Scottish Mining Website

Fatal Accidents 1941

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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

Currently this page lists 101 fatalities

Year	Month	Day	Colliery	District	First Name	Surname	Age	Occupation	Cause	Information on site or Source
1941	January	1	Kingseat Colliery	Fife	John	Collins		coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: John Collins, coal miner, 46 Lauder Street, Dunfermline, died on 1 Jan 1941 at West Fife Hospital, Dunfermline, from injuries sustained on 17 Jun 1940 in No. 4 Mine, Kingseat Colliery, Dunfermline Parish, Fife, by a fall from the roof of his working area"
1941	January	4	Emily Pit	Lothian	Peter Cumming	Allan	64	colliery surface worker	Natural causes	death cert
1941	January	16	Douglas Castle Colliery	Lanarkshire	Robert	Russell	34	Hewer	Asphyxia due to drowning	Newspaper report - Lanarkshire pages
1941	January	16	Minto Colliery	Fife	James Miller	Mitchell		Coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Miller Mitchell, coal miner, 11 Mid Street, Lochgelly, died on 16 Jan 1941 in the underground workings of No. 1 Pit, Minto Colliery, Parish of Auchterderran, Fife, by a fall from the roof of his working place"
1941	January	18	Westwood	Lothian	Andrew	Turnbull		Shale miner	Fall of shale	Newspaper report Lothian pages NAS: Fatal Accident Inquiry: Andrew Turnbull, shale miner, Morrison's Buildings, Mid Calder, died on 18 January 1941 in Westwood Shale Pit, Blackburn, when a piece of shale fell upon him
1941	January	21	Gore pit, Gorebridge	Lothian	Henry	Black	36	coal miner	Fracture spine of roof girder while riding on tub	Death cert and FAI notification, Scotsman 21 February 1941
1941	January	26	Ferniegair Colliery	Lanarkshire	Robert G.	Alexander	36		Accidentally killed	Headstone
1941	January	30	Loganlea	Lothian	James	Lawler	31	Coal miner	Crushed by stone	Death cert and FAI notification, Scotsman 21 February 1941
1941	February	6	Baton Colliery	Lanarkshire	George	King	37	Miner	Fall of roof	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	February	6	Kames Colliery	Ayrshire	Robert Williamson	Dempster	58	coal miner	Fall of coal from roof	Newspaper report - Muirkirk pages
1941	February	8	Calderhead	Lanarkshire	Duncan	Crawford	45	Machineman	Struck by stone	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	February	9	No 11 Lumphinnans	Fife	Alexander	Amos		miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Alexander Amos, miner, 8 Oliver Street, Lochore, died on 9 Feb 1941 at his house from injuries sustained on 21 Jan 1941 in the underground workings of No. 11 Colliery, Lumphinnans, Fife, by a fall from the roof of his working place "
1941	February	10	Aitken	Fife	John	Hershaw		colliery surface worker	Struck by railway wagon	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: John Hershaw, colliery surface worker, 59 Blair Street, Kelty, died on 10 Feb 1941 at the Aitken Colliery, Kelty, Beath Parish, Fife, when he was struck by a railway wagon"
1941	February	14	Gateside, Standburn	Stirlingshire	Patrick	Welsh	55		Fall from the roof	Newspaper report Stirlingshire
1941	February	14	Whitrigg	Lothian	Thomas	McDermott		Coal miner	Fall of stone from roof	Newspaper report Lothian pages
1941	February	15	Bank No 6	Ayr	William	Crombie	NK	Under- manager	Explosion	Newspaper report - Ayrshire pages
1941	February	15	Bank No 6	Ayr	Charles	Hynd	NK	Manager	Explosion	Newspaper report - Ayrshire pages
1941	February	17	Easton	Lothian	David	Love		Colliery washer greaser	Fell from a stair leading to the washing cone	NAS FAI: "Fatal Accident Inquiry: David Love, colliery washer greaser, 49 Waverley Street, Bathgate, died on 17 February 1941 in Easton Colliery, Bathgate, when he fell from a stair leading to the washing cone "
1941	February	18	Stane Colliery	Lanarkshire	Alexander	McCulloch	56	winding engineman	Natural causes	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	February	19	Preston Links	Lothian	James	Gillies	43	coal miner (hewer)	Fall of stone
1941	February	22	Lochore	Fife	Patrick	Gilsenan		pit sinker	Fell in pit shaft	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Patrick Gilsenan, pit sinker, c/o McCole, 14 Ardgowan Street, Port Glasgow, died on 22 Feb 1941 in the shaft of No. 1 Pit, Lochore Colliery, Ballingry Parish, Fife, when he fell in the pit shaft"
1941	February	23	Blantyre Ferme	Lanarkshire	Robert	Anderson			Fell from cage	Glasgow Herald 24 Feb 1941 p5, column 4
1941	February	23	Blantyre Ferme	Lanarkshire	Frank	Sinclair			Fell from cage	Glasgow Herald 24 Feb 1941 p5, column 4
1941	March	4	Preston Links Colliery	Lothian	John Cunningham	Baillie	53	Colliery fireman	Struck by runaway hutches
1941	March	5	No 6 Thankerton	Lanarkshire	James	Kelly	51	coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	March	14	Jenny Gray	Fife	John	Steele		coal miner	Struck by dislodged prop	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: John Steele, coal miner, 20 Inchgall Avenue, died on 14 Mar 1941 in the underground workings of the Jenny Gray Pit, Parish of Auchterderran, Fife, when he was struck by a dislodged prop"
1941	March	16	Lingerwood	Lothian	William	Rutherford	72	Brusher	Fall of stone from roof of working place	Death cert and FAI notification Scotsman 1 May 1941
1941	March	17	Calderhead	Lanarkshire	Charles	Bradie	55	Colliery machineman	Crushed between coal cutter and a pit prop	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	March	18	Loganlea	Lothian	James	Steel	17	Oncost worker	Crushed between side of haulage road and tub	Death cert and FAI notification Scotsman 1 May 1941
1941	March	23	Michael Colliery	Fife	George	Drummond	46	coal miner	Multiple fractures	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	March	26	Cadzow Colliery	Lanarkshire	Alexander	Murphy	51	coal hewer	Fall of stone from the roof	Death cert
1941	March	29	Middleton Limeston Mine	Lothian	Edward	Beattie	33	Limestone miner	Struck by quantity of stone projected from shot	Death cert and FAI notification Scotsman 1 May 1941
1941	March	31	Wellesley Colliery	Fife	Robert Thomson	Cunningham	46	coal miner	Fractured cervical vertebrae	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	April	1	Comrie Colliery	Fife	Thomas	Fair		coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Thomas Fair, coal miner, 16 Croall Place, Kelty, died on 1 Apr 1941 in West Fife Hospital, Dunfermline, from injuries sustained on 31 Mar 1941 at Comrie Colliery, Saline Parish, Fife, by a fall from the roof of his working place "
1941	April	1	Roslin Colliery	Midlothian	Patrick	Donohoe or Donoghue	59	coal miner	Head injuries while clearing snow at screening plant	Death cert and FAI notification Scotsman 1 May 1941
1941	April	2	Branchal	Lanarkshire	James	Gillies	42		Fall of roof	Newspaper report
1941	April	2	Wellesley Colliery	Fife	Peter Smith Kerr	Cooper	41	coal miner	fractures and pylonephritis as result of accident	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	April	5	Southrigg	Lothian	James Gardiner	Rodman		Engineer	Fell from pithead	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Gardiner Rodman, colliery engineer, 7 Viewfield Street, Harthill, died on 5 April 1941 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 3 April 1941 when he fell from the floor of the pithead while repairing a stair at Southrigg Colliery, Whitburn"
1941	April	15	Wellesley Colliery	Fife	David	Greig	27	coal miner		NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	April	18	Loanhead	Midlothian	Alexander	Porteous		Miner	Fell down dook	FAI notification Scotsman 1 May 1941 Newspaper report Lothian pages
1941	April	20	Addiewell	West Lothian	Francis	Whiteman	46	Shale miner	NK	FAI notification Scotsman 1 May 1941
1941	April	22	Dewshill Colliery	Lanarkshire	Robert	Earl	27		Fall of roof	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	May	5	Easton	Lothian	Thomas	Morris		Brusher	Struck by steel prop	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Thomas Morris, brusher, 3 Hamilton Road, Bathgate, died on 5 May 1941 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 15 December 1940 in Easton Colliery, Bathgate, West Lothian, when he was struck by a steel prop and strap "
1941	May	6	Glencraig	Fife	Charles	Dempsey	15	Wood boy	Suffocation	Many thanks to Ian Dempsey for supplying these details Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
1941	May	10	NK (Usual residence Bothwellhaugh)	Lanarkshire	James	Pheely	20	coalhill labourer	Fell into heated ash	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	May	11	NK (employed by Lothian Coal Co)	Lothian	Edward	Wilson	51	Mining contractor	Fall of stone from roof	Death certificate & FAI notice Scotsman 10 July 1941
1941	May	15	Jenny Gray	Fife	Hugh	McPherson		colliery shunter	Run over by train of wagons	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Hugh McPherson, colliery shunter, 64 Well Road, Lochgelly, died on 15 May 1941 at the Jenny Gray Colliery, Auchterderran Parish, Fife, by being run over by a train of wagons "
1941	May	15	Canderrigg Colliery	Lanarkshire	John	Condie	59		Accidentally killed	Headstone
1941	May	19	Bedlay	Lanarkshire	Henry	Dunn	37	coal stripper	Stone fell from roof
1941	May	24	Lingerwood	Midlothian	Matthew Webb	Hughes		Brusher	Fall of stone	Newspaper report Lothian pages
1941	May	29	Bothwell Colliery	Lanarkshire	Edward	Waugh	31		Accidentally killed	Headstone
1941	May	30	Foulshiels	Lothian	William	Gardner		Blacksmith & conveyer maintenance engineer	Crushed by hutch	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: William Gardner, blacksmith and conveyor maintenance engineer, 4 Muir Terrace, Stoneyburn, died on 30 May 1941 within the ambulance room at Foulshiels Colliery, Stoneyburn, West Lothian, when he was crushed between a hutch and a girder in the roof "
1941	June	5	Lindsay	Fife	Bernard	Lynch	65	Conveyer engine attendant	Fall of roof	Newspaper report - Beath pages The Glasgow Herald - Jun 6, 1941, p6, column 3
					Robert	Nicol	29	Stripper
					Peter	Wilson	29	Stripper
					John	Pryde		coal miner
1941	June	5	Blairhall	Fife	Andrew	Cunningham		colliery wagon runner	Crushed between two railway wagons	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Andrew Cunningham, colliery wagon runner, 4 Brucefield Avenue, Dunfermline, died on 5 Jun 1941 at the Railway Sidings, Lord Bruce Pit, Blairhall Colliery, Parish of Culross, Fife, when he was crushed between two railway wagons" Newspaper report - Fife pages
1941	June	14	Knockshinnock	Ayrshire	Hugh	Inglis	65	pithead worker	Run over by one of a number of coal waggons which he was shifting	With thanks to Iain Inglis for this information
1941	June	14	Lindsay Colliery	Fife	John	Pryde	45	coal miner	Fall of material from the roof
1941	June	16	NK (employed by Lothian Coal Co)	Lothian	Alexander	Shields	26	Brusher	Fall of stone from roof	FAI notice Scotsman 10 July 1941
1941	June	17	Benhar Colliery	Lanarkshire	Thomas	McMaster	23		Pinned beneath fall of roof	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	June	26	Hamilton Palace	Lanarkshire	John	Muir	44	Miner	Fall of roof	Newspaper report - Bothwellhaugh pages
1941	June	26	NK (Irvine area)	Ayrshire	Matthew	McKenzie	27	coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	June	28	Blantyre Ferme	Lanarkshire	James	McDowell	50	Miner	Struck by piece of coal	Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1941	June	30	Bardykes	Lanarkshire	Michael	Boyle	29	Miner	Fall of stone from roof	Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1941	June	30	Aitken	Fife	William	Penman		colliery road repairer	Crushed between race of hutches and an iron girder	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: William Penman, colliery road repairer, Oriel Cottage, Oakfield Street, died on 30 Jun 1941 at Aitken Colliery, Beath Parish, Fife, when he was crushed between a race of hutches and an iron girder" Newspaper report - Beath pages
1941	July	3	Plean Colliery	Stirlingshire	David	Laird	40	Coal miner (machineman)	Fall of stone from roof	Newspaper report Stirlingshire
1941	July	7	Emily Pit	Lothian	John	Thomson	20	Surface worker	Caught in conveyor	Death cert
1941	July	28	Glencraig	Fife	James	Duncan	45	Coal miner	Accident (source – gravestone)	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Duncan, coal miner, 29 Garry Street, Lochgelly, died on 28 Jul 1941at Glencraig Colliery, Ballingry Parish, Fife, by a fall from the roof of his working place"
1941	August	9	Minto Colliery	Fife	George Brown	Donaldson		conveyor belt shifter	Fall of stone	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: George Brown Donaldson, conveyor belt shifter, 7 Hall Street, Lochgelly, died on 9 Aug 1941 at Minto Colliery, Parish of Auchterderran, Fife, by a fall of stone"
1941	August	11	Woodend	Lothian	John	Kerr		Night watchman	Overcome by fumes arising from a bing	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: John Kerr, night watchman, 128 East Main Street, Armadale, died on 11 August 1941 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on the same day on a dirt bing in Woodend Colliery, Armadale, when he was overcome by fumes arising from the bing"
1941	August	12	Wellesley Colliery	Fife	William	Cunningham	40	coal miner	Crushed by hutches	NAS FAI listing and death cert. Death recorded as due to sarcoma but FAI jury linked sarcoma to work injury Newspaper report - Fife pages
1941	August	12	Polkemmet	West Lothian	James Thomson	Williamson	55	Coal miner	Firedamp poisoning	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Thomson Williamson, coal miner, Greenfield Cottage, Bridge Street, Fauldhouse, was found dead on 12 August 1941 in Polkemmet Colliery, Whitburn. Death caused by fire-damp poisoning"
1941	August	15	Michael Colliery	Fife	Robert	Rodger	18	coal miner	Fracture of base of skull	Newspaper report - Fife pages NB Names given as James
1941	August	25	Gateside	Dumfries	John	Douglas	40	Miner	Fall of stone	Newspaper report - Dumfriesshire pages
1941	August	26	Hopetoun Shale Mine	Lothian	John	Whitelaw		Shale miner	Fall of shale	Newspaper report Lothian pages NAS: Fatal Accident Inquiry: John Whitelaw, shale miner, 10 Alexander Street, Uphall, died on 26 August 1941 in No. 35 Shale Mine, Hopetoun, West Lothian, when a piece of shale fell from the roof on him
1941	August	30	Cowdenbeath Central Workshops	Fife	Harry	Hotchkiss	18	Apprentice	Electrocuted	Newspaper report - Beath pages
1941	September	1	Plean Colliery	Stirlingshire	James	Torrance			Fall from roof	Glasgow Herald 2 September 1941 page 2 col7
1941	September	5	Carberry	Midlothian	Angus Mercer	Noble	39	Coal miner	NK	Death cert and FAI notice Scotsman 29 October 1941
1941	September	5	Michael Colliery	Fife	Thomas	Forrestor	40	Stripper	natural causes	Newspaper report - Fife pages
1941	September	22	Prestongrange Colliery	Lothian	James Gourlay	Inglis	47	pitheadman	Struck by an empty hutch
1941	September	25	Lumphinnans	Fife	Barbato	Nardone		pithead worker	Fall of girder at picking tables	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Barbato Nardone, pithead worker, 32 Cartmore Road, Lochgelly, died on 25 Sep 1941 at the West fife Hospital, Dunfermline, from injuries sustained on 23 Sep 1941 at Lumphinnans Colliery, Ballingry Parish, Fife, by a fall from a girder at the picking tables "
1941	September	30	Douglas Castle Colliery	Lanarkshire	William Watson	Mitchell	52	colliery ostler	Winding rope broke	FAI record – NAS & death cert "Fatal Accident Inquiry: William Watson Mitchell, colliery ostler, 11 Castle Terrace, Douglas West, Douglas, died 30 Sep 1941 "
1941	October	12	Dumbreck	Stirlingshire	William	Bankier	64	colliery fireman	Knocked down by waggons	Newspaper report - Stirlingshire
1941	October	14	Kingshill	Lanarkshire	William	Keay	43	coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	October	16	Dullatur	Dunbartonshire	William	Chalmers	50	miner	Fall of roof	Newspaper report - Dunbartonshire pages
1941	October	20	Easton	Lothian	Michael	Eyre		Coal miner	Crushed between two rakes of hutches	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: Michael Eyre, coal miner, 29 Whiteside, Bathgate, died on 20 October 1941 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 1 Dec 1938 in Easton Colliery, Bathgate, when he was crushed between two rakes of hutches"
1941	October	23	Michael Colliery	Fife	Daniel Gardner	Alexander	43	Coal machineman	Pinned against roof support by prop	NAS FAI listing and death cert Newspaper report - Fife pages
1941	October	30	Woodyett	Stirlingshire	James	Penman			Fall of roof	Newspaper report - Stirlingshire
1941	November	3	Hassockrigg	Lanarkshire	William	Beattie	34	Machineman	Fall of stone
1941	November	12	Whitrigg	Lothian	John	Brown		Coal miner	Struck by a rake of runaway hutches	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: John Brown, coal miner, 21 Riddochhill Crescent, Blackburn, died on 12 November 1941 in No. 5 Pit, Whitrigg Colliery, Whitburn, when he was struck by a rake of runaway hutches"
1941	November	24	Benhar Colliery	Lanarkshire	John	Perry	50	Brusher	Fall of stone	Newspaper report Shotts pages
1941	November	26	No 35 Pit, Hopetoun	Lothian	William	Cormack		Bencher	Struck by a runaway hutch	FAI NAS "Fatal Accident Inquiry: William Cormack, bencher, 15 Millgate, Winchburgh, died on 26 November 1941 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on the same day in No. 35 Pit, Hopetoun, Threemiletown, Linlithgow, when he was struck by a runaway hutch"
1941	November	28	Cadzow Colliery	Lanarkshire	John	Dunsmore	49	Coal hewer	Fall of coal from roof	Death cert
1941	November	29	Benhar Colliery	Lanarkshire	Alexander Mann Kerr	Hannah	15	coal miner	Crushed between roller & conveyor belt	NAS FAI listing and death cert
1941	December	1	Knockshinnoch	Ayrshire	Joseph	Young	38	Coal miner	Congestive heart failure	With thanks to Muriel Durie for this information. No cause of death was supplied and the death cert shows natural causes. Since the death was at work, it has been added
1941	December	2	Kingshill	Lanarkshire	Henry	Nash	30	coal miner	Caught by haulage gear	With thanks to Henry Nash for information on this death
1941	December	8	Polmaise	Stirlingshire	William Douglas Cockburn	Kerr	38	Brusher	Struck by stone from roof	Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages
1941	December	9	Blantyre	Lanarkshire	Hugh	McMillan	68	Fireman	Explosion of shot	Newspaper report - Blantyre pages
1941	December	16	Minto Colliery	Fife	William	Sharp		coal miner	Fall of roof	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: William Sharp, coal miner, 44 Hall Street, Lochgelly, died on 16 Dec 1941 in the underground workings, Minto Colliery, Parish of Auchterderran, Fife, by a fall from the roof of his working place "
1941	December	25	Breich Shale Pit	Lothian	James	Irving		Shale miner	Fall of shale	NAS FAI "Fatal Accident Inquiry: James Irving, shale miner, 17 Leighton Terrrace, Bents, Stoneyburn, died on 25 December 1941 in Breich Shale Pit, Blackburn, West Lothian, when a piece of shale fell from the roof on him"

Last Updated 1st January 2014