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Full Details

Surname
KNOX
Forename
William
Day
21
Month
06
Year
1938
Age
63
Occupation
Oversman
Mine/Quarry Name
Michael, No.3 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wemyss Coal Co. Ltd
Location
East Wemyss
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
21 June 1938: One man was killed and two others were injured yesterday when a roof collapsed in the Michael Colliery, East Wemyss. The dead man was William Knox (63), sectional oversman, Brae House, Brewery Brae, East Wemyss, and the two injured men are Henry Wilkie, Stark Street, Buckhaven, and James Douglas, stripper, Coronation Place, Coaltown of Wemyss. The two injured men were taken to Wemyss Memorial Hospital and detained for treatment, but were later allowed home. The accident happened in the Barncraig section of No.3 pit. If the fall had been ten minutes later the men would have been on their way to the surface. About eight men were working in the vicinity of the fall. Two others, besides those involved, were struck by debris, but were thrown clear. The rescue party had reached Wilkie when a second fall occurred and buried him again. One of the rescuers was struck by the fall, but he too was thrown clear. Knox was killed instantaneously. He is survived by a widow and a family of three. [Scotsman 22 June 1938]