United Cavers Exploration Team
Cave and Mine Exploring => General Chatter => Topic started by: Tim Watts on Mar 11, 2018, 09:11 AM
The two gentlemen marked with crosses in the photo are Norman Williams and his dad James Arthur Williams of Rhes y Cae.
In Sept 1945 Gunner James William Hayes was working on the edge of a shaft on Halkyn mountain when the earth subsided and he fell down the shaft. James Arthur Williams was called in to lead the operation to recover the body due to his expertise in descending disused mine shafts.
Assisted by Norman, digging by hand and being lowered in the bucket in front of him it took 17 days to reach the body at a depth of 90 feet which was brought to the surface.
James Arthur Williams received the British Empire Medal for his part in the operation.
Always something to learn.
I was wondering if anyone knows where the site of the accident was? James was my uncle and I would really like to visit the site if possible?
Thanks
Andy Parry