Ammanford Colliery explosion, 1943

On Saturday 8 May 1943 firedamp exploded in the No. 12 district of Ammanford Colliery, killing Henry George Heighway and Thomas B. Samuel, who were working near a pump. The inquest heard that the district had not been examined that morning and that examinations there were extremely lax.

Cause

An ignition of firedamp, thought to have been set off by open sparking at the motor and switchgear of the pump.

Contributing factors

A fireman said he examined the place every Saturday morning but had not done so that Saturday, and no fireman was appointed to inspect the district. The two men had complained before about the smell of the water there.

What happened

A rider, Cledwyn Morris, heard a thud in the Main Slant followed by a cloud of dust that nearly choked him. He took the full journey to the surface and told the manager.

Rescue & recovery

The manager, Mr Thomas, the overman Thomas Griffiths and W. J. Evans went down to the No. 12 district. Seventy yards in, Griffiths's lamp went out and he smelt smoke. Crawling towards a light, he found Heighway and Samuel lying face down about seven yards from the pump, both dead. The heat was intense; Griffiths was overcome by gas but recovered. The undermanager, Alwyn Jones, found an acrid smell and strong traces of firedamp. The Llwchwr rescue team later recovered the bodies.

Investigation & inquiry

The two men died from the shock of the explosion, abrasions and carbon monoxide. At the inquest it was said that examinations of the district were extremely lax and contrary to the regulations, a matter for another court. The court commended Thomas Griffiths for his bravery during the rescue attempts.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 8 May 1943 an explosion in the No. 12 district of Ammanford Colliery killed Henry George Heighway and Thomas B. Samuel. ^1,2
• The explosion was an ignition of gas, thought to have been set off by open sparking at the motor and switchgear of a pump. ^1,3,4
• The inquest was told that examinations of the district were extremely lax and in breach of the regulations. ¹
• The overman, Thomas Griffiths, was commended for his bravery in trying to reach the two men, and the Llwchwr rescue team recovered their bodies. ¹

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Journey (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…followed by a cloud of dust that nearly choked him. He took the full journey to the surface and told the manager.”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “The manager, Mr Thomas, the overman Thomas Griffiths and W. J. Evans went down to the No. 12 district.…”
• Rescue Brigade (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…found an acrid smell and strong traces of firedamp. The Llwchwr rescue team later recovered the bodies.”
• Slant (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “A rider, Cledwyn Morris, heard a thud in the Main Slant followed by a cloud of dust that nearly choked him. He took the full…”
• Undermanager (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…heat was intense; Griffiths was overcome by gas but recovered. The undermanager, Alwyn Jones, found an acrid smell and strong traces of firedamp.…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mining fatalities, 1943 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: H.G. Heighway, Ammanford, 8 May 1943 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Harry Heighway, Ammanford, May 1943 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Thomas Phillip Samuel, Ammanford, May 1943 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026