Yniscedwyn Colliery roof fall, 1931

Two men ripping the roof at Amalgamated Anthracite's Yniscedwyn Colliery, Ystradgynlais, in May 1931 were buried when it collapsed; they were missed at the end of the afternoon shift and found by the night shift.

Cause

The roof collapsed while the two men were ripping it.

What happened

In May 1931 George Boraden Williams, a 46-year-old repairer, and Ambrose Davies were ripping the roof at Yniscedwyn Colliery when it collapsed and buried them. Both men were missed at the end of the afternoon shift. The fireman, on his way back to the lamp station, found tools lying about and two coats at the side of the road and thought something was wrong. The oncoming night shift cleared the fall and recovered the two bodies. Williams left a widow, and Davies a widow and three children.

Rescue & recovery

The fireman, finding their tools and coats abandoned, raised the alarm; the night shift cleared the fall and recovered both bodies.

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 was on 18 May 1931. (disputed) ^2,3
• The accident was on 19 May 1931. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

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

• A fall of roof at Yniscedwyn Colliery, Ystradgynlais, in May 1931 killed George Williams, 46, and Ambrose Davies. ^1,2,3
• The two men were ripping the roof when it collapsed and buried them. ^2,3
• They were missed at the end of the afternoon shift; the fireman found their tools and coats, and the night shift cleared the fall and recovered the bodies. ¹
• The colliery was owned by Amalgamated Anthracite Collieries Limited. ^2,3
• The accident was on 18 May 1931. (disputed) ^2,3
• The accident was on 19 May 1931. (disputed) ¹

Related terminology

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

• Anthracite (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s summary: “Two men ripping the roof at Amalgamated Anthracite's Yniscedwyn Colliery, Ystradgynlais, in May 1931 were buried when…”
• Colliery (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “Two men ripping the roof at Amalgamated Anthracite's Yniscedwyn Colliery, Ystradgynlais, in May 1931 were buried when it collapsed; they were…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…them. Both men were missed at the end of the afternoon shift. The fireman, on his way back to the lamp station, found tools lying about and…”
• Ripping (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two men ripping the roof at Amalgamated Anthracite's Yniscedwyn Colliery,…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Welsh mining fatalities, 1931 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: George Williams, Yniscedwyn, 1931 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Ambrose Davies, Yniscedwyn, 1931 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 17 October 2026 · Last researched: 17 October 2026