William Walters was awarded the Albert Medal of the Second Class by Queen Victoria in recognition of his bravery in rescuing fellow-miners trapped underground. The medal raised £6,900 at auction last week.
The Abercarn colliery disaster of 11 September 1878, when 262 people were killed in an explosion, remains one of the worst mining disasters in British history.
With fear of another imminent explosion, rescue teams were withdrawn. William was one of a nine volunteers who descended the two-mile shaft.
On 20 August 1879 the Guardian described the rescue:
82 men and boys were crowded at the bottom of the shaft awaiting their escape to freedom, many severely burned. All were brought to the surface.
Reported by the South Wales argus on 9 July 2013 by Will Bain
01633 777242
wb@southwalesargus.co.uk
Twitter@ArgusWBain
The Abercarn colliery disaster of 11 September 1878, when 262 people were killed in an explosion, remains one of the worst mining disasters in British history.
With fear of another imminent explosion, rescue teams were withdrawn. William was one of a nine volunteers who descended the two-mile shaft.
On 20 August 1879 the Guardian described the rescue:
"The men ... without hesitation descended the pit, and
although they discovered that fires were raging in the
mine and that the chances of another explosion were
considerable, they remained... not ascending the shaft
until they had satisfied themselves that no-one was
left alive below."
82 men and boys were crowded at the bottom of the shaft awaiting their escape to freedom, many severely burned. All were brought to the surface.
Reported by the South Wales argus on 9 July 2013 by Will Bain
01633 777242
wb@southwalesargus.co.uk
Twitter@ArgusWBain
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