Joseph 17
Fullerlove, Thomas -
Griffiths, Benjamin D 33
Griffiths, David 52
Griffiths, George 25
Griffiths, George 59
Harvey, John 19
Hurley, Lewis C. -
Next

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1913 Death Roll
for 1901 Disaster
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James, David 43
James, James 29
Jenkins, David 29
Jenkins, Evan John -
John, William 21
Jones, David 26
Jones, Gwilym -
Jones, Henry 25
Jones, John 32
Jones, Robert 36
Jones, Thomas 35
Jones, Thomas -
Jones, William Chas 30
Jones, William Jenkin 23
Layman, Henry 36
Lee, Albert Edward 28
Lewis, Albert 19
Lewis, Jacob -
Lewis, William J -
Llewellyn, Llewellyn -
Lower, George 26
Lower, Philip 18
Martin, Christopher -
Morgan, David -
Morgan, Gwillym -
Morgan, Thomas 35
Morgan, William 20
Muller, Franz 40
Parker, William -
Parry, William 39
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Phelps, John 26
Pugh, John -
Rowland, Rowland W -
Rowland, William 24
David Rowlands, Bob -
Shiel, William 49
Skym, David 17
Thomas, John 31
Thomas, John 34
Thomas, John 43
Thomas, Rees 39
Thomas, William 51
Trefoil, Thomas 57
Trotman, William 32
Vaughn, David -
Walters, John -
Warren, George 61
Whitfield, George 51
Williams, Evan 33
Williams, Thomas 53
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Front Page1923
Trimsaran, Llanelly (Drift)
On the 26 April 1923, seven miners were killed outright, two died from injuries on the way to
the hospital, at least five were so terribly injured that their recovery was doubtful and twenty
others were less seriously hurt.
The morning shift had just finished and a string of drams containing men and one containing
tools were being drawn up the drift, which is 1400 yards deep. The drams had ascended
about 300 yards when a link in a shackle snapped and five drams rapidly descended the drift.
They careered wildly for a distance before going off the road when they became piled up in
confusion.
The miners waiting their turn at the bottom of the drift heard the crash and hurried to the
rescue.
Death Roll
The photograph on the
timeline shows a typical drift
mine of the time.

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David T Davies 20
Morgan Davies 22
William Jenkins 42
Thomas John 68
Harold Parry 25
Harold Probert 16
William J Reece 24
Thomas Rogers 21
Sidney Williams 25
Thomas Williams -

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Front Page1927
Marine, Ebbw Vale
An explosion occurred 1st March which killed 52 miners. This was a gas and coal dust
explosion. The death toll would have been much larger if it wasn’t for the quick thinking of
the manager Mr E Gay, who on his arrival at the mine ordered the ventilation fan slowed
down so that it wouldn’t fan the flames of any fires burning below. His actions saved the lives
of the men who were still alive in the district where the explosion occurred.
At this time there were 1400 men employed at the colliery but fortunately when the
explosion occurred the night shift were working underground.
Death Roll

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Brain, Harry Labourer
Bryant, William Repairer
Button, Bert Collier
Button, Wilfred Engineman
Chappell, Joseph Assistant Collier
Clarke, John Collier
Cox, Charles Haulier
Crowley, William Repairer
Davies, W. G. Repairer
Davies, Reginald Repairer
Next
Dudley, William Labourer
Evans, David Labourer
Gatehouse, Tom Labourer
Green, Charles Repairer
Green, Fred Repairer
Griffiths, Alfred Collier
Hill, Sidney Repairer
Hobbs, John Labourer
Jenkins, Llewellyn Repairer
Jones, William Collier

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Lee, Charles Labourer
Lewis, Tom Engineman
Mason, Edward Labourer
Mathews, William Overman
Mathews, Trevor Collier
Mathews, Herbert Collier
Mathlin, Walter Repairer
Miles, John Collier
Monaghan, Charles Labourer
Monaghan, Richard Labourer
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Morris, Tom Collier
Morris, Tom Haulier
Nation, Richard Haulier
Penny, William Labourer
Pester, Robert Haulier
Pickford, William Collier
Probert, Wilfred Labourer
Reed, Harold Fitter
Riddock, Gordon Labourer
Rogers, John Examiner

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Rogers, John Labourer
Shellard, Walter Collier
Stibbs, Ben Assistant Collier
Tarr, Tom Collier
Trowbridge, Fred Labourer
Vaughan, Jim Repairer
Warren, William Assistant Haulier
Wilcox, Ted Ropeman
Williams, Ellis Examiner
Wright, Albert Labourer
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Wernbwll, Penclawdd (Drift)
On 28th November, The afternoon shift was underground when at about 7.00 PM there was a
gas explosion.
Rescuers were soon on the scene and found two miners overcome by afterdamp, the
rescuers then had to withdraw until rescue teams arrived with breathing apparatus.
The bodies of five other miners were recovered in the early hours of the following day.
An inquest occurred in the following January but it was concluded that the cause of the
explosion was unknown
Death roll
Thomas Luther Hughes 32
Edwin Harry 61
David Davies 34
Henry Griffiths 34
Thomas Jones 54
Thomas Henry Harry 33
William Arnold Benett 29

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Front Page1929:2
Milfraen, Blaenavon
A gas explosion occurred on 10th July which killed 9 Miners. An enquiry Concluded there was
inadequate ventilation which led to a build up of gas which was ignited by electrical sparks
from a faulty coal cutting machine.
Death roll
Barrel Archie
Edmunds Clifford
Holder Ernest
Howells Evan
Parry David
Ricketts David
Southcott Ernest
Williams Albert
Williams Evan

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Front Page1932
Llwynpia, Porth
A gas explosion occurred on 25th January killing 12 miners.
The enquiry into the disaster was held and all interested parties were represented.
Opinions Differed as to the precise point of origin or to the cause of the explosion
Death roll
Richard Cheney Fire man
Morgan Bowen Coal cutting machine man
Charles Cryer
Henry Evans
Stanly Dando
David Hughes
Clifford Sparrow
William Thomas
David Rogers
J Alsop Killed by afterdamp
John Evans Rescuer
John Jones Rescuer

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Front Page1937
Loveston, Pembroke
A small Anthacite pit that was opened in 1932 and closed in 1937 when seven miners
drowned when they hit old waterlogged workings.
The problem of uncharted workings and the resultant inrush of water if they were hit forced
the national coal board to withdraw from the Pembrokeshire section of the coalfield in 1948.
The Lovestone Colliery Ltd was based at Hean Castle Saundersfoot.
Death roll
William T.J. Jenkins 42
Robert Williams 42
Thomas Lloyd 30
Joseph Phillips 26
Frederick Beynon 40
John Milling 26
Ernest Phillips 22

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Rhigos Hirwaun (drift)
A series of seven Anthacite drifts were started in the early 1930’s.
On the 10th July an explosion in the No. 3 drift killed 16 miners, There were 36 miners
underground that day. The last of the drifts closed in 1965.
Death roll
William Henry Burton 40
Evan Idwal Edwards 21
David Emlyn Evans 39
Richard Howalls 56
Dan Jones Senior 65
Dan Jones Junior 38
Lewis Alexander Morris 16
Leslie Morris 18
John Jones 16
Philip M. Jones 34
David Jordan 46
David Morgan Lewis 50
Thomas MacDonald 16
John Mochan 45
William D. Watte 34

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Front Page1955
Blaenhirwain, Crosshands
The Explosion occurred on 6th September when four miners were killed and thirteen others
injured. One of the injured died in hospital on the 18th September, bringing the death roll to
six.
All six had died as a result of a coal gas explosion, the cause of which can not be confirmed.
The colliery closed in 1962
Death roll
John Davies
Norris Howells
Thomas Richard Morris
William Henry Richards
David Pennington

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Lewis Merthyr Trehafod
An explosion occurred on 22nd November killing 9 Miners. The explosion was caused by a
rock fall, striking a steel support ring. Causing sparks resulting in a methane gas explosion.
Two miners were killed instantly. Seven more died in hospital but incredibly, five of the
victims survived the fireball.
Death roll
E. Howells 17
S. Thomas 69
A. Atkins 40
T. Davies 38
A. R. Fox 41
C. Jones 36
R. Jones 57
J.H. Mills 35
P. Proffit 22

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Six Bells, Monmouthshire
The disaster was caused by an ignition of firedamp at approximately 10:45 AM on the 28th
June. Coal Dust was raised and ignited, and the explosion spread almost throughout the
district.
Forty five miners were killed.
Lethal concentrations of carbon monoxide were present which suggested then miners lost
consciousness rapidly and death occurred within minutes.
No-one can say with certainty where or by what means the explosion started.
Death Roll

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Baiton, Ivor J. 48 Cutterman
Bancroft, Daniel J. 46 Collier on panzer
Brown, Robert C. 35 Roof Control Off.
Cooper, Frank 44 Supplies Man
Corbett, Joseph 50 Haulier
Crandon, Thomas 46 Repairer
Davies, Walter T. 34 Borer
Edwards, Royden J. 27 Repairer
Elsey, Percy G. 52 Repairer
Evans, Albert J. 34 Packer
Frampton, Leonard F. 29 Collier
Next
Gardner, Albert 59 Assit. Cutterman
Goldspink, George 37 Repairer
Griffiths, Clive A. 18 Prop Checker
Griffiths, Vernon A. 33 Deputy
Harding, Earnest V. 51 Deputy
Jones, Idris 57 Packer
Jones, John P. 56 Repairer
King, Joseph J. 56 Packer
Lane, Dennis E. 19 Wireman
Luffman, George H. 55 General Worker
Mapp. Telford C. 42 General Worker

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Mayberry, Herbert A. 55 Dumper
Morden, William J. 52 Engine Driver
Moore, Sidney 54 Repairer
Morgan, Colin M. D. 26 Repairer
Morgan, Colin R. 22 Asst. Repairer
Morgan, Ray M. 44 Repairer
Morris, Islwyn 44 Deputy
Partridge, Anthony V. 20 Asst. Borer
Partridge, William H. 45 Borer
Paul, Trevor 25 Asst. Repairer
Phipps, Wilfred A.C. 60 Cutterman
Back
Pinkett, Albert G. 45 Collier
Rees, Frederick 37 Fitter
Reynolds, William G. 21 Asst. Repairer
Thomas, Wilfred H. 57 Repairer
Waters, Arthur 37 General Worker
Watkins, Phillip J. 53 Engine Driver
Weston, Wilfred 47 Water Infuser
White, Frederick 58 Under-Manager
Whittingham, William 55 Asst. Repairer
Williams, Richard J. 51 General Worker
Woosnam, John 24 Fitter

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Front Page1962
Tower Hirwaun
An explosion occurred on the 12th April at approximately 10.30 AM. Ten miners were killed
and nine miners were injured.
All ten miners died as a result of multiple injuries recieved in the explosion.
The cause of the explosion was arcing, resulting from a short circuit in a newly installed
length of cable serving the electrical equipment and occurred on the inside of a loop in the
cable where it had been bent back on itself in order to connect it up to the switch in the
heading.
Death roll
E.Bond 47
L. Davies 37
Daniel Jones Unknown
T. Jones 57
William john Maull 61
D. J. Price 51
L. R. Price 27
W. Smith 39
K. Strong 32
D. Williams 37

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Cambrian, Clydach Vale
The explosion occurred on 17th May, and thirty one miners died. There were no survivors to
substantiate the cause of the explosion.
It was found that an air door was defective and had caused a short circuit in the ventilation
system which in turn caused a build up of methane gas. Coinciding with this it appeared that
when dealing with an electrical fault on a tail end switch, the electrician failed to replace all
the bolts in the flameproof cover when testing the switch. It was suggested that the gas had
entered the switch, ignited, and the flame had passed into the roadway causing the
explosion.
In the same mine, a gas explosion had also occurred on the 10th March 1905, killing thirty
three men and sixty six horses, and injuring another eleven miners.
Death Roll
Death Roll for
the 1905
disaster.

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Arnold, Roland 48 Fireman Porth
Breeze, Ernest John 38 Manager Gelli
Burnett, Ernest 46 Chargehand Penrhiwfer
Calvert, Peter 40 Repairer Tonypandy
Channing, James 46 Poster Williamstown
Colcombe, Albert William 44 Team Captain Clydach Vale
Daniels, Raymond John 34 Stableman Clydach Vale
Davies, Gerrard Wayne 24 Asst. Elect. Engineer Tonypandy
Davies, Kenneth 26 Plough Opperator Blaenclydach
Evans, David 28 Poster Blaenclydach
Next

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Flower, Ronald 45 Repairer Clydach Vale
Gregson, Ronald 28 Electrician Trehebert
Griffiths, David Alfred 43 Repairer Tonypandy
Hann, Thomas 52 Conveyor Opperator Blaenclydach
Hucker, Richard 32 Repairer Clydach Vale
Jacobs, Ivor 45 Poster Trealaw
Lee, Henry 56 Roadman Clydach Vale
May, Leonard 33 Poster Trealaw
Morgan, Ivor 32 Poster Trealaw
Newman, Arthur James 46 Poster Blaenclydach
Back Next

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Nicholas, Vivian 51 Poster Blaenclydach
Pope, Harold David 50 Overman Clydach Vale
Price, Donald 42 Stableman Tonypandy
Rees, Evan Luther 48 Poster Edmundstown
Roberts, Richard John 55 Repairer Tonypandy
Thomas, Gwilym 28 Asst. Stableman Blaenclydach
Thomas, Williams Isaac 33 Poster Clydach Vale
Williams, Edmund William 51 Repairer Williamstown
Williams, Leslie, J. 54 Undermanager No. 1 Pit Cwmparc
Williams, Sidney 47 Poster Tonypandy
Williams, Trevor John 27 Poster Tonypandy
Back

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1965 Death Roll
for 1905 Disaster
Back
Next
Chalker, Joseph 39 Ostler Clydach Vale
Davies, Evan 42 Fireman Tonypandy
Davies, Jenkin 49 Repairer Clydach Vale
Davies, Thomas 21 Collier Clydach Vale
Edmunds, Noah 48 Repairer Clydach Vale
Enoch, David 35 Brattice-man Clydach Vale
Evans, Evan 36 Labourer Ton Pentre
Evans, William 45 Repairer Clydach Vale
Griffiths, John 40 Horse shoer Clydach Vale
Griffiths, William 60 Locker Clydach Vale

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1965 Death Roll
for 1905 Disaster
Back
Back
Gronow, William 51 Haulier Clydach Vale
Harding, Morgan 47 Master Haulier Clydach Vale
Harvey, Henry 45 Haulier Dinas
Hawkins, Thomas 48 Ostler Clydach Vale
Harris, William 33 Fireman Clydach Vale
John, Thomas 36 Hitcher Clydach Vale
Jones, Edward 47 Repairer Porth
Jones, John 38 Repairer Tonypandy

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Front Page1966
Aberfan
One of the saddest days in the history of the South Wales coalfield occurred on Friday 21st
October when after a week of heavy rainfall a mountain of coal waste moved incredibly
quickly down the mountainside, engulfing Moy Road and Pant Glas Junior School just as the
children were inside. The tragedy caused the death of 28 adults and 116 children.
Many noted the poignancy of the situation: If the disaster had struck a few minutes earlier
the children would not have been in their classrooms and if it had happened a few hours
later the school would have broken up for half term.
Great rescue efforts were made but the large numbers who crowded into the village tended
to hamper the work of the trained rescue teams, but only a few lives could be saved in any
case.The tribunal that was held afterwards concluded that the blame for the disaster rests
with the national coal board.
Death Roll

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Gareth Evans 3 months
Catherine E. Evans 3 Years
Howell L. Evans 7
Michael Fitzpatrick 7
Angela V. Hopkins 7
Carl Minnett 7
Thomas Probet 7
David P. Roberts 7
Rodger C. Summers 7
Malcolm Andrew 8
Dennis Arscott 8
Brian Davies 8
Edwin Davies 8
Paul Davies 8
Anthony W. England 8
Maureen M. Evans 8
Daphne M. Fudge 8
Gillian Gough 8
Jennifer Haines 8
Anthony D. Hill 8
Linda Hodkinson 8
Robert O. Jones 8
Anne C. Lee 8
Susan Meredith 8
Cheryl Mortimer 8
Arthur O’Brien 8
Karen O’Brein 8
Valmai M. Owen 8
Jacqueline Powell 8
Julie Price 8
Next

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Joseph Wilkshire 8
Angela Williams 8
David W. Williams 8
Graham Williams 8
Carol A. Carpenter 9
David M. Davies 9
Royston Carl Davies 9
Ian Dougall 9
Brian Michael Gogh 9
Trevor T. Gray 9
Dwynwen Griffiths 9
Lynn Harding 9
Roger D. Hayes 9
Royston Hodkinson 9
Maralyn C. Howells 9
Annette Hughes 9
Necia James 9
Janet Jones 9
Kevin T. Jones 9
Paul Jones 9
Robert G. Jones 9
Susan Jones 9
John A. King 9
Sharon Lewis 9
Sandra Leyshon 9
Barbara E. Minney 9
Phillip Mumford 9
Jill E. Parfitt 9
Christine Prosser 9
Howard D. Prosser 9
Back Next

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Layton K. Reakes 9
Julie J. Regan 9
Sylvia F. Richards 9
Martine A. Short 9
Annette Smith 9
Avis E. Sullivan 9
Keith Williams 9
Linda Anderson 10
Kelvin D. Andrew 10
Royston Barrett 10
Kay Bowns 10
Peter Collins 10
Susan M. Crotty 10
Gareth Davies 10
David T. Davies 10
Terence M. Davies 10
Sandra P. Donovan 10
Christine George 10
Richard P. Goldsworthy 10
Pamela Heaman 10
Stephen V. Hopkins 10
Eryl M. Jones 10
John I. Jones 10
Jean Launchbury 10
Robert Breeze 10
Jeanette L. Brown 10
Robert Breeze 10
Jeanette L. Brown 10
Desmond Carpenter 10
Michael Collins 10
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Maralyn Minnett 10
Robert G. Minney 10
Norma Mumford 10
Geoffrey D. Needs 10
Corwyn T. Reakes 10
Lorraine R.I. Richards 10
Megan O. Robbins 10
Anthiony J. Sullivan 10
Victoria M. Symonds 10
Randolph Tudor 10
Antony J. Watkins 10
Carol Williams 10
June M. Williams 10
Peter Williams 10
Merrill Barnard 11
Yvonne Drage 11
Jean W. Evans 11
Gillian I. Jones 11
Edward C. Mumford 11
Patricia Probert 12
Shelia Fitzpatrick 13
Michael Jones 13
Vincent C. Parfitt 13
Robert Coffey 14
Raymond J.Collins 14
Andrew Rees 14
Back Next

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Michael Davies 21
Marjorie A. Rees 22
Brian Harris 24
Marjorie C. Evans 26
Graham Russel 26
Patricia Evans 32
Gwyneth Collins 34
Margareta Bates 35
Nancy Williams 44
Back
Adults
Glens G. Jones 46
Lewis Jones 46
David Beynon 47
Richard Jones 48
Sidney Russel 53
Myrtle I. Thomas 54
Charles Thomas 60
Margaret J. Carston 61
Evelyn M. Jones 61
Evan G. Carston 64
Albert Mytton 64
John M. Evans 65
Tydfil J. Taylor 73
Catherine Jones 75
Frederick Hanson 78
Ann Jennings -
Lucy May Mytton -
Susan Probert -

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Front Page1971
Cynheidre, Llanelli
One of the most modern anthracite collieries in the UK at a cost of £16 Million and employed
about 900 men producing 325,000 Tons of anthracite per year
On the 6th April a hidden pocket of gas poured into an underground roadway killing six
miners and injuring twenty five. If it had not been for the quick thinking of and unknown
miner in switching of an air fan the death toll would have been much higher.
Death roll
Douglas Lyndon Davies
William Luther Davies
Henryk Itzi
Albert George Miller
Henry Garfield Roberts
Ieuan Gareth Watkins

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PROTOTYPE SOUTH
WALES PAGE! DO
NOT OVERWRITE!

Timeline of mining accidents in south wales/Avon valley

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