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Full Details

Surname
CAIRNS
Forename
William
Day
24
Month
03
Year
1919
Age
27
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Dykehead, No.2 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Summerlee Iron Co. Ltd
Location
Hamilton
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
24 March 1919: Larkhall – Fatal Result of A Colliery Accident – On Monday morning, William Cairns, 27, miner, residing at 19 Drygate Street, Larkhall, received severe internal and head injuries while employed in the Virtuewell seam, No.2 Dykehead Colliery, Larkhall. He was working at the face on a lope filling a hutch of coal when it moved away. In endeavouring to stop the hutch it overturned upon him, causing the injuries. He was attended by Dr Morrison at the colliery, and on being removed home was seen by Dr D L Stevenson, who ordered his removal to the Royal Infirmary, where he died early on Wednesday morning. Deceased leaves a widow and two children. While the young man lost his own life his heroic effort was the means of probably saving the driver and an oncostman who was repairing the roadway that the hutch would have taken had it got out of control. [Hamilton Advertiser 29 March 1919]