Aberfan: The Day Innocence Died | The WHOLE sad, anguishing story

The story of the one of the most shocking preventable disasters in British history. The Aberfan disaster of 1966.
Gorphwyswch Mewn Hedd, blant Aberfan - Rest in Peace, Children of Aberfan
DiD Reads Channel - / @didreads
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#history #disaster #documentary #historyfacts #historydocumentary #tragedy #mining #coal #coalmining #aberfan #landslide #buried #buriedalive

[@DiD86]

DISCLAIMER: The images used in this video are for illustrative purposes only. They are not meant to accurately depict every single point being made or explained but are the best representation of them, given my limited resources. Please keep this in mind before commenting.

[@philiphubbard6234]

Sorry to ask and I bet you have a list of video's to make, but was wondering if you could please do one on the Hillsborough Disaster and The Valley Parade Stadium fire.

[@SarahLBanks]

My neighbour and friend Brenda 82 years old now and Welsh. I was telling her about a documentary I’d just watched about Aberfan. She looked sad and then told me she was a nurse in Aberfan, and that day she lost a son, her pets, and her entire home. I was gobsmacked.

[@DiD86]

Oh Jeez! That’s awful! Poor lass.

[@connormclernon26]

I imagine she feels nothing but wrath towards the absolute bastard that owned the mines who got off Scott free

[@simonjackson7269]

My son worked in Props Logistics for The Crown and had to take a lorry load of coffins to a neighbouring village for filming... obviously this had to be handled with great care and dignity... he was, as were many of the crew, moved by the story.

[@ozegirl44]

When they were filming the Crown, the production people came in to talk to the villagers. They were disgusted to find out that no one had ever offered counselling or support during or after the disaster. They pulled out all the stops to provide this and more for the survivors. I can't get beyond the treatment that was dished out to the families at that time and the complete dismissal of the effects it had on them and the surrounding region.

[@cseivard]

Growing up in the coal mountains of Pennsylvania, the tale of the Johnstown flood, still echoes in every family.

[@lennyfair6177]

I was a kid when this occurred. I saw it on the news and had nightmares of being buried alive. Unable to move and hardly breathe, I'd scream myself awake. I still have a fear of being buried alive like that, at 63.

[@wuffothewonderdog]

Something like £5million was collected in the Disaster Fund, which was administered by the local council which appointed one of its friends to be the administrator. Nothing was done for the bereft parents - the administrator protested "We can't just give the money away, can we?" Eventually the money was spent in removing the last of the tip that remained. I had business to do in Aberfan in the 1980s and spoke to a lady who told me she had lost two children in the disaster, receiving not a penny of the £5million collected. I have never contributed to any public collection since then.

[@markshrimpton3138]

I was 8 when this happened and remember taking money to school for the disaster fund. I was astounded then outraged when, as an adult, I learned of the way the money had been used, not to compensate (if one ever could) the affected but to removed the slag heap. I also recall slag heaps in and around Sheffield being reduced in size after Aberfan.

[@stephenbethell7548]

Yes I remember the veteran broadcaster Cliff Michelmore in tears at the scene on our black and white ( of course) TV .I was 13 , I’ll never forget it .

[@carlharris2808]

You covered this disaster so well in depth & with great feeling to say it was & and still is a national disgrace is a understatement and yes even though it is hard to believe they did check the parents of the lost children to ask did you love your children so they could pay less to the parents.I myself have been down the Yorkshire mining museum and yes when you turn out the lights it is the blackest black ever not even the hand in front of your face can you see. We as a country owe these lads who worked down the pits our respect & thanks.

[@DiD86]

Thank you for your kind words. I did a little security work for Wakefield Council a few years back and I was summoned to an alarm at the mining museum. Turned out it was just an error, so I thought, sod it, I’m on pay, I’m staying! Ended up speaking to the staff who gave me the “Cook’s tour” round and spent around 3-4 hours there, all on pay! 😂 Fascinating place!

[@davidnorth4703]

I was six, about the same age as some of the poor victims. My Mum was in tears watching the news footage, nearly every mother was, I would think. I have visited the memorial gardens and the cemetery twice. To see the two lines of graves and read th gravestones and messages is truly heart breaking. All died 21st October 1966 .... such a shame RIP the little ones and their teachers.

[@whiteonggoy7009]

I was almost 13 that terrible Friday.After the holidays for many days in assembly we prayed for the lost ones. thanks for covering this sad event.. it's good no silly background music just the facts...many thanks sir.

[@chrishenniker5944]

This video was very well written, capturing the anger of the residents and the corruption of the NCB covering their arses.

[@mattwilliams3456]

This is one of those situations where you’d have liked to see the Queen point to several involved and say “off with their heads.”

[@oldmandoinghighkicksonlyin1368]

National Whale Council: "People will always need blubber to light their oil lamps"

[@felixjones9198]

This is the best exploration of the Aberfan disaster I've ever seen. My late father was the son of a Welsh coal miner, and Wales, particularly Snowdonia national park, is one of my favourite places on earth. P.S. your Welsh accent is perfect.

[@DiD86]

Thank you so much, Felix! I have a couple of friends that live in Garndiffaith and they have broad accents, making it easy to copy. So I’ve them to thank for that. Haha.

[@alinapopescu872]

Agreed about the excellent quality of the exploration.

[@dokkenratt]

I lived about 12/13 miles away from Aberfan (in Ferndale) 10 years ago. As you can imagine, it still conjurs up feelings of high emotion. Thank you for this well crafted upload.

[@DiD86]

You’re most welcome. Thank you for watching.

[@bendewet1057]

Thank you for covering this Horrific, but preventable Disaster so well. During the late Seventies, I passed by Abervan a few times, visiting Friends and traveling by Train. There was a definite Atmosphere when passing there.

[@PeekabooYa]

Thank you for covering this horrendous disaster. It's one that has haunted me since childhood and I'm always surprised at how so few people seem to know about it. It's such an awful way to die and to happen to children .... well let's just say it would destroy my faith if I had any. There were apparently several people from the village including children who had dreamt of being buried alive the night before and children who were afraid to go to school that day. I'm not sure what I think of that but if anything is likely to trigger some sort of precognitive episode that would probably be it.

[@sandykenuk]

It has also never left my mind since it happened. Going to go there somtime soon and pay my respects. It really did have a massive impact on me.

[@amye6281]

Thank you for pronouncing everything correctly - as someone Welsh, it’s nice to hear!

[@DiD86]

I was taught how to pronounce Welsh words quite early on. Grew up listening to Max Boyce! 😁👍🏻

[@glennglover9350]

I was 11 yrs old when this happened. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sad for all those children and teachers and yet even at 11 yrs old i remember the anger i felt afterwards. Truly terrible and avoidable. RIP all those in the mass graves. 😢😢😢

[@deborahbarry8250]

A horrible story, one of the worse. unfortunately there have been many similar disasters go unpunished... shameful

[@blackshuck1175]

I went to the big pit a few years ago amazing place.

[@kwr1015]

I know this tragedy well, yet I wept anew with your narration - thank you

[@greendragon4058]

I grew up in mining country, and we lost a fair share of people really never gets easier but the women whales was horrific because the amount of people how it happened and when it happened not too long ago. I'm planning a trip to Wales because that's one place I always wanted to go my daughter and I are going to plan a trip this definitely is going on my trip. I'm sad to hear all the families have had to go through all this, this is why we're supposed to have unions thank you for the story and I'm glad she took the time to tell the whole story thank you

[@celestenova777]

Very sad events. I'm from a Welsh family and stories of my great grandfather etc have been told to me of the pit ponies in the mines, the rats and the pitch blackness. One of my relatives houses used to look over a pit, all gone now. Terrible to think that this disaster could possibly happen again. Great video and beautiful sentiment at the end!

[@jackharrison6771]

Well done for covering this event; which I'm sure left a scar on all of Wales and further away even, I have commented before on the effects of total darkness and it must be impossible to fully empathise with those buried - especially children; and even for only a couple of hours. For the NCB and old Robens to bicker and deny about blame, was despicable. I'm sure that various effects and trauma still felt, even now. I would like to visit Aberfan to offer my respect, but without wanting to appear ghoulish. I always believed the saddest place in any town is the childrens area of the graveyard. But in Aberfan- the atmosphere must be so much worse.

[@RapideWombaticus]

I first learnt of this watching 'The Crown' (I'm Australian) - I am not ashamed to admit that I wept. The NCB should forever be ashamed! Another interesting upload from you my friend - keep up the good work

[@DiD86]

I most certainly will. I’ve no desire to stop for a LONG time! 👍🏻

[@garethmatthews7939]

and the british labour party who were in goverment at the time taking the money raised to help the survivors to remove the tips so they did have not to spend money

[@andrewtaylor1196]

Thank you for a very respectable narration concerning this disaster it still carries very bitter memories for many people here in the valleys even now and yes you are correct there are scores of these tips in former mining valleys that are a ticking time bomb that have the potential for causing another aberfan in the future Perhaps you might also be intererested in looking into the other great travesty in welsh mining history that was the senghenydd mining disaster of october 1913 439 men and boys killed in an underground explosion after which the mine owners were fined a grand total of £ 37 .10s. 6 d if I remember rightly it amounted to. ( tuppence half penny per life lost ) The owner of the universal colliery chaired and headed the tribunal into that disaster and that caused a hell of a stink at the time

[@triplex86]

One of the best presentations that I have seen on this heartbreaking subject and very informative. With hindsight, it is disgraceful really how the families were treated and truly amazing to learn that , some 57 years later, most of the spoil tips are still in place.

[@DiD86]

Thank you. And yes, it’s shocking, yet strangely, not surprising.

[@shubbagin49]

I remember that day, I was 16 and returned from work to see my mother, who was a teacher herself, crying, my Scottish mother did not cry. I had a sense of rage about it all as my grandfather had been a miner in the Scottish pits and had told me stories about their bosses. I was shocked to hear there are still dangerous pit bings In this country. A saying from my grandad, Do not go down the mines lad, there is plenty of coal in the yard,I thought then as now, F%&KING Bosses like always put profit before people.

[@sheilabanks7240]

WATCHED THIS IN BLACK/ WHITE TELE. I WAS 14. THE BROADCASTERS WERE IN TEARS, COULD HARDLY SPEAK.🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@DiD86]

I can completely imagine. Those poor wee souls. It’s a sin!

[@myfanwymorris4083]

​@@DiD86I was in the library in school and our English teacher was in tears as her children were in that school 💕🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🙏🙏🙏

[@malcolmmarshall5946]

I was 9 years old, my family and I living in San Antonio Texas. This was headline news for days. Half a world away, it still upset the hell out of the people.

[@DiD86]

I can imagine.

[@lumpfish100]

This is the saddest desaster !!! All those poor children! It breaks my heart. Thank you for your deep dive xx

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

I was nearly three at the time, my Mum sat hugging me crying watching this on the news. It still gives her chills even now.

[@theydongreen9073]

Thank you for such a detailed and emotional presentation. I've watched it on the 57th Anniversary and I'm appalled at how the NCB and others behaved. I'm sure today they would not be able to get away with it.

[@ShrodingersAminal]

17:21 It's almost as though the more things change, the more they stay the same?

[@thisisengland3503]

Shockingly tragic I have heard of it but never knew just how devastating it was, another excellent analysis 10/10

[@pissedoff-is1mt]

Thanks for covering this. My father went to help that morning and later with his regiment. Never would talk much about it.

[@BigBobB1964]

Really good coverage of this terrible event, however I find one element a little confusing...the only politician you make mention of is Thatcher for the way that the mine was eventually closed, however, the NCB was created by Labour and the disaster took place under the term of Wilson's Labour government, maybe some mention of the negligent way Labour acted supposedly while 'looking after' the workers they always claim to represent!

[@DiD86]

Yes, you’re right. I should have mentioned that. Mea culpa.

[@rhianwenj7597]

​@@DiD86looking into how the financial "stuff" was handled.... Was and will always be a messy subject. You've moved me to want to go and visit and it's not yet 7am. I want to say I enjoyed the video but that seems totally the wrong word. I live half an hour away in another coal mining village the daughter and granddaughter of Welsh Coal Miners. I can remember hearing my father cough every morning so well used to hearing the"mining souvenir". You've worked hard on this video and in my view created just the right atmosphere. I don't know if that is the right phrase. I was only two when this happened so have no memory of my own of the event but know the story and village well. Standing by the graves, standing where the slurry came down the mountain and the scar it left, I still seems impossible that this man made disaster was allowed to happen. Talk about 'follow the money", and still the UK government screws we the people. I think I'll watch this video again in the memorial garden, but I'll wait for a sunny day. I'm not brave enough to go there in a rainy day. RIP all those innocent ones from this disaster. May those that behaved badly, wrong and inappropriately have the "rest" they deserve. Diolch am yr ymdrech i rhoi hwn at i gilydd. Anodd drachynllud i cael geiriau addas. Cysgwch yn dawel plant bach, yr oedolion heb anghofio y gweithwyr. 💔😥

[@mauricefrost8900]

Thank you for your work on this I remember coming home for lunch from school at the age of eleven and seeing the reports on the BBC news Even though I was a couple of hundred miles away those pictures cut into me and still come back when something brings the event to mind Like yourself, I would one day like to visit that memorial

[@RTD3]

The disaster happened in 1966. At 1:51, "Corporate Manslaughter". At 3:37, "Following the Second World War, the entire coal industry was nationalized to shore up the economy."

[@deeayenn]

Not a lot I can add to that already commented so I shall simply hope your intention is to carry on as this. Your work is superb.

[@MB-vu3ow]

Fantastic voice and narration

[@DiD86]

Thank you very much 👍🏻😇

[@deanbuss1678]

Couldn't help but notice. Your passion for the subjects you select. I appreciate it. And again WELL DONE 👍

[@DiD86]

I do put my heart into every episode. Thank you 😇

[@philiphubbard6234]

My dad was a miner from 1968 to 1992 at the Manton Colliery in Nottinghamshire, there is another illness miner's get and gets worse as they get older which is called White Finger, in winter it's the worse for my dad as he can't hardly move his fingers, as cold weather can make the joints in his fingers more painful, this can be caused by anyone using machine's that are hand held violently shake.

[@DiD86]

Yes, I’ve heard of that one. Nasty.

[@progressivefilmsUK]

Such a tradgic and horrible incident. brakes your heart

[@DiD86]

It does, indeed.

[@craigbuckley3373]

Excellent Informative Documentary. Brutally honest and to the point but entertaining and told with compassion and complete understanding of everyone concerned. These people were Victims of Arrogance and yet another Arrogant system and this should not be forgotten as lesson's still need learning. Thank you for this excellent video.

[@robnewman6101]

R.I.P Children & Adults.

[@eirlyswyse1240]

Both my Father and Grandfather attended to try and dig them out in the vein hope anyone could possibly have survived it. This still resonates today.

[@kragratt]

I’ve never been several hundred feet underground when the lights go out but I have been in shaft alley on a 688 class submarine when the lights go out. True darkness is a weird experience.

[@DiD86]

That’ll do it! The same effect, for sure! That COMPLETE deprivation of sight is a very surreal feeling. I am not a fan of it.

[@myfanwymorris4083]

Pissed off my dad left work and also went to help he said I was more heartbreaking than the war because it wS little baby children

[@elloco6544]

Nobody could have done it better. Mille merci...

[@keithwinters3031]

Excellently put together.Very informative. Look forward to more factual narratives.

[@DiD86]

Thank you very much. The 10th of November is the anniversary of another disaster and I’m currently working frantically to write the script to hopefully give me enough time to get the video on it posted on the day. Fingers crossed!

[@KKTR3]

Thank you

[@rubberneckinc.8937]

As always excellent work. Thank you

[@banjodeano2202]

excellent video, another well made production, thanks for the share

[@DiD86]

No problem, my friend. Thank you for your support.

[@user-wi6sh6vh8u]

This deserves to become a movie by Francis Ford Coppola, and if you can, please think about a video of the 1953 New Zealand 🇳🇿 train wreck?

[@KKTR3]

something still stinks about everything to do with this in this day and age still

[@DiD86]

You’re not wrong, there!

[@jessicamilestone4026]

Utterly heartbreaking 💔

[@taya-zb6hc]

I was in a isolation hospital and just woken up from brain meningitis a illness that changed my life ,was told by the doctor I should have died and was very lucky to be a live . A very sad day for all who lost there life .😢

[@DiD86]

A lucky escape. Dang!

[@marthabarker2136]

This reminds me of the Buffalo Creek disaster in West Virginia: February 26, 1972, which occurred after midnight. Lives and property were lost. Some of the people settled with Pittston Coal, got a pittance: The ones that held out got substantially more.

[@bicivelo]

😢 beyond reprehensible!!

[@robertalpy]

I can imagine the journalist asking the girl to cry for the camera being punched uin the face.

[@DiD86]

I can imagine there being a very long queue for that job…

[@alisonhuaut6080]

Great topics, thanks

[@myfanwymorris4083]

I visited the cemetery broke my heart 💕💔🙏🙏💔💔💔

[@bulldog1066jpd]

A totally avoidable tragedy.

[@DiD86]

Yep! The govt and the NCB have blood on their hands and no mistake!

[@lumpfish100]

Good singing too! 👌

[@faffabout9412]

There is a similar event in US history, though ours was with Iron moguls, its called the South Fork Dam disaster of 1889, happened in Allegheny Pennsylvania, over 2000 people were killed. Was caused by elitist lake club owners neglecting a Dam on their property. Worth a look if you study these types of disasters.

[@pfadiva]

Also known as the Johnstown Flood.

[@malyoung7571]

Outrage and disgust!

[@brianhunt9614]

As I sit on the eastern plains of Canada and remember my journey to Wales in my early twenties I am shaken by this story. My grandfather was a Joyce from Shropshire. My mother had those brilliant blue eyes with jet black hair. I enjoyed my walkabout in Wales. And I had no idea of this tragedy. Nor of the despicable and absolute callous actions and inaction of the NCB and government of the time. Had I been a resident of Aberfan chances are I would have been in that school. I have family in Wales. And had no idea till today. Is a thank you apropos? Good work sir.

[@j.r.c8145]

Thankyou for covering this. Some feedback. You may want to think about your words at the end of the documentary. You say you hope we have been entertained? I question that word. It is not just you who say it. Never forget you are making documentaries about disasters and very dark material. I think entertained should be deleted and only the word informed used. Family and friends would no doubt be happier with that. If you watch these documentaries for entertainment then that is very sad. My feedback is to help in your development of future documentaries. It is not criticism.

[@DiD86]

I understand, although I would say that entertained is not necessarily the same as enjoyment, it can also mean your attention was sufficiently captured for the duration. However, in my more recent docs I now instead say “I hope you found it interesting and informative” in order to avoid this ambiguousness.

[@jamespope2840]

Evil is evil though the times and aspects change evil doesn't.

[@sailorhms]

During the 1980's, we used to say that NCB stood for No C**t Bothers. I guess we were right.

[@robertalpy]

Usually whenever there's a mining accident in the world the news will run through all the worst ones that preceeded it. I'm surprised I've never heard of this one. Especially since so many children died. That would this one very different than most.

[@nilo9456]

I was Eleven at the time, here in the States information was limited and I lacked a context. I don't really understand. So sad.

[@Damien_Clarke]

If Hell, or eternal punishment, are real... there would have to be a special place there for these greedy and ghoulish corporate monsters. Maybe an eternality of being buried alive? Is that too harsh? I digress. With sorrow and sadness, I offer my condolences to folk of Aberfan and the families of the unfortunate victims - both the innocence of those that lost their lives (for most, albeit too short) and the others that were forces to laden an emotional burden.

[@michaelmccarthy5455]

One man had the coroner put on his son's death certificate as "Buried alive by the National Coal Board" for the cause of death. (I learned this through "Cantata Memoria: For the Children" composed by Sir Karl Jenkins CBE, as a commission for the 50th anniversary.

[@Damien_Clarke]

@@michaelmccarthy5455 As well as he should, stick it to them! Make everyone remember the corporate monster. Thanks for sharing Michael. Cheers!

[@marthabarker2136]

There are those coal tips in West Virginia, but they are not anywhere near in the height- nor would they be looming over a town- like over a primary school

[@DiD86]

😔

[@garethmatthews7939]

my late gran was a nurse and was sent to aberfan cleaning the bodies

[@888zzz]

The private sector makes the laws and policies in most countries.

[@DiD86]

Amen!

[@markouellette6302]

Hi, Great videos. You should definitely do one on Harold Jones

[@robertalpy]

Oh boy. The surviving children werent allowed to take even a small amount?! Why is a governmet controling private donations? Where did the other million pounds go? Less than one tenth went to the people that the donations were intended for. That would be considered fraud today i hope. But were still dealing with mismanaged charities.

[@annemariebell6970]

Why can't the NCB still be held accountable?

[@DiD86]

Because they no longer exist.

[@PoorMansChemist]

Sounds to me like someone should have sent Graham Young to cater a posh dinner for the NCB big wigs most responsible for this. 😈

[@PoorMansChemist]

PS Just a bit of dark humor. 😇

[@DiD86]

What a thoroughly brilliant idea!

[@DiD86]

I too ADORE gallows humour. To paraphrase Red Dwarf, “I’ve the bedside manner of an abattoir giblet gutter!” 😂

[@alinapopescu872]

I knew about the incident, but not much about what came after.

[@stephencampbell9384]

Slack? Surely slag? Slack being commercially saleable small hard coal used to slow a fire down or keep it in overnight.

[@DiD86]

Slag is a byproduct of the steel industry, so not quite applicable. I’ve always known it as slack. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@stephencampbell9384]

Look up the word on your local coal merchant's site. its useful coal.....if you don't take my word. Maybe slag is the wrong term, but slack is a commercial coal product, not waste.@@DiD86

[@garethmatthews7939]

should listen to david alexender working man

[@garethmatthews7939]

what about the labour welsh office minister or the pm

[@thePrussian]

The fund was managed by politicians, wasn’t it?

[@DiD86]

Naturally…

[@alanrogers3077]

abba -VAN i was 3years old 20 miles away all the grownups stop talking

[@garethmatthews7939]

yes the labour goverment at the time

[@john211murphy]

If there is an All Powerful God, then it is an Evil God.

[@DiD86]

I’ve always thought so.

[@roximusmaximus195]

There's a well known ghost/premonition story about this. An 8yr old girl woke up the morning of the incident and told her mam she dreamed something black "was all over the school"...and she had her breakfast and left for school..she was one of the victims.

[@DiD86]

Dang! I did not know that. Poor girl.

[@roximusmaximus195]

@@DiD86 I read it in a Colin Wilson book,and yes it's scary to think the kid saw what was coming..

[@cseivard]

Growing up in the coal mountains of Pennsylvania, the tale of the Johnstown flood, still echoes in every family.