Margaret Jones of the Friends of Gresford Colliery Disaster Memorial talks about the Gresford Colliery mining disaster remembrance services 2024 and the tragic events of 21st September 1934.
Two Services
We invite family members and friends to help volunteers light 266 candles at the Miners Rescue Station at 6pm on 21st September in memory of the 266 miners who lost their lives at Gresford Colliery 90 years ago.
The flames will be extinguished at 2.08 the following morning at the same time and date when fire engulfed the Dennis section of the colliery after a massive explosion ripped through the mine 90 years ago.
Two remembrance services will take place on Sunday, 22nd September: the first at the Gresford Disaster Memorial on Bluebell Lane in Pandy at 11am with a service at All Saints Church in Gresford at 5pm.
All are most welcome to attend. Please email friendsgcdm@gmail.com for more information.
Tradition has it that no one receives an invitation to this service.
Holes Drilled In Clogs
In September 1934, men in the Dennis section of Gresford Colliery were working in conditions fit for no man. The heat was so intense that many worked in their underwear, with holes drilled in their clogs to let the sweat drain out.
In the week leading up to the disaster, Gresford Colliery Silver Band were playing at a midweek carnival in town. They were also due to play at Wrexham AFC’s home match on the Saturday. Workers changed shifts for a variety of reasons, not least for those who swapped with their mates to watch their favourite team play Tranmere Rovers. Although management had officially banned double shifts, they turned a blind eye as the mine had to meet quotas, and the men were grateful for the extra money.
Halfway through the night shift, 261 miners died when a massive explosion ripped through the mine, lighting fires in its wake. Three rescue team members also perished in a failed rescue attempt, bringing the number up to 264. A surface worker was fatally wounded when another explosion blew off the seal a few days later.
The last fatality collapsed at a memorial service for those who had died, one of whom was his brother. He had been amongst those fighting the fires, and although taken to hospital, he didn’t recover. It was said that he died of shock, and his name was added to the final death toll.
Sealing The Shaft
Of the miners who died in the initial explosion, rescue workers recovered seven bodies within a short space of time. Workers later located two of the initial rescue team members before officials decided to evacuate the mine and seal the shafts. Conditions were considered too dangerous to continue, and they had no choice but to leave their dead colleagues behind. On their exit, they discovered one last body beneath a dead pit pony.
During recovery operations in May of the following year, salvage teams found the body of a third rescue team member.
The final death toll was 266, 253 of whom remain entombed. The section where the bodies lie remains forever sealed.
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