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Full Details

Surname
WILSON
Forename
Homer
Day
15
Month
06
Year
1916
Age
17
Occupation
Drawer
Mine/Quarry Name
Philpstoun, No.1 Mine
Mineral Worked
Oil Shale
Owner
James Ross & Co., Philpstoun Oil Works Ltd
Location
Philpstoun
County
Linlithgowshire
Details of Event
15 June 1916: On 15th June, at Philpstoun No.1 Shale Mine, owned by Messrs. James Ross and Co., two boys, aged 15 and 17, were killed by a fall of roof. The one boy had gone outbye for a wedge for his father, with whom he worked, and was joined by the other boy, who attended to a haulage motor. Together they went to the face, and after the one boy had handed the wedge to his father, the two were sitting some 5 yards back when the roof above them, which was supported on old railway rails, weighted, and breaking two rails fell upon them. After the accident it was seen that the boundaries of the roof which fell were formed by keen and glassy lypes. The use of old rails as bars was discontinued. [Report by H Walker, Inspector of Mines & Quarries, Scotland Division for the year 1916] Two lads, named Homer Wilson (17) and James M'Kirdy (15), who resided at Philpstoun and, Bridgend respectively, were killed in No.1 Philpstoun Shale Mine, near Linlithgow at a late hour, on Thursday night. The lads were standing together in a part of the mine when the roof above them collapsed. One of the lads was killed instantaneously, and the other lived only a few minutes after he was extricated. M'Kirdy's father, who joined the army after the outbreak of war, was killed in action at the Dardanelles. [Scotsman 17 June 1916] NB Death certificates give names as Homer Wilson and Adam Nelson. The FAI record in the NAS catalogue and the RCE give Adam Nelson's name as Adam Nelson McIlloney Adam Nelson McIlloney, engine keeper, 47 Bridgend Rows, Linlithgow, and Homer Wilson, miner's drawer, the Avenue, Philpstoun, both died on 15 June 1916 in No.1 Shale Mine, Philpstoun, when a large quantity of material fell upon them. NAS Reference: SC41/13/1916/15