Scottish Mining Website

Fatal Accidents 1918
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If the name of the pit is not stated in records, we have recorded this as NK with the miner's usual residence added as an approximate indicator of area
Statistics from the Report of the HM Chief Inspector of Mines and Quarries for 1918 - Deaths due to accidents in Scottish Division
185 deaths occurred due to accident occurred during 1918
4 killed by explosion of firedamp or coal dust
95 killed by falls of ground
5 killed in shaft accidents
8 killed by explosives underground
24 killed by haulage accidents
34 killed by other causes underground
14 killed on surface
1 death in a Metalliferous mine

Currently this page lists 189 fatalities 
This page contains fatalities sourced from the Registers/Indexes of Fatal Accident Inquiries.  These records do not list the date of death, only the date of the FAI records.  Dates of death will be added when time and finances permit, meantime undated records from this source are highlighted with a blue background at the foot of the main table

YearMonth Day Name of Colliery First Name Surname Extra Information/Source
1918 January 2 NK (Glasgow area) John Gordon Haggarty FAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 January 9 Polkemmet Anthony McNulty FAI record – NAS "Anthony McNulty, pit-sinker, 57 West Main Street, Whitburn, died on 9 January 1918 in No. 2 Sinking Shaft, Polkemmet Colliery, Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, when he fell from a sinker's kettle down the shaft"
1918 January 11 Foulford Colin Maxwell Newspaper report - Beath pages
1918 January 12 NK (Berryhill, Wishaw area) James Shaw Crushed between waggons - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 26 January 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918January14Douglas Castle CollieryJohnSomervilleKilled by a mass of coal falling upon him – FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 2 February 1918, Death cert
1918 January 15 Prestongrange Robert Steele Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 January 22 Parkhead Colliery Archibald Dickson Fall of stone from roof - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 26 January 1918, Death cert & RCE Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1918 January 23 Drumley, Ayrshire James Bowes Martin Ross Newspaper report - Ayrshire pages
1918 January 24 NK (Blantyre area) George Steven Injuries received by slipping and falling against peice of coal and supervening tubercular spinal meningitis - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918 January 25 Greenrig John McGilvary Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 January 26 NK (Wishaw area) James Jardine Injuries through fall of stone from roof and supervening blood poisoning - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918 January 27 NK (Glasgow area) Martin Prendergast Fall of stone from roof - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918 January 28 NK (Motherwell area) Peter Joyce Injuries received by fall of stone accelerating death from tuberculosis - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918 January 30 Blackrigg Joseph Mills FAI record – NAS "Joseph Mills, miner's drawer, 72 Westrigg Rows, died on 30 January 1918 in No. 1 Pit, Blackrigg Colliery, Blackridge, Linlithgowshire, when he was overtaken and jammed between 2 hutches" Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 January 31 Shawfield Pit, Law James Mooney Symington Fall of stones from roof – FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 2 February 1918, Death cert
1918 February 4 NK (Bellshill area) James McNeil Crushed finger and supervening cellulitis – FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert
1918 February 5 Watson's Colliery Motherwell Thomas Brown Fall of stone from roof – FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert
1918 February 6 Raith John Paterson Newspaper report - Beath pages
1918 February 13 Clyde Thomas Gibbons Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1918 February 14 Pennyvenie William Bryan Register of FAI -fell from railway carriage
1918 February 14 NK (Uddingston area) Robert Russell Injuries received by fall of stone and supervening blood poisoning - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 February 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918 February 17 Allanton David Stewart Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1918 February 19 Bent Colliery John Taylor Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1918 February 24 Legbrannock John McAnulty Register of FAI - injured by fall of stone
1918 February 26 Allanton James Muir Beveridge Register of FAI - Died of blood poisoning following injury to knee in colliery
1918February27NK (Greengairs area)JohnFoxFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 February 28 Philpstoun James Paris Stein Newspaper report - Lothians pages
NAS: Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Paris Stein, miner's drawer, 5 Bridgend Rows, Linlithgow, died on 28 February 1918 in No. 1 Shale Mine, Philpstoun, Parish of Abercorn, Linlithgowshire, when a large piece of shale fell upon him and John Stein, miner's drawer, Kinnaird Terrace, Philpstoun, died on 2 March 1918 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 28 February 1918 in No. 1 Shale Mine when a large piece of shale also fell upon him
John Stein
1918 March 3 Rimmon Colliery William Britton Russell Fall of stone from roof - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 23 March 1918, Death cert & RCE, Headstone
1918 March 10 Giffnock Colliery Hugh Boyce Register of FAI - suffocation by fire-damp
1918 March 17 Rosehall Duncan McIntyre Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages
1918 March 19 Bredisholm James Lang The first [fatal explosion of firedamp], at Bredisholm, occurred on 19th March, when a miner and a drawer, in contravention of General Regulation 4, went into an abandoned roadway to get some rails. The naked lights which they carried ignited gas which had accumulated, and the drawer was so severely burned that he died three days later. [Mine Inspectors Report 1918] Newspaper report - Bothwell pages
1918 March 19 Orbieston Alexander Henderson Register of FAI - Fell from plank which broke down shaft
1918March21Glencrieff Mine, WanlockheadAllan ColthartScottFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 March 22 Bredisholm Edward Lang Register of FAI - ignition of gas
1918 March 22 Manor Powis William Chalmers Lowden Register of FAI - fall of stone
1918 March 24 Dechmont Colliery Jozas Wasuonaitis Register of FAI - fall of stone.  Also known as Joseph White
1918 March 25 Craighead Henry Graffen Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1918 March 29 Carberry Colliery Robert Broadfoot FAI notification in Scotsman 23 April 1918
Fall of stone from roof
1918 April 2 Auchingeich Daniel Mechan Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1918April6Hyndshaw PitWilliamForrestFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 April 12 Woolmet Christina Clark Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 April 15 Priory Colliery Archibald Campbell Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1918 April 15 Auchlochan Colliery Kelso Ballantyne Park FAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 April 17 Lochhead Francis McConville FAI record – NAS & death cert. Dunfermline Journal 4 May 1918 - not yet transcribed
1918 April 18 Kenmuirhill Colliery John Fowley FAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 April 19 Armadale William Yates Hunter FAI record – NAS "William Yates Hunter, miner, 68 East Main Street, Armadale, died on 19 April 1918 in No. 18 Pit, Armadale Colliery, Armadale, Linlithgowshire, when a large piece of stone fell upon him"
1918 April 20 Redding Harry Fowler Muirhead Register of FAI - wheels of waggon passed over legs
1918 April 28 Whistleberry John Primrose Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1918 April 29 Viewpark Wincas Laudinsky Register of FAI - run over by rake of hutches
1918 May 2 Hamilton Palace John Miller Wotherspoon Register of FAI - Injured by small stone causing blood poisoning
1918 May 8 Kirkstyle Pit John Anderson Register of FAI - fell down shaft
1918May11Kirkwood CollieryThomasDunbarFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918May13Kenmuirhill CollieryPatrickDurkanFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918May15Bredisholm CollieryJohnScottFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 May 17 Blantyre William Orr Thomson Register of FAI - struck by piece of timber falling down shaft
1918 May 18 Lindsay Colliery William Hall Injuries received in 17 April by stone falling from a road-side
1918 May 20 Dalbeath George Davis Register of FAI -Head crushed, probably between 2 hutches
1918 May 21 Gateside, Cambuslang Samuel Howitt Register of FAI - Fall of coal
1918 May 21 Glencraig Birrel Davidson Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
1918 May 25 Armadale John Fowler FAI record – NAS "John Fowler, chain-runner, Muir Road, Bridgend, Bathgate, died on 25 May 1918 in No. 18 Pit, Armadale Colliery, Armadale, Linlithgowshire, when the haulage rope broke and struck him on the head"
1918 May 26 Priory John Aitkenhead Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1918 May 27 No 2 Bowhill Colliery John Kellock Natural causes
1918 May 27 Dalzell and Broomside Jessie McMahon Register of FAI - run over by waggon
1918 May 28 Haugh Colliery Thomas McQueen Register of FAI - knocked down and run over by hutches
1918 May 30 Greenfield Joseph Vickers Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1918 May 30 Gilbertfield Hamilton James Arbuckle Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 May 30 No 3 Pit, Earnock Colliery Alexander Black Register of FAI - run down by runaway hutch
1918 June 1 Ross Robert Dyet The second [fatal explosion of firedamp], at Ross Colliery, occurred on 22nd May, and was due to a miner, in a section of the mine where safety lamps were used, striking a match to light his pipe. He died on 1st June. [Mine Inspectors Report 1918]
1918 June 4 Woodhill colliery Kilmaurs Alexander Stevenson Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 June 8 Prestongrange David Cunningham Register of FAI - crushed by hoist at pithead
1918 June 11  Blairhall George Cairns Newspaper report - Fife pages
1918 June 12 Foulford Pit Charles Gibson Injured on 7 June 1918 by stone falling on leg from roof. Dunfermline Journal 15 June 1918 - not yet transcribed
1918 June 17 Rimmon Colliery James Forrest Register of FAI - crushed by hutch
1918 June 21 Balbardie James Binnie FAI record – NAS "James Binnie, miner, 31 Torphichen Street, Bathgate, died on 21 June 1918 in Balbardie Pit, Hopetoun Colliery, Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, when a quantity of coal fell upon him"
1918 June 22 Westwood William McKee FAI record – NAS "William McKee, shale miner, Helenslea, Greendykes Road, Broxburn, died on 22 June 1918 in an ambulance waggon near to No. 2 Westwood Pit, Livingstone Parish, Linlithgowshire, from injuries sustained on 21 June 1918 at said pit, when a quantity of shale fell upon him" Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 June 25 Easton John Hamilton Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 June 27 NK (Fordell area) Robert Spowart Stone falling on him from the roof
1918 June 28 Earnock Colliery Robert Lewis Register of FAI - Fall of coal
1918 July 2 Easterhill John Leighton Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1918 July 2 Hamilton Palace Daniel Love Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 July 5 Shields John Finlay Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918July6NK (Bargeddie area)RobertQuayFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 July 9 Stanrigg Thomas Brady Stanrigg page
William Brady
Robert Campbell
William Campbell
Alexander Gilchrist
Leslie McCracken Gilchrist
William Gilchrist
Neil Livingston Thomson Lindsay
William Marshall
Bernard Augustus McAdam
David McNiven
Alexander Park
Robert Pollock
Robert Pollock
John Queen
James Munro Sneddon
John Sneddon
George Templeton
William Douglas Williamson
1918 July 10 Lord Bruce Pit, Blairhall James McDougall Newspaper report - Fife pages
1918 July 10 Shale Mine, Deans James McCann FAI record – NAS "James McCann, pony-driver, 98 Main Street, Livingston Station Rows, died on 10 July 1918 in No. 5 Shale Mine, Deans, Bathgate Parish, Linlithgowshire, when he was crushed beneath a rake of tubs"
1918 July 22 Whitrigg Peter Watson FAI record – NAS "Peter Watson, miner, 5 East Whitburn Rows, died on 22 July 1918 in No. 2 Pit, Whitrigg Colliery, Whitburn, Linlithgowshire, when a quantity of coal fell upon him"
1918 July 22 Woodhall Thomas Smith Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 July 23 Howmuir Mine, Lanarkshire Robert Johnstone Register of FAI - crushed by bogie
1918 July 31 Neilsland Colliery William McGonagle Register of FAI - run over by rake of hutches
1918 August 1 Mosside, Bathgate John Holt FAI record – NAS "John Holt, labourer, 75 Rosemount, Bathgate, died on 1 August 1918 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 20 July 1918 at Mosside Colliery, Bathgate, when he was crushed between a waggon sprag and the ground"
1918  August 2 Viewpark John Miller Deaths By Electric Shock - Deceased was found dead by the side of a coal cutter which he had been working alone. It appears the trailing cable had got caught under the frame of the machine and damaged. The live leads of this cable coming into contact with the machine, he received a shock to earth. The earthing system was found to be in good order, but the earth wire in the trailing cable was severed at the damaged portion and fused on to one of the phase wires of the cable. From the evidence obtained it is clear that the deceased was aware that the cable was caught and damaged, but he persisted in trying to move the coal cutter by its own power. [Mine Inspectors Report 1918] Newspaper report - Bothwell pages
1918 August 7 Lumphinnans Henry Malcolm Injuries from a race of loaded hutches. Dunfermline Journal 5 October 1918 - not yet transcribed
1918August7NK (Coatbridge area)David MitchellFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 August 8 Smeaton Peter MacGovern Newspaper report - Lothians pages
David Dunlop
1918 August 15 Bank, New Cumnock John Montieth Newspaper report - Ayrshire pages
1918 August 21 Clyde Colliery William Inglis Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1918 August 22 Woolmet Thomas Flynn Newspaper report - Lothians pages
William McVee
1918 August 30 Kinneil Thomas Hill Pollock FAI record – NAS "Thomas Hill Pollock, mine fireman, 67 Newtown, Bo'ness, died on 30 August 1918 at Lothians No. 18 Pit, Kinneil, Bo'ness, Linlithgowshire, when he fell from a cage in the shaft"
1918 September 3 Hopetoun John Robertson FAI record – NAS "John Robertson, miner's drawer, Glen's Buildings, Uphall, died on 3 September 1918 in No. 35 Pit, Hopetoun, Ecclesmachen Parish, Linlithgowshire, when a stone fell upon him"
1918 September 3 Priory, Blantyre Patrick Rodgers Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1918September6Castlehill CollieryAlexander HarleyYoungFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 September 13 No 1 Bent Colliery Robert Cavanagh Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1918 September 20 Rosehall Michael Connor Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages
1918 September 25 Lord Bruce Pit, Blairhall John White Newspaper report - Fife pages
1918September26Broomhouse coal pitDavidMcColganFAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 September 27 No 4 Blantyre Colliery David Clarkson FAI record – NAS & death cert.
1918 September 27 Meiklehill Kenneth Robertson The third [fatal explosion of firedamp], at Meiklehill Colliery occurred on 27th September, and was caused by one of a party of four miners striking a match to light his pipe. Safety lamps were in use. After the explosion two tobacco pipes and a spent match were found lying at the roadhead, and in three articles of clothing belonging to separate men loose unused matches were found. [Mine Inspectors Report 1918] Newspaper Report - Dunbartonshire accidents
1918 October 4 Fallin Colliery William McNaughton Injuries to body crushing heart and lungs - result of accident (Fallin memorial list)
1918 October 11 Muiredge Colliery John Horne Newspaper report - Fife pages
1918 October 16 Woolmet Colliery Marco James Di Troia Register of FAI - Fall of large piece of blaes
1918 October 18 Bothwell Castle James Murray Onions Register of FAI - Stepped on a board covering return haulage wheel, board broke and leg slipped through and was crushed
1918 October 25 Donibristle Colliery Andrew Lamb Newspaper report - Beath pages
1918October28Bellfield CollieryAlexanderPateRegister of FAI - struck on side by one of four hutches which had broken loose
1918 November 4 Douglas Colliery Hugh Paterson Register of FAI - found dead at foot of dirt bing - accidental fall while emptying hutch
1918 November 11 Jenny Gray Pit Andrew Waterson Register of FAI & death cert - Fall of stone on 12 Aug 1918 resulting in fractured spine
1918 November 13 Woolmet John Chalmers Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1918 November 15 Donibristle John Burt Newspaper report - Beath pages
1918 November 15 Parkhead Colliery Peter Sneddon Register of FAI - Fall of coal Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1918 November 18 Broomhouse James Miller Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1918 November 19 Kepplehill Colliery James Watson Register of FAI - Fall of stone Newspaper report - Shotts pages
1918 November 21 Rosehall John McNeilly Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages
James Robinson
1918 November 24 No 3 pit, Polmaise Colliery Thomas Clyde Jammed by hutch causing fracture dislocation of spine (Fallin memorial list)
1918 December 4 Easton Christopher Morris FAI record – NAS "Christopher Morris, miner, 3 Holmes Place, Armadale, died on 4 December 1918 in No. 1 Easton Pit, Hopetoun Colliery, Bathgate, when a large stone fell upon him"
1918 December 5 Clyde Andrew Hamilton Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
The fourth [fatal explosion of firedamp], at Clyde Colliery, occurred on 5th December. A coal cutting machine was at work in the Blackband seam when an explosion of some violence occurred. On examination after the explosion it was found that the door of the switch casing did not make a tight joint with the body of the machine, with the result that it was not flame proof. Inflammable gas was ignited by sparking within the switch casing and the explosion thus caused was propagated across the face by fine dust set up by the action of the coal-cutting machine. [Mine Inspectors Report 1918]
1918 December 5 Enterkine Pit Alexander Bell Register of FAI - Deceased was farm servant killed at bing at pit by fall of ashes
1918 December 8 Braidhurst Robert Hamilton Burns Register of FAI - Fall of stone Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1918 December 13 Dundonald Colliery Robert Clephane Newspaper report - Auchterderran pages
1918 December 14 Greenrigg Mary Elizabeth McCann FAI record – NAS "Mary Elizabeth McCann, pithead worker, Wallhill Cottage, Fauldhouse, died on 14 December 1918 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 12 December 1918 at Greenrigg Colliery, Fauldhouse, when she was run over by a wagon"
1918 December 14 Waterside Colliery John Jamieson McDonald Register of FAI - injuries sustained in the underground workings of the major seam of Waterside Colliery, through a large stone falling from the roof upon him
1918 December 16 Armadale Thomas Brown FAI record – NAS "Thomas Brown, miner, 81 Main Street, Armadale, died on 16 December 1918 in No. 15 Pit, Armadale Colliery, Armadale, when a large stone fell upon him"
1918 December 17 No 12 Pit, Niddrie Colliery Christopher McCormack Register of FAI - Fall of large quantity of coal
1918 December 19 NK (Larkhall area) Alexander Scott Lambie Fall of stone from roof - FAI Notice Hamilton Advertiser 21 December 1918, Death cert & RCE
1918 December 20 Highhouse Colliery Arthur Scoular Register of FAI - Fall of roof
Robert Gray
1918 December 23 Lady Blanche James Muir Newspaper report - Fife pages
1918December23Foxley CollieryFrancis JosephMcManusRegister of FAI - Caught in haulage wheel
1918December24Shawfield Colliery LawWilliamJonesRegister of FAI - Crushed by runaway hutch
1918 December 25 Earlseat Mine Nathanial Bond Newspaper report - Fife pages
1918 December 29 Westwood Colliery Cleland Peter Rae Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Wellesley Alexander Beveridge Register of FAI - Phthisis accelerated by injuries received in pit due to runaway hutches
1918 NK NK Killochan John Wightman Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Viewpark Samuel Millar Register of FAI - electric shock while cleaning the disc of his machine
1918 NK NK Milnwood Colliery James McCool Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Dalkeith Colliery Alexander Cairns Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Dalkeith Colliery Hugh Ferrier Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Hillhouserigg Colliery Andrew Hepburn Register of FAI - gunpowder accident
1918 NK NK Braidhurst Jakob Kaplinski Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Bardykes James Hynes Register of FAI - crushed between two hutches
1918 NK NK Holytown Colliery William McKendrick Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Garthamlock Colliery William Mills Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Hillhouserigg Colliery David Dick Register of FAI - caught by revolving picks of machine
1918 NK NK Loanend Pit, Dechmont Colliery David Finlayson Gray Register of FAI - runaway hutch collided with rake of loaded hutches in charge of deceased
1918 NK NK Loanend Pit, Dechmont Colliery Henry McDonald Register of FAI - Struck by piece of coal
1918 NK NK Northfield Colliery Patrick Shallow Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Garallan Colliery James Murray Register of FAI - Crushed between the buffers of coal waggons
1918 NK NK Maxwell Pit, Dailly John Wason Register of FAI - Struck on head by loaded hutch
1918 NK NK Julian Pit, Balgonie Colliery Andrew Hutchison Register of FAI - Struck by fall of coal
1918 NK NK Craig Colliery James Andrew Frew Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Loanend Pit, Dechmont John Hannan Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Bothwell Park Colliery John Gilroy Register of FAI - Run down by rake of loaded hutches
1918 NK NK Cornsilloch Stewart Lindsay Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Viewpark Colliery Thomas Allan Moffat Register of FAI - Run down by rake of empty hutches
1918 NK NK Earlseat Charles Addison Register of FAI - Fall of stone
1918 NK NK Michael Colliery Thomas Birrell Christie Register of FAI - Injury to right hand while using an iron punch
1918 NK NK Littlemill Colliery Richard Campbell Cook Register of FAI - crushed between loaded hutch on which he was riding and the roof of the major dook
1918 NK NK Mossblown Colliery James Clinton Register of FAI - Fall of stone and coal
1918 NK NK Milnwood Colliery Alexander Wilkinson Register of FAI - Run over by rake of hutches
1918 NK NK Herbertshire Colliery William Scott Brown Register of FAI - Injuries sustained in No 3 Pit Herbertshire Colliery, through a stone falling from the roof (NB No death certificate located)
Last Updated 15th June 2014