Casgliadau Arlein

Letter sent from the Powell Duffryn Hospital, Aberbargoed, from saved miner Dick Shepard to Lewis Phillips. Undated. Lewis Phillips saved the life of Dick Shepard who was trapped by the revolving picks of a chain cutter undergound at Britannia Colliery on 15 June 1933. Letter reads - PD Hospital East Ward Aberbargoed

Monday

Dear Friend,

Words cannot express my thanks towards you for saving my life. I have thought of you continuously since I have been here. My god, I shudder to think what would have happened if you had not been there. Well, I don’t want you to think any more about it. Do you know I have been through the torments of hell with pain, but I am glad to say I am quite recovered today. I have a terrible gash along my arm from elbow to armpit and my body is black with bruises, cuts on foot and back and something wrong with my back, it takes me about 12 tries to pass water, but they tell me that is by lying on my back in bed because they are all suffering the same. I can’t write much more now, feel a bit tired.

Give my regards to Wilf Collins.

With warm regards