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Full Details

Surname
GIBB
Forename
William
Day
18
Month
04
Year
1919
Age
Occupation
Rescue man
Mine/Quarry Name
Newliston Mine
Mineral Worked
Oil Shale
Owner
Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co. Ltd
Location
Kirkliston
County
Linlithgowshire
Details of Event
18 April 1919: Three young men, belonging to a rescue team which has been assisting to extinguish a fire in the Newliston Shale Mine, near Broxburn, Linlithgowshire, were overcome by bicarbon monoxide gas (commonly known as “white damp”) and suffocated early yesterday morning. Their names are William Gibb of Coatbridge; William Brodie, Cowdenbeath; and Robert Laird, Larbert. [The Times April 19 1919] West Lothian Mining Tragedy - Three Lives Lost - In attempting to extinguish a fire which had broken out in Newliston Mine, near Broxburn, Linlithgowshire, belonging to Young's Oil Company, three young men of the rescue teams were suffocated yesterday morning by monoxide gas, commonly known as white damp. On Tuesday, fire was discovered in the upper level of the mine, and about 150 men have been idle since. Local efforts to extinguish the outbreak having failed, the services of several rescue brigades were enlisted. For two days teams from Bathgate and Coatbridge Rescue Brigades were engaged in the work. They were equipped with the latest apparatus in the way of gas masks, &c. necessary for men entering places where the presence of poisonous gases was suspected. Throughout Thursday night about a score of men continued their efforts to subdue the fire, and an attempt was being made by a circuitous route to reach and clear a road which opened on the level in which the fire was burning, but which at present is blocked. It was hoped by this means to establish an air course, and so disperse accumulated smoke and gas. It was while proceeding by this circuitous road, and at a point a considerable distance from the seat of the fire, that carbon monoxide gas was encountered by the members of the Rescue Brigades. All of these men, as has been stated, were equipped with gas masks and respirators but it appears that from some cause yet to be determined, these became ineffective against the deadly gas, for almost all the men became more or less affected by it. Three young men- Wm. Brodie, Cowdenbeath, a member of Bathgate team; Robert Laird, Larbert, a member of Coatbridge team; and Wm Gibb, Coatbridge, also of that team, were seen by their companions to be in a serious condition. Brodie and Laird when brought out of the poisonous area were found to be dead. Gibb was further away than the other two men, and it was found impossible to continue the attempt to recover the body. Another rescue team from Lesmahagow arrived later in the morning, but in view of all the circumstances it was considered inadvisable to sanction their request to be allowed to attempt the recovery of Gibb's body Several Government officials visited the mine, and it is understood they prohibited further attempts in the meantime [Scotsman 19 April 1919] The Shale Mine Fire Near Broxburn - On Friday night it was decided, as the result of a conference between Government officials and the management of Young's Oil Company, to suspend further operations in the direction of combating the fire at Newliston shale mine. The ponies were removed from the lower sections of the mine, and on Saturday the work of damping down the mine was proceeded with. In view of this decision it will be some weeks, possibly months, before any attempt will be made to recover the body of William Gibb, the Coatbridge man who lost his life along with others. The men thrown idle in this mine, numbering more than 100, will, it is expected, get employment in the Company's Ingliston Mine, which is situated about a mile from Newliston Pit. [Scotsman 21 April 1919] FAI record – William Broddie, Mine Rescue Brigade Station, Bathgate, Robert Laird and William Gibb, both at Mine Rescue Brigade Station, Coatbridge, all died on 18 April 1919 in Newliston Shale Mine, Kirkliston Parish, Linlithgowshire, attempting to put out a fire. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1919/13