Single Record

Full Details

Surname

GRAHAM

Forename

James

Day

09

Month

12

Year

1938

Age

46

Occupation

Miner

Mine/Quarry Name

Littlemill

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Bairds & Dalmellington Ltd

Location

Coylton

County

Ayrshire

Details of Event

9 December 1938: Three Men Killed - Explosion in Ayrshire Mine - A Number Injured - Three miners were killed and five were injured as the result of an explosion last night in the Littlemill Colliery (Ayrshire), belonging to Bairds & Dalmellington, Ltd. The colliery, which is situated about eight miles from Ayr, employs between 100 and 200 men. The explosion is believed to have occurred underground shortly before nine o'clock. The names of the dead are:- John Leslie, sen. (55), 6 Littlehill Place, Rankinston; James Graham (45), Kerse Terrace, Rankinston ; and William Brown (28), Kerse Terrace, Rankinston. The names of the injured are:- John Leslie, jun. (24), son of John Leslie, 6 Littlemill Place; William Ferguson (23), son-in-law of John Leslie, Burnfoothill; Joseph Kirkland (28), Kerse Terrace; Rankinston; Robert Kerr (18), Kerse Terrace; Robert Howitson (25), Station Row, Rankinston. [Scotsman 10 December 1938] Ayrshire Pit Accident - A Death-Roll of Four - Five Men In Hospital - The death-roll in the accident which occurred at the Littlemill Colliery, Rankinston, Ayrshire, on Friday night, was raised to four by the death in Ayr County Hospital on Saturday, of Robert Howatson (25), Station Row, Rankinston. Five injured men are still in the hospital, and their condition is stated to be fairly comfortable. About 16 men were working at a face in the Ashentree main coal section when there was a terrific explosion which threw them in all directions, overturning hutches and wrecking gear in the vicinity. The noise of the explosion brought other workers hurrying to the rescue and immediately a warning was sent to the pithead. Within a few minutes a telephone call was put through to the village, and an appeal for volunteers drew most of the male population of Rankinston and the neighbouring hamlet of Cairntable to the pithead. Howatson was rescued by his comrades, who formed a human chain, and in this way had the injured man brought to a place of safety. [Scotsman 12 December 1938] Victims of Ayrshire Pit Accident - Funeral to Coylton Churchyard - The funeral of the four victims of the Littlemill Colliery accident took place to Coylton Churchyard yesterday afternoon, when miners were present from all parts of Ayrshire. The place of burial is seven miles from the homes of the deceased, all of whom resided at Rankinston. The main street of the village was lined with men, women, and children as the coffins containing the remains of the deceased - John Leslie, sen., James Graham, William Graham, William Brown, and Robert Howatson - were carried to the mission hall, where a service was conducted by the Rev. A. E. Hart, minister of Coylton. The Rev. J. W. M'Gowan, Patna, represented the British Legion. In the gathering gloom the cortege reached the place of interment, where another large crowd of mourners had assembled. Mr Hart, Mr James Otterson representing the Schaw Kirk, and Mr Kennedy, evangelist,Dalry, officiated at the gravesides. A Union Jack draped the coffin of Graham, who fought with the Royal Scots Fusiliers in the Great War. Among the mourners were Mr James Mullen, president, of the Ayrshire Miners' Union; Mr James Barbour, vice-president of the Scottish Mineworkers' Federation; Mr Alexander Sloan, Rankinston, Scottish secretary; Mr. Edward Hawke, Scottish treasurer; Mr. Alex. Wilson, of the Lanarkshire Miners' Union; Mr James Tweedie, managing director of Messrs Bairds &, Dalmellington, owners of Littlemill Colliery; Mr Thomas Somerville, under manager of the colliery; and Mr John Reid, under manager. [Scotsman 13 December 1938]