Heroism Awards

Names marked with * have further information at the bottom of the table

Name

Surname

Year

Month

Day

Place

Area

Award

William

Anderson

1911

March

9

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund

*David

Baird

1917

January

20

Cowdenbeath

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

Henry

Baxter

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£5)

John

Beattie

1917

October

4

Easter Jaw Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

*Thomas

Bennie

1953

May

22

Fauldhead Colliery

Dumfries

Edward Medal

Thomas

Borland

1911

March

9

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund

*John

Boyle

1917

January

20

Cowdenbeath

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

David

Brown

1947

January

10

Burngrange Shale Mine

Lothian

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £25)

*David

Brown

1947

January

10

Burngrange Shale Mine

Lothian

Edward Medal

William

Brown

1911

March

9

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund

George

Bryan

1934

August

8

Highhouse Colliery

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10 and £2 for loss of wages)

Alexander

Burden

1925

August

19

Little Raith

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £20)

John

Cadogan

1919

November

28

Dalbeath Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £20)

Henry Stewart

Calder

1927

July

25

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate)

Joseph

Campbell

1913

February

7

Swinhill Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £1 per week)

*Joseph

Campbell

1913

February

7

Swinhill Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 1st Class

*George Shearer

Christie

1917

January

20

Cowdenbeath

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

John

Clemenson

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (medallion and £25)

William Galloway

Cooper

1934

August

8

Highhouse Colliery

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

*Walter

Cullen

1911

April

21

Loanend Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

*Peter

Cummings

1917

December

10

Giffnock Collieries

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal

James

Dick

1901

August

26

Donibristle

Fife

(Cheque for £100 from Andrew Carnegie)

*George

Dryburgh

1907

December

29

Lochhead Colliery

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

*James

Dryburgh

1907

December

29

Lochhead Colliery

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

Myles

Duffy

1941

July

3

Plean Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

*Robert

Dunbar

1913

August

3

Cadder Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

John

Dunlop

1919

April

1

Maxwell Pit, Dailly

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (gold watch)

Fleming

Easton

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£3)

*James

Erskine

1917

January

20

Cowdenbeath

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

Alexander

Farquharson

1913

February

7

Swinhill Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

*Alexander

Farquharson

1913

February

7

Swinhill Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

John

Ferguson

1913

August

24

Furnacebank Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

Robinson

Foster

1929

October

10

Cadzow Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and 2s 6d per week to mother)

George

Fraser

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£5)

John

Fraser

1912

February

20

Prestongrange Colliery

Lothian

Carnegie Hero Fund (£15)

John

Gibbons

1912

August

6

Arthur Pit

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

Joseph

Gordon

1919

September

11

Valleyfield Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

James

Greig

1912

August

6

Arthur Pit

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

William

Guthrie

1934

August

8

Highhouse Colliery

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

John

Hamilton

1911

March

9

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund

Robert

Herriott

1941

July

3

Plean Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10 plus £16 13s 8d loss of earnings)

William

Houldsworth

1914

June

2

Earnock Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

*Andrew
Houston
1950
September
7
Knockshinnoch
Ayrshire
George Medal

David

Hunter

1938

June

16

Lochhead Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate to parents)

*David

Hunter

1967

September

9

Michael Colliery

Fife

George Medal

David

Jarvie

1927

July

25

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £20)

John

Johnstone

1934

August

8

Highhouse Colliery

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

John

Jones

1901

August

26

Donibristle

Fife

(Cheque for £100 from Andrew Carnegie)

Patrick

Kelly

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£3)

James

Kennedy

1914

June

2

Earnock Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £30)

*James

Kennedy

1914

June

2

Earnock Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

David

Laird

1941

July

3

Plean Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £24 7s 6d and allowance of 15s per week to widow)

Robert

Law

1901

August

26

Donibristle

Fife

(Cheque for £100 from Andrew Carnegie)

James Gray

Lessells

1919

September

11

Valleyfield Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

David

Livingston

1914

August

28

Polmaise Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (15s per week to widow)

Herbert

Lorimer

1934

August

8

Highhouse Colliery

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

*Thomas

Macfarlane

1911

April

21

Loanend Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

Frank

Mackay

1927

July

25

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate)

Robert

Mathie

1929

October

10

Cadzow Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £50 to parents)

John

Mathieson

1925

August

19

Little Raith

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £20)

James

McArthur

1947

January

10

Burngrange Shale Mine

Lothian

Kings Commendation

James

McArthur

1947

January

10

Burngrange Shale Mine

Lothian

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

John

McAskie

1912

February

20

Prestongrange Colliery

Lothian

Carnegie Hero Fund (£15)

Samuel

McBride

1919

April

1

Maxwell Pit, Dailly

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (gold watch)

*John

McCabe

1918

July

9

Stanrigg Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

*Edward

McCafferty

1917

January

20

Cowdenbeath

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

Peter

McCartney

1934

August

8

Highhouse Colliery

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and 10s per week to mother)

James

McLeod

1912

February

20

Prestongrange Colliery

Lothian

Carnegie Hero Fund (£15)

Neil

McMillan

1919

April

1

Maxwell Pit, Dailly

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (gold watch)

Thomas

McMillan

1919

April

1

Maxwell Pit, Dailly

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (gold watch)

John

McPhail

1918

March

10

Giffnock Collieries

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

Alexander

Morris

1912

August

6

Arthur Pit

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

*John

Morris

1917

December

10

Giffnock Collieries

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal

John

Morrison

1913

August

24

Furnacebank Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

David

Munro

1919

September

11

Valleyfield Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

Andrew

Nicol

1914

June

2

Earnock Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £15)

*David Walker
Park
1950
September
7
Knockshinnoch
Ayrshire
George Medal

James

Paterson

1927

July

25

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate)

Archibald

Provan

1918

March

10

Giffnock Collieries

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

William

Ramage

1919

November

28

Dalbeath Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

Charles

Richardson

1912

February

20

Prestongrange Colliery

Lothian

Carnegie Hero Fund (£15)

Alexander

Rodman

1925

January

18

Kirkstyle

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (memorial certificate, headstone, allowance of £1 per week to dependents

Philip

Rodman

1925

January

18

Kirkstyle

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £20)

*Thomas
Russell
1950
July
19
Blantyreferme
Lanarkshire
George Medal

*Andrew

Scott

1917

January

20

Cowdenbeath

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

James

Scott

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (medallion and £15)

Robert

Sheddon

1901

August

26

Donibristle

Fife

(Cheque for £100 from Andrew Carnegie)

*John

Shields

1920

August

18

Darngavil Colliery

Lanarkshire

Edward Medal 2nd Class

John

Shields

1920

August

18

Darngavil Colliery

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £20)

*James

Simpson

1918

May

21

Glencraig Colliery

Fife

Edward Medal 1st Class

Richard

Smith

1926

February

16

Valleyfield Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

William

Stevenson

1925

January

18

Kirkstyle

Ayrshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (memorial certificate, headstone, allowance of £1 per week to dependents

*Andrew

Taylor

1967

September

9

Michael Colliery

Fife

Edward Medal 2nd Class

William

Taylor

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (medallion and £10)

William

Taylor

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£3)

Allan Lea

Terrace

1912

August

6

Arthur Pit

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £5)

James

Thomson

1909

March

17

Leven Collieries

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£5)

James

Twaddle

1911

March

9

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund

Charles

White

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£5)

James

White

1909

May

5

No 1 Pit, Saline Colliery

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (£3)

James

Wightman

1919

March

20

Letham Colliery

Stirlingshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)

William

Wilkinson

1912

August

6

Arthur Pit

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate)

James

Williamson

1911

March

9

Valleyfield

Fife

Carnegie Hero Fund

James

Yeardley

1918

March

10

Giffnock Collieries

Lanarkshire

Carnegie Hero Fund (certificate and £10)




Lochhead Colliery, 29 December 1907

Whitehall, July 27. 1908.
His Majesty has been pleased to award the Edward Medal of the First Class to James and George Dryburgh.
On the 29th December, 1907, a fire broke out at Lockhead Colliery, Fife. It was feared that a fireman who was then in the pit was in danger. Two men descended to rescue him, but they were overcome by the poisonous gas in the mine. James and George Dryburgh, in spite of great risk, descended the shaft and rescued these two men. [London Gazette, 28 July 1908]

NB These men, who were not related, were the first Scottish recipients of the Medal

Loanend Colliery, 21 April 1911

Whitehall, September 21, 1911.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal of the Second Class to Walter Cullen and Thomas Macfarlane, miners working at the Loanend Colliery, under the following circumstances: —

On the 21st of April, 1911, Mr. Robert Edgar, the under manager of the Loanend Colliery, Cambuslang, went up a highly inclined road to tear down a screen so as to disperse an accumulation of firedamp, and was overcome suddenly by firedamp. Macfarlane at once went to his assistance, but was in turn overcome and rolled down the road. Cullen, who is 60 years of age, then made two attempts to rescue the under manager, and on both occasions was helped back by Macfarlane, who had recovered, though still suffering from the effects of firedamp. The under manager's body was not recovered until three and a half hours afterwards. [London Gazetter, 22 September 1911]

Swinhill Colliery, 7 February 1913

Whitehall, December 3, 1913.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal of the First Class to Joseph Campbell, and the Edward Medal of the Second Class to Alexander Farquharson, under the following circumstances: —

On the 7th February, 1913, an explosion of firedamp, occurred in an old road at the Swinhill Colliery, Larkhall. A fireman was known to have been at the place of the explosion and, on hearing of the accident, Campbell, a fireman, and Farquharson, a miner, rushed to the spot in the hope of rescuing him. Both men attempted to penetrate the road, but were driven back by afterdamp. Campbell made a second and third attempt, but without success. Then, remembering that a line of compressed air pipes led into the roadway and there was a blank flange on the end of them some distance away, the two men crawled in to the blank flange and unscrewed the bolts holding it in position. The afterdamp had not been cleared away, and Campbell's hands and legs became numbed by its effects; but he courageously stuck to his work till the flange was removed. A length of hose piping was then given to the men by others near, and air was passed through the pipes to clear away the afterdamp. Campbell then ran forward with the free end of the hose to the place where the fireman was supposed to be. After this, he was completely overcome, and had to be carried out.

The unfortunate fireman succumbed to the accident, but Campbell and Farquharson displayed very great courage in their gallant attempt to rescue their fellow workman under very dangerous conditions. [London Gazette, 5 December 1913]

Cadder Colliery 3 August 1913

Whitehall, March 27, 1914.
His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award an Edward Medal of the Second Class to Robert Dunbar under the following circumstances: —

On the 3rd August 1913, a fire occurred at the Cadder Colliery, Lanarkshire, and on the alarm being raised, a panic ensued. Most of the men, not knowing where the fire had originated, turned into the main airway down which the smoke was being carried, and were overcome by fumes. Robert Dunbar, a miner, however, by presence of mind and by utilising his knowledge of the workings, succeeded in bringing two of his fellow workmen into fresh air by another route, after having courageously waited for and revived one of them who had collapsed. After returning to the surface, Dunbar again descended underground to assist in the work of rescue, and, in the course of the subsequent operations, succeeded in saving one of the rescue party who was overcome. The Commissioner who conducted the public enquiry into the disaster made special mention of Dunbar's sustained courage and coolness. [London Gazette 31 March 1914]

Earnock Colliery, 2 June 1914

Whitehall, 22nd December, 1914.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal of the Second Class to James Kennedy, of the Earnoch Colliery, Lanark, in the following circumstances: —

On the 2nd of June, 1914, about 1.50 p.m., a miner named Neil McKillop was engaged in taking down head coal when the coal fell, pinning down his foot. Kennedy at once went to his assistance and continued to make every effort to release him, notwithstanding two further falls, which occurred at short intervals, completely smothering McKillop. Others having come to his assistance, they managed after three hours' work to release the imprisoned man, who was unfortunately found to be dead.

Kennedy in his endeavour, at first unaided, to save McKillop's life ran grave risk of being himself smothered. [London Gazette 29 December 1914]

Cowdenbeath 20 January 1917

Whitehall, 16th July, 1917.
His Majesty the KING has been pleased to award the Edward Medal of the 1st Class to George Shearer Christie, James Erskine, David Baird, Andrew Scott, Edward McCafferty and John Boyle.
On the 20th January, 1917, at about 10 a.m., while operations were being conducted for the widening of a shaft at the Cowdenbeath Colliery, Fife, a portion of the side of the shaft collapsed, throwing a workman named Newton down the mine to a scaffold about 90 feet below. Scott, McCafferty and Baird at once descended in a large bucket or kettle to attempt a rescue. The whole of the shaft below the point at which the fall had occurred was in a highly dangerous condition: stones and rubbish were continually falling, and there was constant danger of a further collapse. Newton was found, alive and conscious, buried beneath about 12 feet of debris and pinned by some fallen timber. The men worked continuously from 10.45 a.m. until 7 p.m. They were joined at 11 a.m. by Christie, and at 1.30 p.m. by Baird, both of whom remained at work with the others until 7 p.m. During the whole of this period all five men were in serious danger.

At 12.45 Boyle descended in the kettle with two other men. While the kettle was descending a fall occurred, killing one of his companions and injuring another. Boyle drew the kettle to the side of the shaft until the fall was over, and then took the kettle again to the surface. He subsequently remained in charge of the kettle, exposed to constant danger, until 7 p.m.

At 7 p.m., after 9 hours' continuous and highly dangerous labour, the rescue party was relieved by other men. Unfortunately, Newton died at 8.30 p.m. Attempts to recover his body were then postponed until the shaft could be worked with greater safety. [London Gazette 17 July 1917]

Giffnock Colliery, 10 December 1917

Whitehall, 3rd August, 1918.

His Majesty has been graciously pleased to award the Edward Medal ….............
Also to John Morris and Peter Cummings under the following circumstances: —
On the 10th December, 1917, while engaged on repair work at the Giffnock Collieries, a fireman entered a place which was known to be dangerous owing to firedamp, and was overcome. Three men attempted, without taking precautions, to rescue him, and were themselves rendered unconscious. Morris and Cummings then crawled on hands and knees into the dangerous space, and succeeded in rescuing three of the unconscious men in three separate journeys. They then entered a fourth time, followed by two others; but on reaching the body of the fourth victim they found that the two who had followed them were themselves partly overcome, and had to be removed. They then entered a fifth time, and recovered the body of the remaining man, who, however, was dead. [London Gazette, 9 August 1918]

Glencraig Colliery, 21 May 1918

Whitehall, 4th November, 1918.
His Majesty The KING has been pleased to award the Edward Medal to...............................
Also the Edward Medal in silver to James Simpson, a fireman at the Glencraig Colliery, Fife :-

On the 21st May, 1918, a repairer, whilst engaged with two other workmen in carrying out repairs, was killed by a fall of roof. The two workmen were both caught and held by the fall. Simpson, who arrived half an hour later, found the men imprisoned and realised that if he went for help they would be suffocated before it could arrive. He immediately set to work unaided and worked for three hours without relaxation, though exposed to danger from the falling roof. At last he succeeded in releasing one of the men. Simpson was then so exhausted that he could not release the. second man; but he protected him with timber before going for help. Had it not been for Simpson's presence of mind and devotion the two men would have lost their lives. [London Gazette 8 November 1918]

Stanrigg Colliery, 9 July 1918

Whitehall, 11th June, 1919.

His Majesty the KING has been pleased to award the Edward Medal to

John McCabe, a drawer at the Stanrigg Colliery, Airdrie, aged 17.

On the 9th July, 1918, there was an in-rush of moss into the workings. McCabe, with 2 other drawers and 3 miners was at the bottom of No3 shaft when they were told that the moss had broken in. The other 2 boys and the 3 men at once ascended the shaft and escaped. McCabe, however, knowing that there were men at the face who might be cut off, returned for a quarter of a mile and warned the men. He and the men he had warned were ultimately collected and raised by another shaft. When he returned to the face, McCabe did not know where the break had occurred, or whether the moss might not at any moment fill the workings through which he returned, as in fact it soon afterwards did. He faced a grave and unknown danger, which might have been fatal, in order to enable others to escape.[London Gazette 13 June 1919]

Darngavil Colliery, 18 August 1920

Whitehall, 20th April, 1922.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Edward' Medal to John Shields in the following circumstances:
On August 18th, 1920, while seven men were working on a seam of the Darngavil Colliery, Lanarkshire, there was a considerable inrush of surface water into the shafts. The pump at the bottom of the shaft was unable to cope with the water, which was pouring in at the rate of 1,200 gallons a minute and there was every possibility of the
men at work in the seam being cut off. The engineman at the surface realised what had happened and at once ran to inform Shields, a miner who lived close by. Shields immediately descended the shaft, proceeded alone into the workings and brought out the men. While the water had not reached any great depth when Shields descended, it was constantly rising, and he could have no idea as to when it would close the entrance to the seam. Shields did not hesitate to risk his life to save others, and his action was a very brave one. [London Gazette 5 May 1922]

Burngrange Shale Mine, 10 January 1947

Whitehall, December 19 1947.
The KING has been pleased to award the Edward Medal to David Brown in recognition of his gallantry in the following circumstances: —
An explosion occurred in the Burngrange Shale Mine, West Calder, Midlothian, at about 8pm on Friday, 10th January, 1947, when 53 persons were at work underground in the district. Firedamp was ignited by an open acetylene cap lamp and the initial explosion started fires which spread rapidly.

David Brown, the Overman, descended the pit and proceeded with a fireman to explore the narrow workings where men were trapped. Though they encountered smoke for a time it was not sufficiently dense to prevent progress but as they passed the junction of another heading increasing smoke compelled their withdrawal. After waiting a few minutes Brown made another attempt, alone, to get inbye. He actually got in to No. 3 Dookhead, where he shouted but got no response. He saw no signs, of the inbye men nor of their lights, and he was forced to withdraw again. On his way outbye, he again met the fireman, who said he had been trying to improve the atmospheric conditions in the inbye section by a partial opening of some brattice screen doors, but this step was of no avail. The atmospheric conditions were getting worse all the time, to the spreading of the fires, the extent and seriousness of which even then were not generally realized. Brown, however, did realize the seriousness of the position in relation to the trapped men and immediately sent word explaining the position to the manager who was dealing with fires elsewhere, asking for all possible assistance and making it quite clear that there was no hope of undertaking further exploratory work without the use of rescue teams wearing self-contained breathing apparatus. He then set out to discover for himself where all the smoke was coming from.

Although the National Fire Service was never intended for fire-fighting underground in mines, nevertheless, a team at once volunteered for this duty. Two members of the team donned their one-hour Proto-Breathing Apparatus. Underground, they met the overman, Brown, who pleaded for the use of the two sets of Proto-Apparatus, so that he and another trained member of the Burngrange Mines Rescue Team could make another attempt to get into the workings beyond No. 3 Dook. Using the one-hour apparatus borrowed from the N.F.S. Brown and his companion made an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the trapped men. At 11.15 pm under the captaincy of Brown a fresh team wearing goggles and using a life-line again attempted to reach the men but were forced to return as the temperature was very high and the smoke so dense that their lights could not be seen. There had been a fall of stone and sounds of strata movement were heard. A further attempt along another level led to the discovery of another fire and it became certain that there was no hope of saving the men until this was under control. The work of firefighting continued for four days and it was not until the night of 13th/14th January, that it was considered practicable to send a rescue team beyond the fire area. With one exception the bodies of all the 15 men who lost their lives by the effect of afterdamp and fumes were in No. 3 Dook. [London Gazette 13 January 1948]

Blantyreferme Colliery, 19 July 1950

Awarded the George Medal:—

Thomas RUSSELL, Fitter (Engineer), Blantyreferme Colliery, Scottish Division, National Coal Board. (Bothwell, Lanarkshire.) A large fire occurred at Blantyreferme Colliery which spread so rapidly that the whole of the pithead structure was endangered. An endeavour was made to get into communication with the men at work underground but the telephone connecting them had been put out of action. The only shaft available was damaged by the fire but in spite of this Russell descended in the cage, parts of which were already too hot to touch, to the working level some 800 feet below the surface, to warn the Under-manager of the serious fire on the surface. By the time he reached the bottom one of the ropes had been burned through, putting the cage out of action. The men were led to a point in the workings some three quarters of a mile distant where it was possible for a Pit Rescue Brigade to cut a way through from an adjacent colliery. All the men were safely brought to the surface five hours after the outbreak of the fire.

Russell displayed great courage and devotion to duty, without thought of self, in descending the shaft in a burning cage to give warning to those underground. [London Gazette 28 November 1950]

Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery, Ayrshire, 7 September 1950

Awarded the George Medal
Andrew HOUSTON, Oversman, Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery, Ayrshire. (New Cumnock.)
David Walker PARK, Deputy Labour Director, Scottish Division, National Coal Board. (Edinburgh.)
An accident occurred at the Knockshinnoch Castle Mine and an enormous quantity of fluid peat and moss poured into the working places, filling up some and isolating others. Andrew Houston was among the 115 men trapped and he immediately took charge and organised exploratory parties to search the accessible workings for stragglers and to find out exactly what the position was. He then assembled all the men in what he thought was the safest part. The workings in which the men were trapped were, at one point, separated by only 24 feet of coal from the disused workings of a neighbouring colliery. The telephone to the surface was still working and Houston was thus able to receive instructions as to how best the men could help in their own escape. He organised teams to drive a way through the barrier and, at the same time, rescue teams began to drive from the other side. Parts of the disused workings were heavily charged with inflammable gas, and although a connection was rapidly made it was not possible for the trapped men to leave Knockshinnoch. Efforts to clear the inflammable gas were unsuccessful and the connection between the mines had to be temporarily closed to prevent foul air entering Knockshinnoch.

The men had been imprisoned for over 24 hours when Park volunteered to go through the connection to the trapped men, using breathing apparatus, so that he could explain the efforts being made to free them. It had meanwhile become evident that it would not be possible to clear the gas from the old mine and sets of light self-contained breathing apparatus were taken below ground so that the trapped men could be brought out in relays through the foul air. Park largely organised the progress of the men out of Knockshinnoch, remaining until last to instruct each man in the method of using the breathing apparatus and to give him confidence in its efficiency. When the last of the men had been rescued he stayed to lead a Rescue Brigade in a search to make sure that no one had been left behind. Park voluntarily left his place of relative safety to join the trapped men and his presence among them at a time when their endurance had been severely tested, contributed much to the eventual success of the rescue. Houston sustained and encouraged the trapped men in his charge. His coolness and resource and the example of his steadfast courage contributed incalculably to the success of the rescue work. [London Gazette 20 April 1951]

Fauldhead Colliery, Dumfriesshire, 22 May 1953

The QUEEN has been pleased to award the Edward Medal to the late Thomas Dalziel Bennie in recognition of his gallantry in the following circumstances:
As the result of a fall of roof in Fauldhead Colliery, Dumfriesshire, on 22nd May, 1953, a miner was trapped by a large stone, but the dirt in the sides of the road prevented the full weight of the stone bearing on him. The fall displaced timber supports and left the roof in a dangerous condition, with every indication of further collapse. Despite the risk, Bennie, who had been working with the trapped miner, remained in order to try to release him, but a further fall occurred and Bennie was fatally injured. His disregard of personal risk in his attempts to rescue the trapped miner was in the highest tradition of the mining industry. [London Gazette, 17 November 1953

Michael Colliery, 9 September 1967

Awarded the George Medal, David Hunter, Deputy, Michael Mine, Fife, National Coal Board.
A fire broke out in an intake roadway near the bottom of a shaft in the Michael Mine. It spread fiercely and rapidly and produced a vast quantity of thick black smoke which was carried by the ventilation current to all working sections of the mine. Without delay the surface control room attendant and officials who had discovered the fire telephoned instructions to all parts of the mine for the 316 men working underground to be withdrawn but nine lives were lost. The intake airway, the shortest way to the shaft and the one which the men were accustomed to travel, was full of black smoke. Deputy Hunter, after warning men at the coal face to withdraw at once, travelled along the intake airway to warn his own men and stayed in the thick smoke a short time to keep the conveyor running and to assist men to travel from the coal face. As only one man came up from the coal face, he became anxious about three others and tried to reach them but was prevented by the smoke. By now he was feeling weak, so he walked out along the intake airway towards the shaft and eventually reached fresh air at a turn. He told men there to shout into the smoke to see if there were any answering calls and also to start up the conveyor to assist any men travelling along the intake airway. A voice was heard and Hunter returned along the intake into the thick smoke and fumes. Although visibility was nil, by following the shouts he found a man lying on the ground about 60 yards from the turn. Hunter picked him up and carried him back to fresh air. By this time Hunter was weak and dazed and had to be restrained to prevent him, going back again into the smoke to look for other men. [London Gazette 16 July 1968]


Whitehall, London S.W.I. 16th July 1968
The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to make the undermentioned award:
Edward Medal
Andrew TAYLOR (deceased), Deputy, Michael Mine, Fife, National Coal Board.
A fire broke out near the bottom of a shaft in the Michael Mine. The fire spread fiercely and rapidly, producing a vast quantity of thick black smoke which was carried to all sections of the mine. Instructions were telephoned from the surface to all parts of the mine for the 316 men working underground to be withdrawn, but nine lives were lost. The intake airway, the shortest way to the shaft and the one which the men were accustomed to travel, was full of black smoke. Deputy Taylor set off along the return airway but after travelling some distance he decided to wait for some of his men who he thought were not far behind. When no one appeared, he became anxious and told the two other men who were with him that he was going back to search for them as he believed he could lead them safely out of the mine. The other men tried to dissuade him and warned him that if he went back he would lose his life. Deputy Taylor replied that he could not return to the surface if some of his men were missing. With complete disregard for his own safety, he went back into the smoke-laden return and was not seen again. [London Gazette 16 July 1968]