MineArchiveDuffryn Rhondda Colliery roof fall, 1915
At about a quarter past two on 21 April 1915, near the end of the shift at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer, a fall of about six drams of roof came down as a journey of full trams was being got ready, burying the rider Cornelius Barrett; he was dug out after half an hour, dead of asphyxia. A second rider, William Watkins, is recorded as killed with him.
| Date | 21 April 1915 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Duffryn Rhondda Colliery |
| Region | Neath Port Talbot |
| Primary type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Associated types | Haulage / Transport |
| Fatalities | 2 (Cornelius Barrett, 33 or 38, rider, of Charlotte Street, Aberavon; William Watkins, 30, rider (Welsh Coal Mines).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof, about six drams in size, brought down when the journey of trams derailed or knocked against the timbers.
What happened
The shift was due to finish at three. Barrett, a rider with nine years at the colliery, was knocking the wires to get the journey of full trams down, with Samuel Luke, a collier, standing beside him, when the roof fell and covered him. It was half an hour before he was got out.
Investigation & inquiry
At the inquest at Aberavon Town Hall before the district coroner, Howell Cuthbertson, with the inspector of mines J. Dyer present, the fireman Evan Powell said the fall was caused by the trams knocking against the timbers and called Barrett a very careful man. The doctor found death due to asphyxia. The coroner held that the cause of the fall was not clear, and the verdict was returned accordingly.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- A second rider, William Watkins, 30, was also killed by the fall. (uncertain) 1
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 21 April 1915 a fall of roof at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer, buried the rider Cornelius Barrett as he was getting a journey of full trams down at the end of the shift. 1,2
- A second rider, William Watkins, 30, was also killed by the fall. (uncertain) 1
- The fireman thought the fall was caused by the trams knocking against the timbers; the Welsh Coal Mines account says the journey derailed and knocked out timber. 1,2
- Barrett was dug out after half an hour and died of asphyxia; the coroner found the cause of the fall not clear. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “…Howell Cuthbertson, with the inspector of mines J. Dyer present, the fireman Evan Powell said the fall was caused by the trams knocking against…” - HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s investigation: “…Town Hall before the district coroner, Howell Cuthbertson, with the inspector of mines J. Dyer present, the fireman Evan Powell said the fall was caused by…” - Journey (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Colliery, Cymmer, a fall of about six drams of roof came down as a journey of full trams was being got ready, burying the rider Cornelius…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “A fall of roof, about six drams in size, brought down when the journey of trams…” - Tub (contextual relationship)
Named 6 times in this record, first in the summary: “…the shift at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer, a fall of about six drams of roof came down as a journey of full trams was being got ready,…”
Sources
- (secondary) 1915 fatalities — Welsh Coal Mines
- (primary) Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder, 1 May 1915: Fall of roof: Duffryn-Rhondda Colliery fatality — Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder (Welsh Newspapers Online, National Library of Wales)
Record created: 21 October 2026 · Last researched: 21 October 2026