South Duffryn Colliery

Current Status - Page under construction! and is far, far from complete!

Aldworth, Frank, 12 Nov 1924, 9.0 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 24, Labourer, He was standing at the junction of two haulage planes, when a journey of eight loaded trams was being hauled out of one of the roads, which was dipping inbye 1 in 11½. The first tram got derailed 27 yards away from where he stood, and got wedged against the side, causing such a strain on the rope cap that one of the jaws broke. The part of the cap remaining attached to the rope flew forward and struck the labourer on the head, killing him outright. Oil safety lamp used

Blackwell, Moses, 14 Oct 1909, aged 16, Collier boy, Overtaken and run over by a full journey on a roadway, 7 feet wide and 5½ feet high, and well provided with manholes, as he was making his way to the shaft

Brock, Charles, 07 Jul 1908, aged 27, Labourer, Deceased was cleaning the road on a haulage level. The rider of an out-going journey brought his trams to a stand near a junction, and, hearing groans, looked back, and saw deceased lying on the side of the road free from the trams. His lamp and shovel were found on the road, 10 yards inbye, and he had presumably been draggod along for that distance. The rider saw no light ahead and felt no bump. The road was narrow, but had sufficient manholes

Broughton, John, 15 Oct 1901, aged 18, Collier, Fall of roof. On road, cliff, 15 ft. by 15 ft. by 8 to 10 ft. thick, fell suddenly, breaking down 5 pairs of timbers. Deceased was standing under them talking to a fireman when it occurred. Nine feet seam

Buckley, J., 11 Dec 1903, (accident: 03 Jul 1903, 1 a.m.), aged 18, Labourer, Fall of roof. On road. Deceased was resting after discharging rubbish, when a small piece of cliff fell from between two collars, three feet apart, on to his back. He died on December 11th, from blood poisoning set up by a fragment of fractured bone, the result of the accident

Cadmore, Charles, 25 Feb 1904, 12.15 p.m., aged 40, Shunter, Deceased was riding on the buffer of a locomotive when he fell off, and was run over. Riding on the buffers of locomotives or wagons should be strictly prohibited

Carrol, Patrick, 04 Sep 1870, Collier, Killed by fall of roof [More information ...]

Charles, John, 28 Nov 1928, aged 53, Hitcher, Loading three trams at pit bottom he was caught between first tram and side wall. Died same day

Cunningham, Patrick, 03 Nov 1903, 3 p.m., aged 28, Collier, At face, cliff, 20 ft. by 5 ft. by 12 ins. thick. A sudden crush must have discharged the props, and so liberated the stone. Four props were said to have been under the stone. A crush was known to have affected the adjacent stalls. Four feet seam

Davies, David, 11 Apr 1888, aged 26, Collier, Run over by tram which got detached from haulage rope and ran back down the engine plane on which deceased was travelling to his work

Davies, David, 21 Jun 1912, aged 19, Collier Boy, He is said to have slipped underneath a journey as it passed him on his way to the shaft. Killed on the spot

Davies, John, 29 Oct 1897, aged 35, Oiler, Crushed by runaway trams; stop block left open

Davies, John, 18 May 1906, 2 p.m., aged 37, Hitcher, Deceased had placed a tram of coal on the upper deck of the cage, and was going to signal it up to enable him to load the lower deck, when a full tram ran towards him and knocked him into the shaft. He had evidently forgotten to secure the tram when he removed the other from in front of it. It was a mouthing in the shaft. A gate has since been placed there which will prevent a recurrence

Davies, John, 25 Aug 1906, 1.20 p.m., aged 38, Collier, Fall of roof. On road, cliff, 16 ft. by 5 ft; by 2 ft. thick, fell, on deceased as they were replacing a rail, which the last tram taken out had displaced. The roof was strong and the part that fell was quite unsupported. On one side of the stone was a well defined slip, which with an impersistent smooth above caused the fall. Five-feet six seam [More information ...]

Davies, John, 30 Mar 1911, aged 54, Collier, Fall of roof at working face. He stood under the rippings while knocking a post out with a sledge hammer

Davies, John S., 02 Sep 1907, (accident: 27 Aug 1907, 10.10 a.m.), aged 15, Labourer, This accident was caused by the lashing of a haulage rope on the double parting near the pit bottom. It appears that an empty journey was being drawn along the Red Coal haulage road by the tail rope. The journey got off the road, and the main rope ran out until it lay slack on the floor, near the side of the double parting. Deceased was standing near the rope when the journey was restarted. The main rope suddenly tightened, whipped upwards, and struck deceased on the back of his head, seriously injuring it and rendering him unconscious. He died in six days

Davies, W. G., 14 Jan 1910, aged 14, Shackler, While attempting to get on between trams of a journey in motion he slipped and was run over

Davies, William, 13 Jul 1905, (accident: 23 Jun 1905, 2.30 a.m.), aged 55, Repairer, Fall of roof. Deceased was clearing a fall of roof, when a stone fell and cut his thigh. He continued to work until the end of his shift, and worked on the two following days. He complained of feeling unwell all over, and was examined by a Doctor, who found that he was suffering from blood-poisoning, set up by an abscess under the cut. He died on 13th July, 1905. Nine feet seam

Davies, William, 21 Jul 1905, 3.30 a.m., aged 15, Collier boy, Deceased and a collier worked alone on the night of the accident in a heading rising 3 ins. per yard. They had been ripping roof, and required to change the full tram. The collier shouted to deceased to stand clear, and started the tram to run down, controlled by 4 sprags, and by him holding back. When it reached the level, deceased was found between the corner of the tram and the lower rib. It looks to me as if deceased had been walking down in front of the tram, holding it back, and got overpowered

Davies, William Henry, 27 Mar 1907, 8 a.m., aged 34, Collier, Deceased had brought a tram of rubbish out from a heading, and stopped it at a stall parting in order to arrange the points. When he told his horse to go on, it pulled, but did not move the tram. Deceased, thinking that there was something on the rail, crossed over the "gun" to see, and when recrossing, the horse started on, and he fell under the tram. The horse was said to be a quiet one

Denyon, Patrick, 08 Apr 1893, aged 15, Signal attdnt., Crushed by runaway trams which had uncoupled themselves on engine plane

Donovan, Mike, 03 Dec 1904, 1.15 p.m., aged 40, Repairer, Fall of roof. On road, coal and fireclay, 12 ft. by 5 to 6 ft. by 5 ft. thick. Deceased and a collier were preparing to set a prop under the collar of a "framing," when the latter broke, and allowed three bars and the overlying rubbish to fall. A "squeeze" had come on that morning, and the fireman, having observed a slight crack in the "framing," sent the two men to prop it, and some of the other timbers in the neighbourhood. Nine feet seam

Dowling, Henry, 25 Feb 1893, aged 36, Collier, Fall of side (coal) at the corner of rib. The coal was broken and supported by props but was not spragged. Four feet seam

Edwards, Thomas, 26 Oct 1897, aged 39, Timberman, Fall of roof on road, clift 9ft. x 5½ft. x from 3ft. to 4ft. thick, breaking two pairs of timbers at edge of a previous fall about to be repaired. Nine feet seam

English, Evan, 06 Sep 1913, aged 23, Ripper, Fall of roof on a double parting. A "bridge" of ground on a double parting fell upon him as he was cleaning underneath it

Evans, Jonathan, 16 Aug 1897, aged 29, Collier, Fall of roof at face, fireclay, 6½ft x 3½ft x 2ft thick, he had finished ripping and was making room to stand a prop

Evans, Osborne, 16 Jun 1909, aged 20, Haulier, Deceased, following other hauliers, was bringing a tram of coal out along a level road, when a mare, which was out of control, ran down a branch heading with the trams and the two journeys collided. Deceased was crushed between his tram and the side of the level

George, William, 10 Dec 1912, aged 25, Assistant Haulier, Fall of roof near face. He was caught and killed by a fall, owing to his horse pulling out an arm of timber with the end of his shaft

Glee, J., 04 Mar 1870, aged 21, Hitcher, Killed in shaft

Gray, William, 07 Jun 1902, (accident: 06 Jun 1902, 12.15 p.m.), aged 23, Collier, Fall of side. At face, coal and clod, 8¼ ft. by 3 ft by 21 ins. thick, from a "face slip." Two sprags were said to have been crushed out. Died the next day. Seven feet seam

Griffith, Benjamin, 12 Dec 1887, aged 57, Labourer, He was following a loaded journey up an incline when a coupling broke and five trams ran wild and failing to get clear was run over. The road was 9ft. wide and 6ft. high and provided with manholes

Griffiths, Hugh, 12 Sep 1911, (accident: 18 Aug 1911), aged 45, Collier, Fall of roof at working face while standing a post. Died 12th September, 1911

Harris, Joseph, 19 Sep 1912, aged 30, Assistant Timberman, Fall on roof on haulage road. He was filling a tram of rubbish, when a stone fell discharging two pairs of timber, causing fatal injuries

Harris, William, 10 Dec 1892, 2.30 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 55, Bratticeman, Fell over a wall as he was leaving the pit after work

Howells, Evan, 06 Jan 1912, (accident: 15 Dec 1911), aged 54, Fireman, Injured his leg by striking it against a tram. He died of blood poisoning January 16th, 1912

Hughes, John, 09 Feb 1902, (accident: 01 Feb 1902, 2.30 a.m.), aged 32, Ripper, Fall of roof. While he was holding a light for another ripper who was pulling down loose stones, a stone weighing 7 lbs. fell from the roof and cut his head. Erysipelas set in and he died in eight days. Four feet seam

Hurcombe, Aaron, 24 Jun 1925, (accident: 19 Jun 1925), aged 42, Haulier, Crushed by tram. Died 24th

James, Taliesin, 27 Jan 1907, 10.30 p.m., aged 28, Locomotive Driver, Deceased had stopped his engine at a water supply pipe, and his fireman began filling the tank. When sufficient water had been put in, the fireman went round to the other side of the locomotive and found deceased lying across the rail dead. He had been run over by a coal truck. How he got into that position, and who started the trucks from the screens, we quite failed to find out

James, Thomas, 09 Nov 1912, aged 37, Labourer, Fell off a bridge on to sidings below owing to a fencing giving way on which he and another were sitting [More information ...]

James, William, 13 Oct 1902, 10.15 a.m., aged 25, Collier, Fall of side. At face, coal, 3½ ft. by 2 ft by 21 ins. thick, fell while he was "holing" under it. It was unsupported. Four feet seam

John, David, 06 Nov 1902, (accident: 28 Oct 1902, 1.30 p.m.), aged 43, Collier, He fell while pulling some coal down and scratched his forearm, and the next day a small piece of shale fell and injured the same arm. He died from blood poisoning on November 6th

John, Enoch, 27 Mar 1894, (accident: 14 Mar 1894), aged 38, Collier, Deceased was cut on the head by a small stone falling from the roof at the face. Erysipelas supervened and he died on 27th March

John, Philip, 07 Feb 1910, aged 24, Collier, Fall of roof from rippings which deceased was barring down on a stall road

Jones, David, 27 Feb 1876, aged 31, Engineer, Killed by an explosion of gas, which had accumulated owing to an air door being left open [More information ...]

Jones, Edward, 25 Aug 1906, 1.20 p.m., aged 45, Collier, Fall of roof. On road, cliff, 16 ft. by 5 ft; by 2 ft. thick, fell, on deceased as they were replacing a rail, which the last tram taken out had displaced. The roof was strong and the part that fell was quite unsupported. On one side of the stone was a well defined slip, which with an impersistent smooth above caused the fall. Five-feet six seam [More information ...]

Jones, John, 12 Nov 1884, aged 13, Collier's boy, Fall of coal

Jones, John, 14 Nov 1911, aged 38, Repairer, Fall of side on road, while pulling loose stones off the side of a level where a shot had been fired

Jones, John B., 18 Jan 1906, 1 p.m., aged 55, Haulier, Deceased was holding a horse by the side of a railway for a locomotive and train to pass by. The horse got frightened, and by some means swung deceased on to the rails, and he was run over

Jones, Morgan, 04 Sep 1870, aged 29, Collier, Killed by fall of roof ; brother of Rees [More information ...]

Jones, Rees, 04 Sep 1870, Collier, Killed by fall of roof ; brother of Patrick [More information ...]

Jones, Richard, 12 Aug 1902, (accident: 07 Aug 1902, 4 p.m.), aged 21, Rider, Deceased was crushed between the full trams and the side after he had disconnected the electric signal wires whioh were disarranged. The engineman said he had a signal to pull up, and did so, but it is not likely that deceased gave a signal, as there was not enough room between the tram and side for him to stand in safety. Died in five days

Jones, Thomas, 18 Sep 1927, (accident: 27 Apr 1927), aged 42, Collier, Fall of roof in face while setting post. Died 18th Sept

Knox, John, 06 Jun 1909, (accident: 03 Jun 1909), aged 39, Hitcher, Deceased was struck in the groin by fan lever as decks were being changed at the pit bottom. The actual mode of occurrence of this accident is obscure. He died from his injuries in three days

Lennet, George, 03 Aug 1904, 11.30 a.m., aged 38, Collier, Fall of side. At face, shale (clod), 6 ft. by 23 ins. by 19 ins, thick, which had been overhanging about 19 ins., and which was said to have been supported by a sprag. Four feet seam

Lewis, Daniel, 28 Oct 1898, aged 52, Timberman, Fall of roof on road clift 6ft. x 4½ft x 10in thick where a place was being made for a haulage engine. Nine feet seam

Lewis, James, 22 Mar 1900, 10 p.m., aged 50, Haulier, Fall of roof. At face, edge of rippings, coal, 2½ ft. x 2 ft. x 9 ins. thick. Tram in passing knocked out a prop. Nine feet seam

Lewis, Nathaniel, 10 Dec 1907, 1.15 p.m., aged 29, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 5 ft. 10 ins. by 2½ ft. by 8 ins. thick, fell and dislocated deceased's neck. It was quite unsupported. Four-feet seam

Lloyd, James, 29 Jul 1884, aged 24, Haulier, Kicked by a horse

MacCue, William, 25 Sep 1924, 1.30 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 36, Assistant Ripper, He was standing at the entrance to an airway with the object of preventing any person advancing along that road, as shots were being fired 34 yards away. There were three shots to be fired, each charged with five 2-oz. pellets of compressed gunpowder and ignited by safety fuse. Two of the shots had been fired when MacCue was observed to be overcome by the fumes from the shots, he being on the return side. It was not possible to get at him until the third shot had been fired, as the safety fuse was already alight when the warning was given that MacCue was affected. He expired soon after the third shot had been fired. The doctors agreed that he had died from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, as the result of inhaling the fumes after shotfiring. The quantity of air circulating was 2,000 cu. ft. per minute. He would have been clear of the fumes if he had gone on the outside of a separation door. Oil flame safety lamp used

Mason, John, 01 May 1900, 11.30 a.m., aged 24, Labourer, Fall of side. On road, coal, 5½ ft. x 5 ft. x 2½ ft. thick, fell from between two "arms" while he was building a side wall. Red seam

McCarthy, J., 14 Mar 1905, (accident: 28 Nov 1904, 3.30 p.m.), aged 40, Collier, Fall of side. While deceased was filling a tram, a small piece of coal fell on the back of his hand, and bruised it slightly. He finished his shift, but did not work afterwards. He died on March 14th 1905, from blood-poisoning resulting, according to the evidence of the Doctor, from the bruised hand

McCarthy, Jerry, 02 Jan 1915, (accident: 31 Dec 1914), aged 39, Assistant Hitcher, He was struck on the head and fatally injured at the pit bottom by a stone which fell from a tram of rubbish as the loaded cage reached the pit top. He died three days later without having recovered consciousness

Morgan, David, 12 Aug 1897, aged 57, Haulier, Fall of roof on main road, a cross measure drift twenty years old-which was not timbered a scale of rock 4½ft. x 3ft. x 2ins. thick

Morgan, Morgan, 19 Nov 1909, aged 25, Labourer, When cleaning gutters on a haulage plane deceased was surprised and knocked down by an outgoing journey of full trams which carried him along 360 yards. He must have mistaken the position of the journey

Morris, James, 06 Dec 1912, aged 45, Collier, Fall of side at working face. Fall of coal at face, which discharged three sprags and knocked out a post ; the post fell and crushed deceased against a tram, killing him

Morris, Richard, 01 Oct 1900, 3.30 p.m., aged 44, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 4 ft. x 2½ ft. x 1½ ft. thick, fell from a smooth slant, while he was preparing to stand a prop under it. Six feet seam

Page, Henry, 19 Jul 1909, aged 28, Repairer, Fall of side. On road, cliff, 16 feet by 3 feet 3 inches by 2½ to 5 feet thick, fell off a concealed break on to deceased as he was retreating after pulling out a prop with a Sylvester machine. Five feet six seam

Parry, David W., 10 Oct 1899, aged 13, Collier boy, [Fall of side] At face, coal and clod, 8 ft x 1 ft. 9in x 35 ins thick, fell from a false face slip on to deceased, who was sitting down. One sprag was crushed out. Bottom six feet seam

Pegler, William, 02 Jun 1896, aged 21, Collier, Fall at face roof coal from unseen slips about 4ft. x 4ft. x 4ft thick no props under this portion. Nine feet seam

Perry, G., 27 Feb 1876, aged 39, Fireman, Killed by an explosion of gas, which had accumulated owing to an air door being left open [More information ...]

Powell, John, 23 Oct 1924, 8.15 a.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 58, Repairer, He was walking out to the pit, after working overtime in repairing work on a passbye, when he was caught by a runaway tram of rubbish, and was so badly injured that he died a few hours later. The tram of rubbish was stationary on the roadway, when a moving journey was allowed to bump into it and thus cause it to run wild. The tram of rubbish could not have been properly spragged, and the journey should have been stopped in time. Oil flame safety lamp used

Price, Thomas, 31 Mar 1904, (accident: 29 Mar 1904, 3.30 a.m.), aged 19, Labourer, Deceased was stowing a dip with rubbish lowered by a hauling engine. A loaded tram got off the rails in going down, and deceased and the rider put it on. He then walked down the dip and, as the rider started the tram to follow him, the rope broke and the tram ran down and struck deceased on his side. The rope was said to have worked for five weeks only, but this was not borne out by the condition of the rope. It had been knotted in five places and a length of one strand was missing. The rope was 3/8 ins. in diameter and the dip was 1 in 9. Deceased died in two days

Prosser, Rees, 12 Jul 1900, 9.10 a.m., aged 36, Collier, Concussion of shot of "Bulldog" powder. He put his head against the "face" of a hard heading, when a shot was being fired on the other side, and the concussion killed him

Rees, John, 09 Oct 1912, aged 46, Collier, Fall of roof on stall road. When taking a tram from tumbling place, to face of his working place, a stone fell from roof, causing such injuries that he died the same day

Rees, William, 31 Jul 1902, 5.30 p.m., aged 24, Haulier, Crushed to death while passing between two coaches, used to convey the workmen to and from their work, before the train was brought to a stand

Richards, Thomas, 14 Nov 1885, aged 35, Hardheadingman, Explosion of powder

Richards, Watkin, 30 Jul 1909, (accident: 05 Feb 1909), aged 32, Rider, Deceased pricked his thumb with a broken wire of a haulage rope which he was handling. Blood poisoning soon set in, but, owing to the objections of deceased, an operation was deferred until July 30th when he died under the anaesthetic

Roderick, William, 22 May 1894, aged 28, Collier, Fall of fireclay 4 ft. x 3ft. x 26ins thick) while pulling down rashings off the top of the coal. Roof at road end not secured between roadside props where the width was 7½ft. Bottom six feet seam

Rosen, Max, 08 Mar 1902, 4.45 a.m., aged 45, Handpumpman, Found dead on engine plane, having been run over by a full journey. He was a Russian Jew and did not understand English, so could not read the Act or rules, and therefore ought not to have been employed. The engine plane was of ample dimensions, and there were sufficient manholes

Sims, John, 25 Jun 1900, 4 p.m., aged 27, Repairer, Run over by empty journey whilst walking out to the shaft

Smith, W. W., 20 Jun 1902, 4.20 p.m., aged 29, Assistant repairer, Run over by an empty journey as he was walking out towards the shaft. Five other men were with him, they got into manholes, but he did not, and was knocked down. He was said to have been near a manhole

Thomas, David, 13 Feb 1856, Fall of coal

Thomas, David, 22 Apr 1902, 3 a.m., aged 21, Collier, Fall of side. At face, coal. 9½ ft by 4 ft. by 2¼ ft. thick, from a "face slip." It was unsupported. Seven feet seam

Thomas, Evan, 02 Dec 1905, (accident: 15 Nov 1905, 2.30 a.m.), aged 42, Fireman, Deceased was assisting to lift a full tram on to the rails, when his feet slipped, and the tram injured the lower part of his back. He was seen by the Doctor on the following day. As there was a good deal of swelling, the Doctor advised lancing it, but deceased objected to this treatment. He, however, allowed it to be lanced three days after, when a quantity of pus was discharged. Blood poisoning supervened and he died on the 2nd December

Thomas, James, 09 Aug 1897, aged 63, Engineman, Crushed by balance beam of Cornish pumping engine which he had charge of while attempting to pass under it

Thomas, John, 23 Jul 1897, aged 13, Collier boy, Died from burns by the explosion of gunpowder

Thomas, John, 07 Jan 1902, (accident: 04 Jan 1902, 2 p.m.), aged 16, Slacker-down, Struck on the head by a small piece of coal, which fell from the surface as he was stepping into the cage. Died in three days

Thomas, Taliesyn Arfon, 22 Oct 1924, (accident: 20 Sep 1924, 9.0 a.m., 2nd hour of shift), aged 44, Haulier, He was bringing a tram of coal outbye, attached to his horse, when the tram got derailed. After replacing one end, the horse started off suddenly and the haulier was run over, being so badly injured that he died on 22nd October. The horse should have been detached from the tram before it was replaced on the rails. Electric safety lamp used

Thompson, Jonah, 04 Nov 1893, aged 26, Stower, Run over by an empty journey while coming out to shaft

Traherne, John, 17 Jul 1902, 12.30 p.m., aged 28, Rider, Run over by a journey of four trama of coal. His proper work was cutting coal, but he occasionally acted as a rider

Tucker, Edward, 07 Apr 1899, aged 17, Collier, [Fall of roof] At face, cliff, 9 ft x 6 ft. x 3 ft. thick, fell, crushing out a "framing," which was said to have been well stood. Nine feet seam

Walters, John, 02 Jan 1912, (accident: 01 Jan 1912), aged 38, Rider, Crushed by tram running wild, owing to breakage of haulage rope. He died the following day a result of his injuries

Waters, William, 11 Apr 1873, aged 16, Haulier, Killed by trams

Watkins, James, 27 Nov 1900, 5 p.m., aged 73, Lamp locker, Deceased was riding up an engine plane at the end of his shift, when he either struck his head against a "collar," or fell backwards, receiving injuries to his spine. Died in 5 days

Wheelan, James, 19 Jun 1908, aged 29, Repairer, Deceased was fetched by a collier to stand posts under the collars on a portion of his road, a narrow level in the Red Coal Seam, where a sharp squeeze was taking place. The level had passed through disturbed ground, and was closely timbered. He had set one post in the middle of the road under a collar, and was setting another under the adjoining pair of timber, when a general collapse occurred, and he was completely buried. Four or five pairs of timbers had been forced down by a large quantity of broken coal and cliff. The collars were unbroken, and the squeeze seems to have been caused by the short arms having been forced down into the bottom so that they formed a fracture parallel with the road, and were subsiding into it when deceased was propping

Wiliams, William, 11 Nov 1897, aged 12, Collier's boy, Drawn by rope into return haulage sheave on double parting. The sheave was 5 feet diameter fenced on both sides but had an opening in front 9 inches wide

Williams, Charles, 17 Aug 1896, aged 33, Collier, Explosion of firedamp

Williams, J., 28 Mar 1871, aged 12, Collier, Killed by a fall of roof

Williams, William, 31 Mar 1905, 2 p.m., aged 23, Shunter, Deceased was crushed to death against a ballast wagon by a locomotive. I expect that he got in front of the wagon to connect it to the locomotive, and forgot that the buffers of the engine were wide enough apart to allow those of the wagon to go between. Had the buffers of both been the same width apart, he would not have been injured

Wooley, Edward, 26 Aug 1902, 11 p.m., aged 69, Lamp locker, Run over and killed by a journey laden with bricks and timbers. He must have walked out of his lamp locking cabin on to the main haulage road as the journey reached the spot. He was hard of hearing

Wotton, Frederick, 22 Apr 1911, aged 77, Platelayer, While cleaning one of the roads, he was run over by a wagon which had been released 150 yards away at the washery bunker