Fochriw Colliery

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Allen, Joseph, 27 Jul 1900, 3.30 p.m., aged 45, Ostler, While attempting to pass between two sets of waggons on the siding, he was crushed between the buffers

Andrews, A., 08 Jan 1870, aged 22, Hitcher, Killed by shaft rope falling off drum [More information ...]

Ashton, Joseph, 19 Oct 1885, aged 25, Collier, Fall of roof

Astley, Edward, 15 Jul 1908, aged 54, Master haulier, Deceased was riding between two trams of an empty journey up a dip, when by some means he fell off the shackle, and was run over

Bateman, T., 26 Sep 1900, 8 a.m., aged 34, Master haulier, Fall of roof. On road, he was riding on an engine plane, when the journey got off the road, and knocked out 4 pairs of timbers, causing a fall of about 3 tons

Beynon, Samuel, 07 Mar 1878, aged 41, Hitcher, Killed by fall of coal from ascending cage

Bowen, George, 14 Jun 1867, aged 13, Collier, Killed by a fall of stone

Cheek, E. J., 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 24, Repairer [More information ...]

Clark, Joseph, 23 Dec 1903, (accident: 15 Dec 1903, 8.15 p.m.), aged 36, Foreman-haulier, Deceased was attempting to detach the tailrope from a journey of empty trams which was being drawn in. He failed to do so, with the result that the three front trams got derailed and crushed him against the side. He died in eight days

Coles, John, 16 Nov 1909, aged 43, Fireman, Fall of roof. Deceased and a repairer were examining an old pair of timbers, the collar of which the latter had been endeavouring to lever off, when the collar sprang off the arms, owing to side pressure, and a general collapse occurred. Cliff, 15 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet thick, fell discharging one pair of timber, and burying deceased

Conway, Charles, 29 Nov 1911, aged 28, Hitcher, Something fell down the shaft, probably a piece of coal, and struck his head. Nothing was found to account for the accident

Davies, D., 08 Jan 1870, aged 18, Labourer, Killed by shaft rope falling off drum [More information ...]

Davies, David, 06 Jun 1878, aged 63, Timberer, Killed by fall of roof

Davies, David, 24 Jan 1885, aged 31, Labourer, Explosion of firedamp

Davies, David, 20 Jan 1904, 4.30 p.m., aged 53, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 16 ft. by 3 ft. by 1 ft. thick, fell from a slant in the roof. It was unsupported. Ras Las seam

Davies, W., 02 May 1866, aged 48, Collier, Fall of stone

Davies, William, 06 Dec 1901, (accident: 29 Nov 1901), aged 57, Road Cleaner, Run over by a full "journey" as he was-oiling the rollers. Died 6th Dec.

Davis, George, 16 Mar 1891, aged 13, Collier's boy, Fall of roof (cliff 8ft. x 3ft. x 12ins.thick) while he was filling a tram at roadend. It fell between a cog on one side and a road post on the other and although the bed of cliff had thinned out there were fully 10ft. of it unripped without any intermed

Edmunds, William, 28 Jan 1910, aged 72, Labourer, While in a manhole to allow a journey of trains to pass, his clothing was caught by one of the trams and he was dragged out and crushed by the trams

Edwards, D. W., 19 Aug 1903, 1.30 p.m., aged 18, Collier, At face, cliff, 5 ft. 9 ins. by 1 ft. by 25 ins. thick, fell while deceased and his mate were turning a stall off a heading, the roof of which had been ripped. A prop had stood under it, but was over-balanced by the stone. A sprag should have been set against the stone, which formed the side of the "rippings." Six feet seam

Eustace, William, 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 19, Labourer [More information ...]

Evans, D. J., 03 Mar 1905, 4 p.m., aged 16, Collier Boy, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 32 ft. by 4½ ft. by 26 ins. thick, fell from between two slants, which ran up through the roof until they joined. The roof is said to have been supported by four props which were discharged by the fall. Ras Las seam

Evans, David, 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 17, Labourer [More information ...]

Evans, Elias, 08 Jan 1901, aged 19, Engineman, Deceased was caught in the coils of a rope and carried round the drum while trying to adjust the rope, when the engine was in motion

Evans, Evan, 29 Oct 1912, aged 31, Repairer, He was ascending the shaft in the top deck of cage, and when having reached a point about 50 yards from the bottom, he fell out and was killed. The bar fence of cage became unfastened by some means

Evans, J., 07 Dec 1877, Collier, Killed by a fall of coal

Evans, Oliver, 02 Dec 1886, aged 60, Fitter, Crushed in the shaft at a pumping station ; owing to the cage having been started without a signal from the mouthing through some misunderstanding

Evans, Thomas, 29 Jun 1871, aged 45, Collier, Killed by an explosion of gas [More information ...]

Evans, Thomas, 12 Dec 1876, Collier, Killed by fall of stone

Evans, William, 07 Feb 1900, 10.30 a.m., aged 12, Collier boy, Fall of side. At face, coal and clod. 5 ft x 20 ins. x 5 ft thick, fell off a "back slip." No sprags set. Ras Las seam

Evans, William Arthur, 03 Aug 1909, aged 36, Pitman, Deceased and the leading pitman, from the top of the cage, were cleaning out a water pipe about 50 yards below "meetings," and for convenience in doing their work had tied the corner of the cage to the pump column by means of a piece of ropeyarn. Without their giving any signal the cage was raised in the pit. It wrenched itself free from the pump column and struck the descending cage, on the top of which the deceased was found, dead, when it reached the bottom. The banksman alleged that he received the usual signal to pull up the cage, while the men at the pit bottom were equally positive that no signal was given by them. It was never satisfactorily cleared up who, if anyone, gave the signal, or whether any signal was received

Evans, William R., 09 Dec 1907, 4 p.m., aged 17, Collier Boy, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 13 ft. by 5½ ft. by 15 ins. thick, discharged one prop and fell, off a face slip, on deceased as he was boxing coal along the face. Ras Las seam

Gibbon, W. J., 05 Feb 1904, (accident: 04 Feb 1904, 3.30 p.m.), aged 19, Shackler, Deceased fell off, and was ran over by a journey of 16 full trams on which he was illegally riding. He died the following day. He was caught riding a fortnight previously, and was told that he would be punished the next time

Griffiths, Richard, 01 Sep 1896, aged 57, Assistant repairer, Fall while clearing rubbish from a fall following the removal of a framing. Road in Rhas Las (Nine feet) Seam

Gwyther, D. G., 13 May 1911, aged 18, Labourer, Fall of side at working face. While two men were stowing rubbish in the gob, a slip of coal supported by three sprags fell, killing one man and injuring the other

Hinton, Frederick, 02 Oct 1908, aged 17, Collier boy, Deceased worked with an experienced collier in a face stall in the Ras Las seam, here 4 feet 8 inches thick with 19 inches of clod above. The collier had sprags against the face slips and was working his "ends" up from the left of the stall. He had worked one "end" up as far as the left arm of a pair of timber, stood within 2 feet of the face, and, wishing to avoid knocking out the newly set pair of timber, was cutting into the slip near the right hand arm at the time of the accident. He had previously knocked out two sprags, and sent the boy back on to the road. As he was using his mandril a large piece of clod and coal, 2 feet 5 inches wide at the top and tapering to nothing at foot of seam, 8 feet 4 inches long and 6 feet thick, broke off the face, fell between the arms of the pair of timber, and struck out a temporary post, which, in falling, caught deceased on the temple and killed him. The collier did not expect the overlying beds of clod to fall with the coal, and thought that the lad was far enough back to be out of danger

Howells, John, 17 Apr 1867, aged 39, Overman, Killed in No. 2 Vochriw shaft

Hughes, Griffith, 05 Mar 1895, aged 12, Collier's boy, While deceased was clearing a plane for the collier to fix a sprag to a roll in the roof undermined 16ins a piece 2½ft. long x 10ins. thick fell upon him. Big coal seam, 4ft. 4ins. thick

Hughes, John, 19 May 1865, aged 15, Collier, Explosion of gas 10th May. 13 injured. Explosion caused by the recklessness of a person about 40 years of age passing the danger signal with a lighted candle in his hand. He was seriously burned but recovered

Hughes, John, 05 Oct 1865, aged 15, Collier, Explosion of gas 10th May. 13 injured. Explosion caused by the recklessness of a person about 40 years of age passing the danger signal with a lighted candle in his hand. He was seriously burned but recovered

Hughes, R. T., 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 19, Labourer [More information ...]

Hughes, W., 05 Oct 1865, aged 32, Pitman, Repairing pumps in shaft and fell

Humphreys, D. J., 14 Feb 1908, aged 14, Collier boy, Fall of side. At face, coal and shale, 19 inches by 20 inches by 27 inches thick, fell off a slip as deceased was passing. It ought to have been taken down. Red coal seam

Jenkins, David, 18 Jun 1903, 9.45 a.m., aged 19, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 44 ins. by 23 ins. by 12 ins. thick, fell while deceased is said to have been preparing to set a prop under it. Ras Las seam

Jenkins, G., 30 Dec 1868, aged 19, Collier, Killed by a fall of roof

Jenkins, William Thomas, 05 Dec 1879, aged 15, Collier's boy

Jewis, J., 14 Jan 1870, aged 56, Collier, Killed by a fall of roof

Jones, David, 04 Apr 1907, 1.50 p.m., aged 54, Repairer, This accident was caused by an act of forgetfulness on the part of the rider of an auxiliary haulage, who omitted to reset the pointers of a branch dip after passing through them, with the consequence that the main journey, instead of keeping to the main dip, turned into the branch road, and ran over deceased, who was cleaning the road a short distance below the pointers

Jones, Isaac, 01 Oct 1880, aged 13, Collier's boy, Fall of roof

Jones, J., 11 Feb 1876, aged 25, Hitcher, Killed by piece of coal falling on him at bottom of shaft

Jones, J., 28 Mar 1877, aged 38, Collier, Killed by fall of stone

Jones, James H., 12 Jan 1901, aged 29, Collier, As 12 full trams were being hauled up a drift, rising 1 in 12, the third tram parted from the fourth through improper shackling, and nine trams ran back on to the deceased, who were following much too closely. Three horses also killed [More information ...]

Jones, John, 13 Aug 1872, aged 29, Collier, Killed by fall of stone

Jones, John, 18 Feb 1882, aged 40, Collier, Fall of coal

Jones, John, 04 Sep 1886, aged 13, Road cleaner, Fall of stone from the roof of engine plane where he was engaged cleaning the road

Jones, John, 14 Nov 1895, aged 24, Collier, Fall of roof in face of a cross heading in Ras Las seam while fixing a prop under a collar. Five pairs of timber from 2 to 2½ft. apart discharged and 20 tons of rubbish fell

Jones, John, 11 Jun 1907, 11 a.m., aged 40, Haulier, Fall of side. On road, cliff, 6½ ft. by 2 ft. by 7 ft. thick, fell from the side of a timbered road, off a "slip" as deceased and his horse were passing

Jones, M., 08 Jan 1870, aged 48, Overman, Killed by shaft rope falling off drum [More information ...]

Jones, Owen, 08 Jul 1911, (accident: 31 May 1911), aged 59, Repairer, Fall of roof on road. While clearing a small fall at a double parting in the presence of a fireman, a stone fell on him from the roof and injured him so that he died 8th July, 1911

Jones, Richard, 06 Jul 1890, aged 42, Collier, Fall of roof, 4ft. x ft. at face which was propped. Big Coal seam, 3½ ft. thick. Long-wall

Jones, Thomas, 26 May 1866, aged 42, Hitcher, Killed by carriage. Mistake in knocking [More information ...]

Jones, Thomas, 26 Jun 1877, aged 43, Haulier, Killed by trams on dip heading

Jones, Thomas, 03 Sep 1906, 10.30 a.m., aged 49, Haulier, Deceased had attached his horse to a an empty tram, and was going towards the horse's head when it started off at a trot. Deceased caught hold of a part of the harness and ran along for about 22 yds., when he fell, and was run over. The under-manager was within 3 or 4 yds. of deceased when the accident occurred. The horse is said to be very quiet. Why he started off is a mystery

Jones, W., 24 Jun 1873, Collier, Killed by explosion of gas

Jones, William, 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 30, Repairer [More information ...]

Joyce, Ernest, 14 Sep 1909, aged 34, Labourer, Fall of roof. Deceased was shifting rubbish in a Barry face when a piece of cliff, 17 feet by 4 feet by 16 inches thick fell from a wet, greasy, slant. It was unsupported though the last row of props were all within 5 feet of the coal. Red seam

Kechone, William, 17 Apr 1902, 4 p.m., aged 30, Trimmer, Deceased tried to close the end door of a truck by holding a 6½ ft. prop against it, while another man lowered an empty truck against it to give it a blow. The prop broke, and deceased was crushed between the trucks

Kempton, Henry, 04 Nov 1908, aged 13, Collier boy, Fall of side. At face, coal and shale, 3 feet by 1 foot 3 inches by 2 feet 4 inches thick, discharged a sprag and fell on deceased as he was picking up some pieces of coal to fill a tram. Ras Las seam

Lang, William, 06 Dec 1869, aged 44, Collier, Killed by rope breaking, falling from spiral drum [More information ...]

Lewis, Daniel, 27 Feb 1901, aged 38, Collier, He was taking an empty tram down a dip about 3 ins. per yard, with three sprags in the wheels. He walked in front of the tram to keep it from going too fast. It overpowered him, and ha caught his foot in a rope sheave and fell, and was run over

Lewis, Ellis, 26 May 1866, aged 23, Hitcher, Killed by carriage. Mistake in knocking [More information ...]

Lewis, Garfield, 06 Apr 1906, 1 p.m., aged 15, Collier boy, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, triangular in shape, 16 ft. by 16 ft. by 9 ft., and 3 ft. thick, crushed out a cog and three posts, and fell on deceased. The collier in charge of the stall was making room to stand a pair of timbers under the stone. There were slants on two sides of it. Ras Las seam

Lewis, John, 26 Mar 1891, aged 21, Collier, Fall of roof (cliff, 11ft. x 4½ft. x 2ft. thick in middle) from between two slips meeting at top at face. Three props and cog discharged. Big coal seam. Long wall

Lewis, John, 12 Mar 1903, 2 p.m., aged 56, Assistant Repairer, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 5 ft. 9 ins. by 14 ins. by 12 ins. thick, fell as deceased was approaching the face to ask if the collier required more timbers to build a cog with. Two props were crushed out. Six feet seam

Lewis, Thomas, 12 Jan 1901, aged 17, Labourer, As 12 full trams were being hauled up a drift, rising 1 in 12, the third tram parted from the fourth through improper shackling, and nine trams ran back on to the deceased, who were following much too closely. Three horses also killed [More information ...]

Lewis, Watkin, 25 Sep 1880, aged 50, Lander, Falling from landing on to the screens and into truck

Llewellyn, M., 27 May 1867, (accident: 07 May 1867), aged 44, Collier, Explosion of gas on the 7th. 4 others burnt

Martin, William, 12 Apr 1872, aged 36, Pumpman, Killed by trucks

Millward, William, 20 Aug 1906, 2 p.m., aged 34, Rider, Deceased was riding on one of the shackles of a journey, when his head must have been crushed against a low piece of roof, which caused him to fall under the trams. When roads cannot be maintained higher than 5 ft. riding should be strictly forbidden

Moore, Edwin, 20 Jul 1901, aged 29, Collier, While waiting near a brattice sheet, placed under a small opening in the roof, he was burned by an ignition of firedamp, presumably brushed down from the crevice by the passing of a horse and haulier under the sheet. Naked lights used

Morgan, James, 03 Apr 1914, (accident: 14 Feb 1914), aged 35, Day Haulier, Fall of roof on haulage road. He died April 3rd, 1914, as a result of his injuries

Morris, Edwin, 19 Feb 1913, aged 39, Night Hitcher, When engaged lifting a derailed tram on the cage, the latter was wound up owing to some misunderstanding of the signals. He fell out, into the sump, and died from injuries received

Murrey, William, 22 Jul 1886, aged 45, Labourer, While pushing a railway waggon which he was loading with dirt he was crushed between the buffers of some other waggons which were being shunted to the screens

Newall, Thomas, 02 Nov 1904, 5.45 a.m., aged 39, Repairer, Fall of roof. On road. A pair of low timbers on an engine-plane had been taken out and 14 trams of rubbish had fallen. While the rubbish was being filled away preparatory to putting in new timbers, deceased was passing when two pairs of timbers were crushed out, and about eight trams of rubbish fell on him

Parson, Edward, 30 Jun 1896, aged 39, Rider, Deceased was riding contrary to regulations between tram on engine plane and falling of, was crushed between them and side wall

Phillips, David, 15 May 1879, aged 12, Collier's boy, Killed by an explosion of gas

Powell, T. J., 05 Apr 1900, 4.45 p.m., aged 15, Road boy, While on their way out were struck by runaway trams on double parting owing to the breaking of a hitching plate [More information ...]

Price, Ben, 04 Jul 1887, aged 78, Roadsman, Slipped in front of a loaded tram while trying to stop the horse which was drawing it the haulier being behind

Price, David, 26 Jul 1897, aged 13, Collier boy, Fall of side at face coal while filling coal box a piece about 10lb fell on his head striking it against the sharp edge of the box and fracturing his skull. Rhas Las seam 3½ft thick

Radcliff, Charles, 15 Mar 1890, aged 27, Haulier, Crushed between loaded tram and shaft on which he was riding down heading dipping 1½ins. per yard the horse having run away

Rees, S., 08 Jan 1870, aged 47, Hitcher, Killed by shaft rope falling off drum [More information ...]

Richards, David, 17 Feb 1868, aged 14, Collier, Killed by a fall of coal

Rosser, George, 29 Sep 1881, aged 14, Collier's boy, Killed by an explosion of firedamp

Rowlands, Evan, 07 Sep 1904, 3.30 p.m., aged 13, Collier Boy, Fall of roof. At face, rock, 7½ ft. by 2 ft, by 7 ins. thick, burst out of the roof, owing to sudden squeeze, and killed the lad. The roof had been squeezing on the previous night, and there was a "break" running parallel to the face. It was from this break that the stone fell. One prop, which had been stood under the stone, was crushed out. Four feet seam

Rowlands, William, 11 Mar 1890, aged 58, Collier, Fall of roof (part of rippings) 5ft. x 3ft. x 22 ins. from a slip. There was only one prop under it although the slip had been exposed by a previous fall adjoining. Big coal. Longwall

Shankland, Benjamin, 29 Aug 1879, aged 59, Waller, Killed by fall of stone

Strange, W. J., 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 17, Labourer [More information ...]

Swancot, John, 03 Jan 1901, aged 32, Rider, Deceased was riding in front of a journey of ten trams up a drift rising 3¼ inches per yard. The first and second trams parted, the nine running back. He was jerked to the ground, and the first tram went over him. This was caused by careless shackling

Thomas, D. W., 05 Apr 1900, 4.45 p.m., aged 16, Waller, While on their way out were struck by runaway trams on double parting owing to the breaking of a hitching plate [More information ...]

Thomas, David, 10 Jan 1867, aged 24, Collier, Fell down shaft, wound up sheave [More information ...]

Thomas, David, 09 Nov 1871, aged 13, Collier, Killed by a fall of coal

Thomas, H., 08 Jan 1870, aged 39, Hitcher, Killed by shaft rope falling off drum [More information ...]

Thomas, Ivor, 09 Jan 1906, 4.45 p.m., aged 16, Collier boy, Fall of side. At face, coal, 20 ft. by 3 ft, by 2 ft. thick, fell off a face slip, crushing three sprags out. Ras Las seam

Thomas, R. J., 29 Oct 1903, 9.30 p.m., aged 19, Haulier, On road, cliff, 13 ft. by 6 ft. by 4 ft. thick. Deceased was driving a horse, attached to a tram laden with timber, along a stall, when a fall occurred, killing him and his horse. A smooth "slant," running along the lower side, was to be seen in the roof after the fall. Three pairs of double timbers were discharged. Ras Las seam

Thomas, Richard, 02 Mar 1914, aged 28, Haulier, He appears to have been accidentally caught and run over by a journey of full trams which was travelling about two miles an hour. When last seen he was walking in front of the moving trams

Thomas, Thomas John, 07 Nov 1902, 5 p.m., aged 20, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 9¼ ft. by 6½ ft. by 18 ins. thick, fell while deceased was setting a prop under it; one prop was crushed out. Nine feet seam

Thomas, William, 26 Oct 1885, aged 19, Collier, Fall of roof

Thomas, William, 20 Jul 1913, (accident: 03 Apr 1913), aged 50, Repairer, Fall of roof on roadway. Having made place to put up a new pair of timber he was clearing up the rubbish, when a stone fell and fractured his right leg below the knee. Amputation became necessary, and he died from blood poisoning on July 20th, 1913

Unknown, -, 06 Dec 1869, aged 19, Killed by rope breaking, falling from spiral drum [More information ...]

Waters, Thomas John, 25 Jun 1888, aged 12, Collier boy, Fall of a face slip of coal, 4ft.x 2ft.x 4½ft. which had stood spragged for two days. The sprag was discharged. Deceased worked in the adjoining stall and had no business where he was killed

Watkins, William, 16 May 1890, aged 22, Assistant repairer, Explosion of firedamp

Williams, D., 10 Jan 1867, aged 21, Collier, Fell down shaft, wound up sheave [More information ...]

Williams, D. R., 14 Jan 1903, 4 p.m., aged 14, Collier boy, Fall of side. At face, coal and "clod," 11 ft. by 3 ft., by 2¼ ft. thick, fell off a "back" slip, as deceased was filling his "curling" box with coal. Although the coal was said to have been vertical, sprags should have been set. Rhas Las seam

Williams, Edward, 04 Jan 1881, aged 22, Collier, Fall of roof

Williams, Edward, 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 38, Haulier [More information ...]

Williams, George, 16 Aug 1878, aged 15, Collier, Killed by an explosion of fire-damp [More information ...]

Williams, James, 11 May 1907, 1.40 p.m., aged 35, Assistant Repairer, Deceased, who was on his way out at the end of the shift, arrived at a double-parting on the main drift just as an empty journey was entering. Instead of waiting for the full journey to start up the drift ahead of him, he proceeded on his way. He was overtaken and run over by the full journey 230 yards above the parting. The road was low and narrow, but there were sufficient manholes. He probably lost light

Williams, John, 26 Sep 1885, aged 19, Collier, Fall of roof

Williams, John, 18 Mar 1906, 3 a.m., aged 56, Pitman, Some men were working at the top of the cage, which was hung in the pit a short distance from the bottom, while deceased was beneath the cage screwing up the bolts of the H-piece of the Cornish pump. The men on the top deck signalled for the cage to be lowered, and it crushed deceased to death. The men on the cage say that they shouted a warning to deceased and received an answer. The bottom men denied this

Williams, Morris, 25 Jul 1881, aged 19, Collier, Fall of roof

Williams, O. H., 04 Jun 1902, 3 a.m., aged 48, Labourer [More information ...]

Williams, Soloman, 14 Feb 1910, aged 53, Collier, Fall of roof at working face. He was cutting top coal when the roof fell close up to the face

Williams, Stephen, 08 Sep 1907, (accident: 31 Aug 1907, 1.30 p.m.), aged 14, Collier Boy, Deceased was making his way to the shaft at the end of his shift, when, in crossing a tail rope in motion, his leg was caught between the rope and a roller. His leg was cut slightly, but blood poisoning set in and he died of tetanus on September 8th

Woodhouse, George, 18 Mar 1924, (accident: 15 Mar 1924, 5.45 p.m., 4th hour of shift), aged 47, Repairer, He, with three other men, was engaged in taking out a low "bridge" of roof on a haulage road. Three "collars" had been taken out and several trams of rubbish filled away. Woodhouse was bringing down loose material from over the next low "collar," using a long iron pipe, when a large fall of side took place. He was caught by the fall and was so badly injured that he died on the 18th March. Electric safety lamp used