Single Record

Full Details

Surname

MACKIE

Forename

Thomas Morgan

Day

13

Month

12

Year

1925

Age

Occupation

Machineman

Mine/Quarry Name

Redding, No.23 Pit

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

James Nimmo & Co. Ltd

Location

Polmont

County

Stirlingshire

Details of Event

13 December 1925: Redding Pit Fatality – Father's Story of Son's Death - Before Sheriff Robertson and a mixed jury, at Falkirk yesterday, an inquiry took place, under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry (Scotland) Act, into the death of Thomas Morgan Mackie, an assistant coal-cutting machineman, who resided at Lawyett, Wallacestone, Polmont. The chief witness at the inquiry was James Mackie, the father of the dead man. He said he had charge of a coal-cutting machine in No.23 Pit Redding Colliery, and his son was an assistant to him. They started work together on the evening of Sunday, December 13. His son was in front of the machine attending to the bridle and witness was putting in picks. He had put in four picks and desired to put in other four. In order to do this it was necessary to turn the wheel 18 inches, and with this object in view he turned over the power switch to the first stop of the control. To use a mining term it was a case of jagging on the power for a second. When he turned the switch the machine jumped right round and jammed his hand against the wall, so that he could not turn off the power. The revolving machinery caught his son, who was on his knees at the time, and tore his legs off. The mine manager, in his evidence stated that the wheel must have got caught somehow or other, and was thus prevented from going round properly. Another witness stated that it was necessary to see that the machine was clear of the coal face before putting the picks in. The medical evidence was to the effect that the lad's left leg was torn off at the hip joint and the right leg just above the knee; He was admitted to Falkirk and District Infirmary; and died several hours later. A formal verdict was returned. [Scotsman 19 January 1926]