MineArchiveKillan Colliery roof fall, 1914
Two colliers at Killan Colliery, Dunvant, were killed on 26 June 1914 when the roof fell from unseen slants as they reset timber a shot had knocked out.
| Date | 26 June 1914 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Killan Colliery |
| Region | Swansea |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two killed: the colliers William John Frazer and Thomas Evans.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
The roof fell from unseen slants while timber knocked out by a shot was being reset.
What happened
On 26 June 1914 two colliers at the working face of Killan Colliery, Dunvant, William John Frazer, 22, and Thomas Evans, were killed by a fall of roof. They appear to have been resetting timber that the firing of a shot had knocked out when the roof came down from unseen slants.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 26 June 1914 two colliers, William John Frazer, 22, and Thomas Evans, were killed by a fall of roof at the working face of Killan Colliery, Dunvant. 1,2,3
- They appear to have been resetting timber knocked out by the firing of a shot when the roof fell from unseen slants. 2,3
- The colliery was then worked by W. W. Holmes and Co. 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: “Two colliers at Killan Colliery, Dunvant, were killed on 26 June 1914 when the roof fell from unseen…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…Dunvant, William John Frazer, 22, and Thomas Evans, were killed by a fall of roof. They appear to have been resetting timber that the firing of a shot…” - Slant (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Dunvant, were killed on 26 June 1914 when the roof fell from unseen slants as they reset timber a shot had knocked out.”
Sources
- (secondary) Fatalities 1914 — Welsh Coal Mines — Welsh Coal Mines
- (secondary) Accident record: William John Frazer, Killan, 1914 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) Accident record: Thomas Evans, Killan, 1914 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026