One hundred years ago, on October 14, 1913, 436 men and boys lost their lives, in the worst pit disaster in the history of coal mining in the South Wales Valleys.

On that day there would be no coming home for the unfortunate men and young boys who set off for the mine that fateful morning.

In groups of 10 or more, they were lowered to the pit bottom, not knowing that it was to be the last time they would see their loved ones, the last time they would breathe fresh air - the only thing they ever had for free.

On that day, God only knows why he took them away; they had no time to say goodbye to the ones they left behind.

Down and down they went to the pit bottom, then they had a long walk to the coal face; it was cold, dark, wet and scary down the mine, where the dust was so thick, it made you sick. Little at that time did miners know on their lungs it would stick.

There was no way of knowing, this was to be their last working shift at the coal mine, a place where the sun was never to shine, this place was to become a shrine, their resting place for all eternity. God bless them one and all.

I wonder if the people living in the big cities, sitting around a warm glowing coal fire, ever thought what the coal miners went through down the mine.

I would just like to remind them, over 6,000 men lost their lives, working down coal mines in South Wales, in the 19th and 20th centuries, plus there were thousands who suffered horrific injuries. Some ex-coal miners to this very day are still suffering from the dreaded coal dust, neumoconiosis, and struggling to breath fresh air, the only thing a coal miner ever had for free.

A sudden change in our Lord's command,

Came an almighty explosion,

Like a clap of thunder, a flash of lightning,

In the blink of an eye they were gone,

To that great coal mining mansion in the sky,

And only God knows why.

And we must never forget the 14th of October 1913,

We must never forget our Welsh coal mining heroes,

We must never forget we are Welsh,

On the going down of the sun, we will always remember

The 13th of October 1913 - God bless.

Terry Howells,

An ex-coal miner.