Single Record

Full Details

Surname

SOMMERVILLE

Forename

Richard

Day

27

Month

03

Year

1915

Age

Occupation

Mining Contractor

Mine/Quarry Name

Blairmuckhill

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

A. & G. Anderson

Location

Harthill

County

Lanarkshire

Details of Event

27 March 1915: Workmen's Compensation Appeal – Mrs Hawson v. A.&G. Anderson - This was a stated case on appeal under the Workmen 's Compensation. Act for Mrs Alexandrina L. W. Roberts or Hawson, Main Street, Harthill, widow of James Jeffrey Hawson, oversman, against his employers, A. & G. Anderson, coalmasters , Blairmuckhill Colliery, Shotts. Hawson was employed as an under manager in that colliery. He held a fireman's certificate, but had not been formally appointed as fireman. For the most part the colliery was worked with naked lights, but inflammable gas was not unknown in it. On 27th March 1915 Hawson accompanied into the mine two mining contractors, in order to point out to them certain work which it was proposed that they should offer to execute. On reaching the pit bottom Hawson was informed by the fireman on duty that the particular section the contractors were interested in had not been inspected as required by statute. Hawson told the fireman he would himself inspect the section, instructed the fireman to proceed with other work, and to allow him and the contractors to pass. Hawson and the contractors proceeded to the section with naked lights in their caps and an explosion took place, as the result of which Hawson died on 2nd April. Sheriff-Substitute Lee at Airdrie held that Hawson 's injuries were not sustained by an accident arising out of his employment as under manager, and that his widow was not entitled to compensation. He took the view that the accident was the result of a new and added peril brought on the workman by himself. When the case came previously before the Court, a remit was made back to the Sheriff, who made additional findings. Counsel for the appellant to-day informed their Lordships that in respect of the additional findings which the Sheriff had made, he found it impossible to maintain the appeal. The Division therefore dismissed the appeal with expenses to the respondents. [Scotsman 16 June 1916] The Fatal Colliery Explosion – Claims Settled – Two actions directed against A & G Anderson, coalmasters Harthill, were down for trial on Thursday before Lord Dewar and a jury, but settlements were effected. Charles Stewart, mining contractor, Harthill, claimed payment of £300 for personal injuries, and Mrs Agnes Cameron or Sommerville, Main Street, Harthill, sued for £1000 for herself and her two children as damages for the death of her husband Richard Sommerville, mining contractor, on March 27 last year, regarding which an inquiry was held in Airdrie Sheriff Court at the time. Stewart and Sommerville visited the defenders colliery with the intention of inspecting and examining part of the coal face, for which they proposed to make an offer of work by contract. They were conducted to the spot by the defenders undermanager, James Mawson, who entered the dook first to show the way. He was carrying a lighted safety lamp in one hand, and a naked lamp was burning in his cap. They had proceeded a short distance when a violent explosion of gas occurred which extinguished the lamps and so severely injured the three men that Mawson died the next day and Sommerville a week later, while Stewart was badly burned. In terms of the settlement, Mrs Sommerville received £325 and Stewart £125, with expenses in both cases to date of tender. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 10 June 1916] NB James Jeffrey Hawson died 28 March 1915 & Richard Sommerville died 2 April 1915, both in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary