Scottish Mining Website

Fatal Accidents 1937
We welcome information on deaths not listed on this page - please complete a submission form 
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

Currently this page lists 109 fatalities 
Year Month Day Colliery District First Name Surname Age Occupation Cause Extra information/ Source
1937 January 1 NK (Prestonpans area) Lothian William Hanratty 49 Coal Miner Pit accident With thanks to Mark Cameron (great great grandson) for this information
1937 January 2 NK (Wilsontown area) Lanarkshire Edward McCornick 17 Pithead worker Arm caught by coal crushing machine FAI NAS & death cert
1937 January 3 Mossbeath Fife George McNeil Peacock 46 Coal miner Roof fall on 6 July 1932   
1937 January 6 Blantyreferme Lanarkshire James Brown 49 fireman suffocated Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 January 7 Blantyre Lanarkshire Alexander Holmes 30 Miner Crushed by hutches Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1937 January 8 Lindsay Colliery Fife Francis McMorrow   mine worker Possibly due to inhalation of fumes from redd bing Newspaper report - Beath pages
1937 January 8 Loganlea Midlothian George Grieve 31 Coal miner NK  
1937 January 9 Easton Lothian Robert Jamieson Brown   Coal miner Fall of stone FAI NAS "Robert Jamieson Brown, coal miner, West Mains, Bathgate, died on 9 January 1937 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained earlier that day in Easton Pit, Bathgate, when a stone fell from the roof on him"
1937 January 10 Vogrie Lothian William Patrick Egan 36 Shunter Caught between engine and waggon buffers Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 January 19 Rosehall Lanarkshire John Hamilton   Miner Fall from roof Newspaper report - Bothwell pages
1937 January 21 Nellie Fife Robert Virtue 27 Miner Fall of stone Newspaper report - Auchterderran pages
1937 January 22 Auchengeich Lanarkshire Alexander Lumsden 64 Pit pumpsman Fall down pit shaft With thanks to an anonymous contributor for this information Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 January 23 Southrigg Lothian William McMaster   Labourer Fell from the screening plant to the ground level FAI NAS "William McMaster, labourer, 3 Greenrigg Cottages, Whitburn, died on 23 January 1937 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 21 January 1937 in Southrigg Colliery, Whitburn, when he fell from the screening plant to the ground level"
1937 January 25 Manor Powis Stirlingshire David Lauder 33 Miner Run over by hutch Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 February 2 Duddingston Shale Mine Lothian James Hunter   Shale miner Fall of roof Newspaper report - Lothians pages
NAS: Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Hunter, shale miner, 48 Farquhar Terrace, South Queensferry, died on 2 February 1937 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on the same day in Duddingston Shale Mine, Abercorn Parish, West Lothian, when material fell from the roof on him
1937 February 11 Redd bing at Wellesley Colliery Fife John Cumming 44 unemployed colliery labourer Swept into sea by hot ashes Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 February 13 Auchengeich Lanarkshire William Duffy 53 miner Fall of stone Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 February 17 Michael Colliery Fife Levi Westwood 21 coal miner Struck by runaway hutch Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 February 20 Whitehill Lothian David Graham 33 Coal miner NK  
1937 February 20 Aitken, Kelty Fife William Brown 30 Pithead worker Crushed by hutches Newspaper report - Beath pages
1937 February 23 Prestonlinks Colliery Lothian William Stevenson 27 coal miner (hewer) Fall of stone  
1937 February 25 Wellesley Colliery Fife James Peters Kinnear 47 coal miner Fall of roof Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 February 27 Millhall Stirlingshire Charles Nicol 48 Miner Fall of stone from roof Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 March 1 Bothwell Castle Lanarkshire George Mitchell 22   Fall of roof Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1937 March 2 Jenny Gray Fife William Aitken 48 coal miner Natural causes  
1937 March 4 Burghlee Midlothian Patrick Monaghan 26 Surface worker NK  
1937 March 19 Polkemmet Lothian Patrick Cadden   Coal miner Fall of stone FAI record – NAS "Patrick Cadden Junior, coal miner, 108 Glebe Road, Whitburn, died on 19 March 1937 in Polkemmet Colliery, Whitburn, when a stone fell from the face of his working place on him"
1937 March 21 Southfield Lanarkshire William Boland 56 Shotfirer NK Newspaper report - Shotts pages
1937 March 28 Bridgeness Lothian William Moreland Bell 65 Oncost worker Struck by hutch Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 March 29 Polmaise No 2 Stirling Andrew O'Connor 23 Colliery Oncost worker Compression fracture of spine - Pit accident - 1 month Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 March 30 Easton Pit West Lothian George McCallum 34 Coal cutter Struck by steel prop Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1937 March 31 Bardykes Lanarkshire Neil McInally 57   Jammed by jib while cutting coal Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 March NK Tasmania (native of Kilsyth) NA John Hardie          Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 April 1 Blantyre Ferme Lanarkshire Alexander Walker 18 Miner NK Newspaper report - Bothwell pages
1937 April 5 Gartshore Stirlingshire Dermott Curran 60 Miner's brusher Natural causes Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 April 6 Frances Fife Robert Blackhall Dorward          Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 April 7 NK Kilsyth area Stirlingshire Peter Stevenson 51 Mining Contractor Myocarditis as a result of injuries received in course of his employment NAS FAS & death cert
1937 April 12 Whitrigg Lothian William Adamson   Coalcutting machineman Fall of stone Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 April 14 Gateside Lanarkshire Edward McLaughlin       Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 April 19 No 2 Kingshill Lanarkshire William John Gardiner 36 coal cutting machineman NK NAS FAS & death cert
1937 April 19 Herbertshire Stirlingshire William Crawley       Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 April 22 Easter Gartshore Dunbartonshire John Sneddon 16 Colliery bencher Struck by runaway hutch Newspaper Report - Dunbartonshire accidents
1937 April 23 Dykehead Colliery Lanarkshire John Bell McCutcheon   colliery machineman Accidental compression of head & neck Death cert
1937 April 26 Michael Fife George Rushford 14 Hutch attendant Crushed between two hutches Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 April 26 Millhall Stirlingshire James Cowan 42 Brusher Fall of stone Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
John McKenna 36 Brusher
1937 May 1 Frances Fife William Rothwell   Miner Fall of roof Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 May 2 Gateside Lanarkshire Alexander Russell 46 Miner Struck by rock Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 May 5 Michael Fife James Laing    colliery banksman    Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 May 11 Prestongrange Lothian Archibald McKay Smith 20 coal miner (oncost) Crushed by derailed hutch  
1937 May 13 No 2 Dixons Colliery, Blantyre Lanarkshire John Donald MacAulay 66 colliery bottomer Cage lowered on him Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1937 May 27 Leadhills Lanarkshire Thomas Marr 48 pit bottomer NK accident in lead mine NAS FAI & death cert
1937 May 29 Lochhead Colliery Fife Andrew Sinclair 42 Fireman Struck by runaway hutch Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 May 31 Rosie Fife James Rollo 59 Miner crushed by pulley Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 June 2 Lochside Mine Fife William Hugh Drysdale 53 pithead worker Fell with hutch down chute Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 June 3 Duddingston Lothian Neal Hanlon   Shale miner Fall of shale Newspaper report - Lothians pages
NAS: Fatal Accident Inquiry: Neal Hanlon, shale miner, 49 Abercorn Place, Winchburgh, West Lothian, died on 3 June 1937 in No.3 Duddingston Shale Mine, Abercorn, West Lothian, when a quantity of shale fell on him
1937 June 10 Carriden West Lothian Albert Henry Menzies   Pit bottomer Crushed by cage Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 June 18 Mary Colliery Fife Robert Ferguson 40 Miner Fall of coal Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
1937 June 19 Douglas Castle Colliery Lanarkshire John Cornelius 36 Motorman Fell down shaft Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 June 19 Gateside Dumfries John Thirlwell 26   Fall of stone Newspaper report - Dumfriesshire pages
1937 June 20 NK Harthill area Lanarkshire Thomas McMaster     Not clear if this was mining accident  
1937 June 21 Plean Colliery Stirlingshire Andrew Cross 26 Bencher Struck by hutch Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937  June 24 Mary Colliery Fife Robert Laughtamour Kay   Colliery supervisor Fall of stone from roof Many thanks to Marion Adams for providing these details Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
1937 June 25 Furnaceyard Lothian John Blair 24 Miner Caught in conveyor Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 June 30 Devon Clackmannan James Cook     Struck by hutch Clackmannan pages
1937 July 1 Garscube Lanarkshire Matthew Reid 20 Miner Crushed by runaway hutch Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 July 22 Plean Colliery Stirlingshire John McGowan 52 colliery by-products worker Asphyxia due to benzole fumes Article in Evening Telegrah 30 Sept 1937 - not yet transcribed
1937 July 24 NK (Stirling area) Stirlingshire John Craig 19 colliery oncost worker Struck by hutch 17 June 1937 Death cert only
1937 July 29 Ormiston Lothian John Ogg 50 Miner Fall of stone Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 July 29 Furnaceyard Lothian Robert Skinner Storrar   Coal miner Fall from roof Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 August 4 Spalehall Coal Co, disused mine Lanarkshire James Loudon   director Explosion in colliery offices Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 August 9 Glencraig Fife George Allan       Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
1937 August 23 Lumphinnans Colliery Fife Robert Baillie 16 Pithead worker Caught in machinery Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
1937 August 26 Meta Colliery Clackmannan Mungo Syme 36 Miner Fall of stone Clackmannan pages
1937 August 26 Lethans Colliery Fife Daniel Morrison 48 Colliery wagon runner Crushed between 2 railway waggons   
1937 August 31 Dykehead Colliery Lanarkshire Robert Farrell 35 coal miner (hewer)  Asphyxia Death cert
1937 September 5 Earnock Lanarkshire Archibald Campbell 45   Fall of stone Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1937 September 6 Blairhall Fife William Hynd 25 Miner Fall of coal Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 September 15 Newtongrange Lothian Antanas Wincuskas       Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 September 16 Overtown Lanarkshire Michael Kilmurray 52 Colliery brusher Fall of stone Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages
1937 September 18 Coatspark Lanarkshire Thomas Kelly 52 coal cutting machineman Carbon monoxide poisoning With thanks to the anonymous contributor of this information
1937 September 22 NK Larkhall area Lanarkshire John Mylchreest Clarke 16 colliery worker Slipped and wheel of hutch passed over him NAS FAI and death cert
1937 September 23 NK - Falkirk area Stirlingshire Daniel Mills 43 miner Fall of stone Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 September 23 Kinneil Lothian Christopher Roache   Oncost worker Crushed by tub Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 October 12 Gateside Lanarkshire Joseph Johnstone 29 Miner Fall of roof Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1937 October 19 Burghlee Midlothian David John Henderson Currie 37 Coal cutter attendant Fall of stone from roof Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 October 21 Lindsay Fife William Black McDonald 38 Colliery labourer Crushed between hutches  
1937 October 22 Skellyton Lanarkshire David Baxter 51 Colliery manager Explosion Newspaper report - Dalserf pages
Charles Laird Lyle 52 Fireman Explosion
1937 October 25 William Pit Stirlingshire Robert Kemp 54 Miner Fall of roof Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 October 26 Easter Gartshore Dunbartonshire Edward Gribbon 17 Bencher Knocked down by runaway hutches Newspaper Report - Dunbartonshire accidents
1937 October 28 Cameron Colliery Lanarkshire Francis Gallagher 42 coal miner (machineman) Fall of stone from roof
1937 October 30 Valleyfield Fife Alexander Scott 30 miner Fall from roof  
1937 November 7 NK (Kilsyth) Stirlingshire Peter Stevenson       Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1937 November 13 Deans Lothians Robert Kerr   Shale miner Fall of rock NAS FAI index "Robert Kerr Senior, shale miner, 46 Main Street, Livingston Station, died on 13 November 1937 in No. 4 Mine Deans, Bathgate Parish, West Lothian, when a roof fell in and a large stone struck him"
1937 November 22 Kames, Muirkirk Ayrshire Alexander Summers 66 Miner Fall of stone Newspaper Report - Muirkirk pages
1937 November 23 Woodend Lothian David Marshall   oncost worker Run over by waggons Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 November 23 Whitehill Colliery Lothian Thomas McNeill 36 Machineman Fall of stone  
1937 November 26 Meta Colliery Clackmannanshire Thomas Harrower     Fall of stone Newspaper report - Clackmannan pages
1937 November 27 Earnock Lanarkshire Thomas Wilson 33   Fall of roof Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1937 November 28 Lingerwood Lothian William Dickson 18 Surface worker Electrocution Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 December 2 Arniston Colliery Lothian Matthew Douglas 30   Gas explosion ( died 10 December 37) Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 December 2 No 26 Shale Mine, West Calder Lothian Henry Hunter 27 Shale miner Fall of roof Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 December 11 Lochside Mine Fife Robert Wilkie 50 mine inspector Shot firing accident Newspaper report - Fife pages
1937 December 15 Mossbeath Fife Hugh Love 61   Run over by waggons Newspaper report - Beath pages
1937 December (died in 1938) 25 Earnock Lanarkshire John Lowe     Fumes from underground fire Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
Alexander Young    
1937 December 30 Fleets Colliery Lothian John Torley     Knocked down and crushed by hutch Newspaper report - Lothians pages
1937 December 31 NK (Lesmahagow area) Lanarkshire William Brown 40  hewer Fall of stone from roof NAS FAI and death cert
Last Updated 1st January 2014