Birchgrove Colliery trench collapse, 1923

On 21 October 1923 the sides of a trench being dug at the surface of Birchgrove Colliery, near Swansea, collapsed on three men, burying two colliers, Thomas Rees and Richard Warwick, who were dead when recovered.

Cause

The unsupported sides of a surface trench collapsed on the men digging it.

What happened

The men were digging a trench at the surface of the colliery when its sides fell in, burying them. Richard Warwick, 57, was dug out first, and Thomas Rees, 61, about thirty minutes later; both were dead. A third man managed to dig himself free and survived.

Rescue & recovery

Warwick was dug out first and Rees's body was recovered about thirty minutes later; the third man freed himself.

Recorded claims

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

• Thomas Rees and Richard Warwick were killed at Birchgrove Colliery on 21 October 1923. ^1,2
• The sides of a trench they were digging at the surface collapsed and buried them. ^1,2
• A third man dug himself free and survived. ²

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…1923 the sides of a trench being dug at the surface of Birchgrove Colliery, near Swansea, collapsed on three men, burying two colliers, Thomas…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (primary) Durham Mining Museum: Birchgrove Colliery (UK) — Durham Mining Museum
2. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1923 — Welsh Coal Mines

Record created: 10 October 2026 · Last researched: 10 October 2026