New Search

Return to Search Results

Full Details

Surname
BRECKNEY
Forename
John Whiteford
Day
15
Month
12
Year
1929
Age
24
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Bank, No.2 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
New Cumnock Collieries Ltd
Location
New Cumnock
County
Ayrshire
Details of Event
Explosion on 15 December 1929 killed 3. Archibald McDonald Freeburn, 31 died 17th December John Cockburn, 34, died 18th December John Whiteford Breckney, 24, died 19th December Explosion in Pit - Fifteen Men Burned - Fifteen miners working in No.2 Bank pit of the New Cumnock Coal Company, Ayrshire, received burns as the result of an explosion of gas at midnight on Sunday. The two most seriously burned are W. Freeburn and J. Cockburn, both of New Cumnock. They are in a critical condition in Kilmarnock Infirmary. When the explosion occurred a flaming blast of gas swept without warning through the pit and although the accident happened shortly after midnight no one was aware that anything was wrong until the morning shift descended yesterday to start work. The men were then found, all more or less overcome by the effect of the gas. [Scotsman 17 December 1929] Fatal Result of Explosion - In connection with the New Cumnock pit explosion, Alex. Freeburn, one of the men who was removed to Kilmarnock Infirmary, has succumbed to his injuries. John Breckney, the second man injured, was removed to hospital yesterday afternoon . The others are progressing favourably. [Scotsman 18 December 1929] Ayrshire Pit Explosion - Death-Roll Now Three - John Brecknay, one of the men injured in the explosion in the Bank pit, New Cumnock, died yesterday in Kilmarnock Hospital. Two of the other injured men have died. Brecknay was married six months ago. [Scotsman 21 December 1929] Information from the Mines Inspector's Report - 1929: Explosion  At Bank Colliery, Ayr 15 men were in a small longwall district in a seam worked partly by naked lights when an explosion occurred, and 14 men were injured, of whom three died.   The fireman on each of the three shifts had reported the presence of gas in nearly every working place for 12 days prior to the explosion.  Electric cap lamps were being used on the shift in which the accident occurred.  There was electricity in the district, but it was not being used at the moment of the explosion, nor were shots being fired. Some, but not all of the men, had been told not to take pipes or matches into the district. The fireman was making his inspection when the explosion occurred. A standby fan was running on the surface, the main fan having broken down. Part of the airway at one end of the line of face had fallen. The general arrangements for coursing the ventilation underground were in my opinion unsatisfactory.  I make no comment meantime as the Fatal Accident Inquiry has not, at the date of writing, been held.