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Full Details

Surname
RUSHFORD
Forename
George
Day
26
Month
04
Year
1937
Age
14
Occupation
Hutch Attendant
Mine/Quarry Name
Michael
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wemyss Coal Co. Ltd
Location
East Wemyss
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
26 April 1937: A 14 year old boy, George Rushford, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robert Rushford, residing at 39 Wemyss Terrace, East Wemyss, was killed on Monday night when employed as a hutch attendant at the pithead of the New Michael Colliery, East Wemyss, belonging to the Wemyss Coal Co. (Ltd). The boy, who was on the back shift, accidentally stumbled between two hutches of coal and was so severely crushed that he died before medical aid could be summoned. [Scotsman 28 April 1937] [Many thanks to Janet Keefe for supplying this article] BOY KILLED AT PITHEAD - CRUSHED BETWEEN HUTCHES - Recently Returned to Work After Burning Accident - A 14-year-old boy, George Rushford, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robert Rushford, residing at 39 Wemyss Terrace, East Wemyss, was killed last night when employed as a hutch attendant at the pithead of the New Michael Colliery, East Wemyss, belonging to the Wemyss Coal Co., Ltd. The boy who was on the back shift accidentally stumbled between two hutches of coal and was so severely crushed that he died before medical aid could be summoned. The body was removed to the mortuary at Wemyss Memorial Hospital. Recently Restarted Work. - Deceased, who left school only last September, was involved in burning accident several months ago when he fell into a bing of red-hot ashes at the Michael Colliery's redd bing, and on that occasion his legs were badly burned. He had only been back at work a short period when he was fatally injured. The colliery, which employs about 2600 miners, was idle on the night shift and also to-day as a mark of respect. [Evening Telegraph 27 April 1937]