MineArchiveBryn Navigation Colliery roof fall, 1918
Two brothers from Cwmavon, David John and Jonathan Stephens, were killed by a fall of roof while working in the same stall at the Bryn Navigation Colliery on Friday 5 April 1918. They were completely buried and their bodies were recovered some hours later.
| Date | 5 April 1918 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Bryn Navigation Colliery |
| Region | Neath Port Talbot |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (David John Stephens, 24 (23 at the inquest), and Jonathan Stephens, 20 (21), colliers, sons of Evan Stephens of 31 Tymaen Street, Cwmavon.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof in their stall, while they were filling a dram.
What happened
David John and Jonathan Stephens, brothers and colliers of Tymaen Street, Cwmavon, were working in the same stall at the Bryn Navigation Colliery, Bryn, on Friday 5 April 1918, filling a dram, when the roof fell and buried them both. It took several hours to recover their bodies. Both were members of the Cwmavon Male Voice Choir.
Rescue & recovery
The brothers were completely buried; their bodies were recovered some hours later.
Investigation & inquiry
The coroner, Lewis M. Thomas, held the inquest at Cwmavon on Monday 8 April; the verdict was accidental death.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- David John and Jonathan Stephens were killed by a fall of roof at the Bryn Navigation Colliery on Friday 5 April 1918. 1,2,3
- They were completely buried and their bodies were recovered some hours later. 1,2
- The inquest at Cwmavon returned a verdict of accidental death. 3
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: “…fall of roof while working in the same stall at the Bryn Navigation Colliery on Friday 5 April 1918. They were completely buried and their bodies…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…from Cwmavon, David John and Jonathan Stephens, were killed by a fall of roof while working in the same stall at the Bryn Navigation Colliery on…” - Stall (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Stephens, were killed by a fall of roof while working in the same stall at the Bryn Navigation Colliery on Friday 5 April 1918. They were…” - Tub (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the cause: “A fall of roof in their stall, while they were filling a dram.”
Sources
- (secondary) 1918 (Welsh mining fatalities by date) — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) 'Brothers buried: fatal fall at Bryn Navigation Colliery', Cambria Daily Leader, 6 April 1918 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)
- (primary) 'Cwmavon' (inquest on the Stephens brothers), Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder, 13 April 1918 — Welsh Newspapers Online (National Library of Wales)
Record created: 11 October 2026 · Last researched: 11 October 2026