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Full Details

Surname
CAIRNS
Forename
Archibald
Day
31
Month
05
Year
1940
Age
40
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Easter Gartshore, No.11 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Bairds & Scottish Steel Ltd
Location
Twechar
County
Dunbartonshire
Details of Event
31 May 1940: Two Lives Lost In Fire – Gartshore Colliery Outbreak – Missing Man Found Alive - Two men lost their lives as a result of an outbreak of fire early yesterday morning in the underground workings of Easter Gartshore No. 11 Colliery, situated in the Croy district of Dumbartonshire. The colliery belongs to Bairds and Scottish Steel, Ltd. The men were in a party of brushers and repairers numbering between 20 and 30 men engaged at work in various parts of the colliery workings. Those who lost their lives were: William Burns (50), repairer, who resided at Newtown Street, Kilsyth (a widower); and Richard O'Raw (28) repairer, of Shuttle Street, Kilsyth (unmarried). A third man who was reported missing was found alive by a rescue party after a search extending over eleven hours. [Scotsman 31 May 1940] Two Miners Suffocated - Scottish Colliery Fire - Two men were suffocated in a fire at a section of Gartshore Colliery, Croy, Dumbartonshire, early to-day. They were Richard Oraw, 26, and William Burns, 49, both of Kilsyth. Fire fighting and rescue squads worked all night; and all but the three men reached safety. Rescue teams recovered the bodies. The colliery is owned by Bairds and Scottish Steel, Ltd. The escape of 17 miners attributed to the pluck and resource of Pat McGarry, of Twechar He gathered a team of men from a section in the colliery not affected by the outbreak ; and they were able to assist all but the three victims to safety. [Nottingham Evening Post 31 May 1940] Three Die In Colliery Fire – Three men were suffocated in a fire at a section of Gartshore Colliery, Croy, Dumbartonshire, early to-day They were: Richard Oraw 27 and William Burns, 66, both of Kilsyth and Archibald Cairns, 40, married with large family, of Twechar. Rescue teams recovered the bodies. [Hull Daily Mail 31 May 1940]