Great Western Colliery explosion, 1913

Two men were killed at the Great Western Colliery, Pontypridd, at the end of December 1913 when gas released by a fall of roof was fired by a naked light.

Cause

Gas released by a fall of roof was ignited by a naked light.

What happened

At the end of December 1913, over the holidays, only nine men were underground at the Great Western Colliery's No. 3 Pit at Gyfeillon, Pontypridd. A fall of roof released an accumulation of gas, which was fired by a naked light, and the explosion killed Henry Bowkett, 51, and Evan Jones, 63. The manager and under-manager were both overcome by gas as they went down the shaft, and recovered. The day is given as the 28th in one account and the 29th in another.

Rescue & recovery

The manager and under-manager went down the shaft and were both overcome by gas; they recovered.

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 explosion happened on 28 December 1913. (uncertain) ²
• The explosion happened on 29 December 1913. (uncertain) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• Two men, Henry Bowkett, 51, and Evan Jones, 63, were killed by an explosion of gas at the Great Western Colliery, Pontypridd, at the end of December 1913. ^1,2
• The explosion happened on 28 December 1913. (uncertain) ²
• The explosion happened on 29 December 1913. (uncertain) ¹
• A fall of roof released an accumulation of gas, which was fired by a naked light. ^1,2
• The explosion was in the No. 3 Pit at Gyfeillon. ²
• Only nine men were underground at the time, over the holidays; the manager and under-manager were both overcome by gas going down the shaft and recovered. ¹
• The colliery belonged to the Great Western Colliery Co. Ltd. ²

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: “Two men were killed at the Great Western Colliery, Pontypridd, at the end of December 1913 when gas released by a fall…”
• Naked Light (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…of December 1913 when gas released by a fall of roof was fired by a naked light.”
• Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Pontypridd, at the end of December 1913 when gas released by a fall of roof was fired by a naked light.”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…and under-manager were both overcome by gas as they went down the shaft, and recovered. The day is given as the 28th in one account and the…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh coal mining fatalities, 1913 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: Henry Bowkett, Great Western No.3 Pit, 1913 — Northern Mine Research Society

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