A SERVICE is set to take place in Wrexham to mark the 100th anniversary of the Llay Colliery Disaster, which killed nine people. 

At about 1.15am on Friday, December 5, 1924, an explosion occurred near the 17's face of the North Two Yard District. It was soon established that nine people had been killed.

At the time of the disaster, 416 men were working underground. The official report into the explosion concluded that firedamp [largely methane] which had accumulated in a roof cavity was ignited by one of the fireman's charges. The report stated that the area was not being ventilated adequately and suggested measures to be taken to rectify this.

Those killed were:-

  • Isaac Evans, 19, of Mold
  • Joseph Reginald Evans, 35, of Abermorddu.
  • Robert Percival Evans, 32, of Cefn-y-Bedd 
  • Thomas Charles Fletcher, 43, of Mold
  • Edward Henry German, 15, of Rhosddu. 
  • John William Hughes, 22, of Llay
  • John Humphries, 53, of Maeshafn.
  • Henry Jones, 36, of Llay.
  • William Ernest Williams, 41, of Llay.

A short service is set to take place at St Martin's Church in Llay at 10am on Thursday, December 5, to mark the anniversary. 

MOST READ:

Vic Tyler-Jones, Doctoral Researcher of History at Bangor University, said: "It was a devasting blow for the new village and colliery. The building of the village avenues had only just been completed and the colliery had been in operation for only a year.

"Some of the men who died had survived military service in the First World War only to perish not far from their homes. Relatives of these men still live in the Wrexham area.

"Up to that point in time it was the worst colliery disaster in North Wales for 30 years

"We should never forget the terrible price that coal miners paid on our behalf."