At 5:45 pm on 20 November 1931, firedamp was ignited in the North East Colliery Face of the mine which caused roof falls preventing the men from reaching the shaft and the pit-head. After the explosion there was another inrush of gas which starved oxygen from the air. As news of the disaster spread, a crowd of over 2,000 people gather at the pit head to wait for news. Four men went down the pit wearing breathing apparatus and had to carry the injured over to get them to safety. For their bravery, they were all awarded the Edward Medal with eight in total being presented in the aftermath of the disaster. An inquest was opened up at the colliery two days later. The mines department also held an inquiry between 29 December 1931 and 6 January 1932, which lists 43 dead, not 45. Modern accounts have decided that the final death toll was 45, though five of the bodies could not be recovered.
