Duffryn Rhondda Colliery roof fall, 1924

Three officials repairing a fall at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer, while the pit stood idle in the depression were killed by a second fall in November 1924.

Cause

A further fall of roof while arms were being erected to secure the site of an earlier large fall.

What happened

In November 1924, with Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer, idle through the trade depression, a party of officials was carrying out repairs where a large fall had come down about a fortnight before. While they were erecting 13-foot arms the roof fell again. The overman David Davies and the firemen Percy Lloyd, 36, and Joseph Lewis, 36, were killed, and three or four others, also officials, were injured. The day is given as the 28th in one account and the 29th in another.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The fall happened on 28 November 1924. (uncertain) ^2,3,4
• The fall happened on 29 November 1924. (uncertain) ¹
• Three others were injured. (uncertain) ^2,3,4
• Four others, also officials, were injured. (uncertain) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• At the end of November 1924 three officials, the overman David Davies and the firemen Percy Lloyd and Joseph Lewis, were killed by a fall of roof at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer. ^1,2,3,4
• The fall happened on 28 November 1924. (uncertain) ^2,3,4
• The fall happened on 29 November 1924. (uncertain) ¹
• They were erecting 13-foot arms where a large fall had happened about a fortnight before when the roof fell again. ^1,2,3,4
• The officials were repairing while the colliery was idle during the trade depression. ¹
• Three others were injured. (uncertain) ^2,3,4
• Four others, also officials, were injured. (uncertain) ¹
• The colliery belonged to the Imperial Navigation Coal Co. Ltd. ^2,3,4

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: “Three officials repairing a fall at Duffryn Rhondda Colliery, Cymmer, while the pit stood idle in the depression were killed by a…”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…While they were erecting 13-foot arms the roof fell again. The overman David Davies and the firemen Percy Lloyd, 36, and Joseph Lewis, 36,…”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “A further fall of roof while arms were being erected to secure the site of an earlier large…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mine fatalities, 1924 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: Percy Lloyd, Duffryn Rhondda, 1924 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Accident record: Joseph Lewis, Duffryn Rhondda, 1924 — Northern Mine Research Society
4. (secondary) Accident record: David Davies, Duffryn Rhondda, 1924 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026