Newspapers - Rhymney Valley 1943

[Brelades]

My father was injured in a coal mine accident in the Penalta Colliery, New Tredegar on the 22nd February 1943. The event was reported in a "local" newspaper at the time as was my fathers subsequent health relapse. (He recovered and lived until 1972). Until my early 20's I saw copies of the newspaper cuttings  that my mother had, but she destroyed them (along with other family history documents when she moved to Australia). I have tried in vain to locate which newspaper it would have been reported in.
Does anyone have any idea as to the newspapers of the time or how I can go about finding out more info about searching specific newspaper archives online.
I am in Australia so visiting offices in the UK would be difficult.

Thanks in advance
 

[harvo]

Welcome to Rootschat
Believe Monmouthshire Merlin covered the Tredegar/ Bedwelty area,I have recently been in touch with Tredegar Library which holds copies of these early newspapers.
You should send your enquiry to them however if they find the article you are looking for there is a charge for this,you must give as much information as you can muster.I believe the search charge is £10 per hour for a maximum of 2 hours  e/mail Tredegar.Library[at]blaenau-gwent.gov.uk

    Good luck and good hunting   Harvo

[Brelades]

Thanks Harvo

I will give the Library a go

[Rowley]

Hi Brelades, The local newspaper for that area was the Rhymney Valley & Merthyr Express, which is based in Merthyr Tydfil and is still publishing today, another paper was the South Wales Echo  which is based in Cardif but also covered the Valleys.
I knew of a Penallta Colliery near Gelligaer but was there a Penalta Colliery in New Tredegar??  Best wishes Rowley

[Brelades]

Hi Rowley

Thanks for that info.

My geographical memory is probably a bit suss - the Penalta Colliery was at Gelligaer (where I was born).

My dad and most of my rellies that I used to visit were New Tredegar/Brithdir  based so my brain is sometimes locked into thinking of NT.

Some 10 years ago I checked out the Merthyr Express in the British Newspaper Library in London and they only had the Saturday edition for the period around my dads accident, so the vital few days around the accident time were missing - From memory it was a daily paper.

Your description of Rhymney Valley & Merthyr Express - was this the only one or was there also a Merthyr Express. eg The South Wales Echo I have found did have a Rhymney Valley edition in addition to the Cardiff based South Wales Echo.

kind regards

[Rowley]

Hi Brelade, I felt sure there was only one Penallta Colliery in the area, I lived about a mile or so from Penallta in a place called Cascade.
If you google Bargoed Library and contact them by E-mail, and because you have full details of the incident I believe they will possibly be able to help you.
As far as I remember The Rhymney Valley & Merthyr Express was seperate from the South Wales Echo, the Echo covered Glamorgan and the South Wales Argus was for Monmouthshire, best wishes Rowley

[Brelades]

Thanks Rowley

I will do as you suggest and contact the Bargoed Library

John