Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Gold hallmarked (Birmingham 1929) gentleman’s pocket watch presented to Mr Seph Jones following the Gellyceidrim Colliery Inundation, 23 November 1929.

Heavy rain caused a torrent of water, about 600 gallons a minute, from old workings into No.2 Slant of Gellyceidrim Colliery. The force of water was such that many men had their clothes and boots torn from them and were lacerated and bleeding from debris carried by the flood water.Although some of the older men fainted due to exhaustion and younger boys were disoriented due to not knowing the mine layout, every man managed to escape. This was due to the bravery of the rescue teams, seven of which were awarded with gold watches by Sir Alfred Cope in February 1930.

Gellyceidrim Colliery Inundation 1929.

Heavy rains the previous week, caused a torrent of water from old workings to break into the number 2 slant of the Gellyceidrim Colliery, 80 yards (metres) down. It happened in the early hours of Saturday the 23rd of November,1929. The force of the water was such, that many of the colliers who had to fight against the torrent were in a state of exhaustion and close to fainting when they finally reached the surface. Some of the men had their clothes and boots torn from their bodies by the water and were bleeding from the lacerations incurred during their struggle.

It was estimated that the water poured into the tunnel at a rate of 600 gallons (approx 2724 litres) per minute, carrying timber and stones with it. The lower part of the workings were quickly submerged. A few of the older men fainted from exhaustion and a number of youths were disorientated in the darkness, not knowing their way around the mine. The fact that every man escaped with his life intact was due to the bravery of the rescue team, seven of whom were awarded with gold watches by Sir Alfred Cope in February 1930. The Gellyceidrim Heroes were:

Mr S. S. Cowley: Manager Mr Gwyn Morgan: Under-Manager Mr David Llewelyn Mr William Lloyd Mr David Williams Mr David Bevan Mr Seph Jones Mr Vincent Thomas of Cawdor Cottages, Glanamman.

Vincent Thomas, although only 16 years of age, entered deep into the mine to warn the colliers of the flooding. His actions saved the lives of approximately 30 men who were working in a remote part of the mine at the time. He was recommended for the Albert Medal for his part in the rescue, though it is not known at this time whether he received the award.

When Mr. Cowley the colliery manager became aware of the disaster, he, the under-manager and a body of men entered the mine to rescue the workers. Standing nearly up to their necks in the water, the rescue party fought against the force of the current in order to pull the struggling colliers to safety. One of the rescued men is quoted as saying "I have never seen such heroism and if it had been war time, some of the rescuers would have been awarded the VC" (Victoria Cross).

It is worth noting that Mr. Gwyn Morgan became manager of the Askern Colliery, Yorkshire, in 1930. In 1940, his courage was celebrated again when one of his colliers became trapped underground following an extensive roof fall. Gwyn Morgan wriggled through a long passage, only 30 inches wide and 12 inches deep to get to the man, before successfully returning with him. It was said that any false movement along the passage would have caused his own escape to be blocked. Gwyn Morgan was presented with a silver tray by the Askern Coal and Iron Company and also received a presentation from the Carnegie Hero Fund.