MineArchiveFelinfran Colliery roof fall, 1942
On the 11th of April or June 1942 a stone of about five tons fell on two men testing the roof in the new hard heading at Felinfran Colliery, Glais, in the lower Swansea Valley, killing Gwilym Richard Jones and a 22-year-old collier, Evans.
| Date | 1942 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Felinfran Colliery |
| Region | Swansea |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Gwilym Richard Jones, 51, collier (haulageman in the NMRS record), buried at Coedffranc Cemetery; and William Glynmor Evans, 22, collier (Eric A. Evans, haulageman, in the NMRS records).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A stone of about five tons fell from the roof of the new hard heading as the two men tested it.
What happened
A collier working nearby, Thomas Edwards, said the two had gone back to the face for their food and were testing the roof when the stone came down on them. The place had been well timbered.
Memorials & commemoration
Jones's funeral cortege to Coedffranc Cemetery was led by colliery officials, about 250 workmen and a contingent from the Llansamlet Civil Defence post.
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 accident happened on 11 June 1942. (disputed) 1
- The accident happened on 11 April 1942. (disputed) 2,3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- In 1942 two men, Gwilym Richard Jones and a younger man named Evans, were killed when a large block of stone fell on them while they tested the roof at Felinfran Colliery. 1,2,3
- The accident happened on 11 June 1942. (disputed) 1
- The accident happened on 11 April 1942. (disputed) 2,3
- The stone, about five tons, fell in the new hard heading, a place that had been well timbered. 1
- They had gone back to the face for their food and were testing the roof when the block came down. 2,3
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: “…on two men testing the roof in the new hard heading at Felinfran Colliery, Glais, in the lower Swansea Valley, killing Gwilym Richard Jones…”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Fatalities 1942 — welshcoalmines.co.uk
- (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Gwilyn R. Jones, Felinfran, 11 April 1942 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Eric A. Evans, Felinfran, 11 April 1942 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026