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Full Details

Surname
DUNCAN
Forename
Thomas
Day
14
Month
03
Year
1927
Age
23
Occupation
Brusher
Mine/Quarry Name
Kinneil, Furnace Yard Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Kinniel Cannel & Coking Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Bo’ness
County
Linlithgowshire
Details of Event
14 March 1927: Father Sees Son Killed – Bo'ness Pit Tragedy - Thomas Duncan (23), brusher, who resided with his parents at East Castleloan, near Bo'ness, was yesterday morning fatally crushed by a boulder which fell from the roof of Furnaceyard Pit, belonging to Kinneil Coal Company (Ltd.). His father, John Duncan, who was walking close behind his son at the time, escaped unhurt, but two other miners, Robert M'Pherson and John M'Kenna, were hit by loose stones and rubbish, forming part of the fall, sustaining cuts to the head and bruises to the body. John Duncan is a contractor, and his son and M'Pherson were in his employment. The men were on night shift doing repair work in the rise six feet seam of the Furnaceyard Pit. At 4 a.m., having completed certain repairs, Duncan and his men were proceeding to another part of the road when, without any warning, a heavy fall occurred from the roof. Tom Duncan, the leading man was pinned to the pavement by a stone weighing from four to five cwts. The father, although terribly shocked, bore up bravely and assisted in extricating the unfortunate man, who died almost immediately. [Scotsman 15 March 1927]