MineArchiveNew Wernddu Colliery roof fall, 1926
On the evening of Monday 13 December 1926 about eight tons of roof fell on three men clearing old falls in the New Wernddu Level near Neath, which was being re-opened after four years shut, killing the repairer John Philips and the labourer William White. Philips's son, working with them, escaped and raised the alarm.
| Date | 13 December 1926 |
|---|---|
| Mine | New Wernddu Colliery |
| Region | Neath Port Talbot |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (John Philips, 53, repairer, of Rossers Row, Taillwyd Road, Neath Abbey, who left a widow and four children; and William White, 37 (38 in the NMRS record), colliery labourer, of Cecil Street, Neath, also married.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of about eight tons on the horse level while the men were re-cogging an earlier fall, which knocked out three sets of timber.
What happened
The level had been closed since July 1922 and there were a number of falls to clear. Ten men were working on the Monday evening and had come outside for food. At six o'clock Philips, White and Philips's son Daniel went back in, and at about half past six, some 200 yards in, the roof came down as they cleared the dirt, burying the two men.
Rescue & recovery
The boy ran out to fetch the other men. It took over two hours to clear the debris; the fireman, Howard Walbridge, said the work was slow because of the treacherous roof, and that when they reached a hand it was quite cold. Both men were dead of fractured skulls and suffocation.
Memorials & commemoration
Philips's funeral was large, and a football match between Neath Wanderers and Bridgend District was stopped as the cortege passed.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 13 December 1926 John Philips and William White were killed by a fall in the New Wernddu Level, which was being re-opened. 1,2,3
- They were re-cogging a fall on the horse level; it had looked safe before they went out for food, and on their return a fall knocked out three sets of timber and buried them. 1,2,3
- It took more than two hours to clear the fall and reach the men, who were dead. 1
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…fetch the other men. It took over two hours to clear the debris; the fireman, Howard Walbridge, said the work was slow because of the treacherous…” - Horse Level (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “A fall of about eight tons on the horse level while the men were re-cogging an earlier fall, which knocked out…” - Level (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…tons of roof fell on three men clearing old falls in the New Wernddu Level near Neath, which was being re-opened after four years shut, killing…”
Sources
- (secondary) Welsh Coal Mines: Fatalities 1926 — welshcoalmines.co.uk
- (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: John Phillips, Wernddu Level, 13 December 1926 — Northern Mine Research Society
- (secondary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: W. White, Wernddu Level, 13 December 1926 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 25 October 2026 · Last researched: 25 October 2026