A MEMORIAL to the men involved in one of the most famous incidents in the history of mining in the Forest of Dean was unveiled on Saturday (March 26).

The sculpture celebrates the courage, determination and spirit of cameraderie of the men of Waterloo Colliery who faced death when the pit was consumed by a massive inrush of water in June 1949.

By working together, they ensured not a single man of the 182 underground at the time lost their life.

The sculpture at Waterloo Screens near Lydbrook, was created by Yorkley-based artist Anthony Dufort, and shows men being guided to safety as the waters rise.

The plaque was commissioned by the Royal Forest of Dean Freeminers Association and was funded with assistance from the National Lottery-funded Foresters’ Forest programme.

The project took some seven years to complete.

The artwork is mounted in a surround of local stone created by local stonemason and freeminer Kristian Warren.

The lettering was carved by Mr Dufort’s wife and fellow sculptor, Dorota who also made the enormous mould for the orginal clay model.

It was unveiled by former Waterloo Colliery miner and mines surveyor Paul Morgan and Nick Gibson, the stepson of former freeminers’ president Eric Morris who initiated the idea of a memorial but who did not live to see it become a reality..

Among the guests were family members of the men who played significant roles in the rescue.

There was also music from Lydbrook Band which was led by Robert Morgan, whose father Bert helped save many lives that day.

They played three tunes: Jerusalem, the mining anthem Gresford and the theme from The Great Escape.

Chairman of the Freeminers’ Asscociation said the monument was a testament to the men of the Waterloo pit.

He said: “It is our sincere wish that the Royal Forest of Dean Freeminers’ Association has done their memory proud with what we have been able to achieve in providing this monument – a monument to the determintion, courage and spirit of comradeship which those men who worked together underground demonstrated so admirably.

“The monument records that on June 30 1949, miners broke into old workings at the East Slad Colliery causing a massive inrush of water that totally flooded the mine workings and 177 men, and the mine cat, were rescued at the main shaft.

“Five men were cut off by rising water and were instructed by underground telephone to make their way to the old Pludds Colliery shaft which had fortunately just been re-opened to improve ventilation.

“From there they were hoisted to the surface and a major loss of life was averted by the courage of the men themselves.”

Mr Gibson said: “Unfortunately my mother Audrey is unable to attend so I have been given the honour on behalf of her and my late stepfather Eric who passed just over eight years ago.

“This was his dream all those years ago. I’m sure he would have been proud to have been part of this journey and the unveiling of this monument.”