Burngrange mining disaster remembered
Touching commemoration to mark 70 years since 15 men were killed
A touching commemoration to mark 70 years since 15 men were killed in the Scottish shale oil industry’s worst mining disaster was held at the weekend.
Last Tuesday marked the 70th anniversary of the Burngrange Mining Disaster in West Calder, which claimed the lives of 15 men.
And on Saturday relatives of those miners gathered to remember that awful day in 1947 when an explosion would devastate their lives and many others in the community of West Calder.
To mark the sombre occasion, a commemoration service was held at Union Square in the town, organised by members of the Calder History Group.
Alan Tuffs, a member of the group, said: “We reckon that around 500 people attended the commemoration in Union Square which is a fantastic turnout
“The exhibition has attracted a constant stream of people, busy for each of the sessions we have been open for so far.
“People have been bringing other pictures, photo portraits and bits and pieces related to the events in 1947 so we have been able to add to the display as an ongoing development.”
Events on Saturday included an ecumenical service of remembrance, poems and songs by children from Parkhead and St Mary’s Primary Schools along with music from West Calder Public Band.
A moving reading of ‘ Why we are here’ and words from ex-shale miner Davie Johnstone was also heard and Patricia McAuley, the niece of one of the miners who was killed also spoke.
Patricia, whose uncle James McAuley died in the disaster, said of the commemoration event: “I think it is excellent.
“This has been well thought out and well planned and a lot of work has gone into it.
“It’s nice to see so many children getting involved because we never knew anything about it.”
In addition to the commemoration service, an exhibition of material related to shale mining and to the disaster was also held.
The mine was built in 1936/7 and an explosion on Friday, January 10, 1947 led to the death of one miner by injury and 14 others by carbon monoxide poisoning.
David Carroll, William Carroll, Henry Law Cowie, George Easton, John Fairley, William Gray Boyd Findlay, Anthony Gaughan, William Greenock, Thomas Dempster Heggie, John Sommerville Lightbody, James McAuley, John McGarty, David Muir, Samuel Dargavel Pake and William Findlay Ritchie all lost their lives that day. The mine closed in 1956.
For more information about the disaster and the events to mark its 70th anniversary, visit www. burngrange70.co.uk.