Dulais Colliery explosion, 1907

Gas fired in the new pit at Dulais Colliery, Onllwyn, before dawn on 9 September 1907, burning four men; three died in Swansea Hospital over the following eleven days.

Cause

Firedamp ignited, probably at a defective or open lamp, in a pit worked with naked lights.

What happened

At about four on the morning of Monday 9 September 1907 the fireman William James and five men were working in the Dulais company's new pit at Onllwyn, sunk two years earlier to the Bluers seam. Gas ignited, probably at a defective or open lamp, and the flame engulfed them. James was thrown about ten yards but only lightly burned; the others were badly burned and were taken by brake to Swansea Hospital, arriving late in the morning.

Henry Birch, 37, of Seven Sisters, died the following night. Walter Herbert, 29, who was on his first shift underground, died on the 19th, and Patrick Norris, 48, early on the 20th; his son William survived.

The two survivors told the inquest different stories. James said the men had been helping him right a derailed dram; young Norris said gas was present and they had been fanning it out with their coats, which was illegal. James denied it. The Welsh-language Baner reported that the men were caught by a flash while opening a way for the gas to escape.

Rescue & recovery

The burned men were treated by two doctors at the pit and taken by brake to Swansea Hospital.

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 men were caught by a flash while opening a way for gas to escape. (uncertain) ³

Recorded claims

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

• Gas exploded in the new pit at Dulais Colliery, Onllwyn, early on 9 September 1907; four men were badly burned and three of them died. ^1,2,3
• Henry Birch died in Swansea Hospital the next night, Walter Herbert on the 19th and Patrick Norris on the 20th. ^1,4,5
• The men were working with naked lights. ²
• At the inquest the fireman said the men were helping him right a derailed dram, while Norris's son said they had been fanning gas out with their coats. ¹
• The men were caught by a flash while opening a way for gas to escape. (uncertain) ³

Related terminology

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

• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “Gas fired in the new pit at Dulais Colliery, Onllwyn, before dawn on 9 September 1907, burning four men; three…”
• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “Firedamp ignited, probably at a defective or open lamp, in a pit worked with…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “At about four on the morning of Monday 9 September 1907 the fireman William James and five men were working in the Dulais company's new…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “…ignited, probably at a defective or open lamp, in a pit worked with naked lights.”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…stories. James said the men had been helping him right a derailed dram; young Norris said gas was present and they had been fanning it out…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining fatalities, 1907 - Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Dulais Colliery — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) Explosion at Onllwyn (Baner ac Amserau Cymru, 11 September 1907) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
4. (primary) Death of Henry Birch after the Dulais Pit explosion, Onllwyn (Evening Express, 11-12 September 1907) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
5. (primary) Third death from the Onllwyn explosion (Evening Express, 21 September 1907) — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)

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