Knockshinnoch pit disaster,1950

[tartandaddy]

There is a plaque in the Saltcoats Ayrshire Salvation Army entrance hall relating to this disaster, apparently a group of young Salvationist's stayed and worked for long hours without sleep - on the way home the driver fell asleep at the wheel, they crashed and all the Salvation Army folks were killed. The coal board donated a new altar front in the Salvation Army hall in their honour. I watched this film and wondered if the Salvation Army folk seen were in fact those who died. Very sad.

[duncan4401]

Hi snoghead my dad says we could be connected. He was in the Barony mine and others up until a disaster in 1965 I think so we came to Australia. All the best Robert

[duncan4401]

We have an original peom by John Rodie sent to my father William Duncan by his brother Dally both from Mossblown and Cumnock. I will keep this always.

Regards Robert Duncan

[snoghead]

@duncan4401

hi i have a mother in law who has come across your comments and was wandering about ur father and his brother. Her dads name was john duncan (dally) and he was involved in the mining accident. would like to get in touch if poss

[coopval7069]

john dalziel was my great granpa

[Aulyin2]

In September 2010, the 60th anniversary of the Knockshinnoch Disaster will be commemorated at New Cumnock Memorial, off Afton Road, opposite the Cemetery.

[axelroseify]

if anyone wants to know about this disaster they can ask me im not fully expierienced but i do know some things and to prove this the women at 00:49 the one on right and you can see her face shes crying the yongest looking one with long hair shes my great gran sadly she died of a heat attack when my gran was 19 at this point se was only 4 months her brother and father at the time were digging to save the men this at the time was just after WW2 about 4 month or somin i dont really know about that

[HAZRIC]

Sad days indeed.

I'm the first generation of my family not to go down the pit. 5*'s.

[HAZRIC]

THE MINER

At ten years and four and a midget in size,

My long trousers tied at the knee,

I went to the pit and it laughed at it's prize,

A piece box with four slice on cheese

[HAZRIC]

They sent me to work at the crawpickers trade,

To seperate coal from the stane,

Nae brains were required but hands like a spade,

And deafness to comrades disdain,

[HAZRIC]

And you battled with lads bigger than you,

Though your eyes did not show you had won,

But you earned the respect of the rest of the crew,

And your mining career had begun,

[HAZRIC]

Another big step and a job down below

And your stomach was up to your chest,

A moment of madness and youthful bravado,

A conscript to darkness and dust,

[HAZRIC]

Now I'm finished, my task is fulfilled,

And I've finally called it a day,

And I weep for the boys who were mangled and killed,

And the great guys I met on the way.

John Rodie.

[drewrowan1]

I can't believe that I found this! My uncle, Samuel Rowan, was one of the thirteen killed in the disaster.

I have read numerous articles but never seen anything on film. My Dad will be amazed that I can show him this.

Only last month I was at the cemetary and had the chance to see my Uncle Sam's headstone for the first time in years.

Family told me of a photo on the New Cumnock Now & Then site which was posted by my cousin and this ultimately led me here.

Many thanks for posting this.

[alexairlie]

This is fantastic !! Really glad you found this wee film drewrowan1.Thank you for taking the time to comment

[fireballjools]

@drewrowan1 I think we must be related. Samuel Rowan was my great uncle. Annie Rowan (his sister) was my gran. Not sure if I met you at her funeral a few years ago? Jim Walls is my dad.

[drewrowan1]

@fireballjools

Then you must be Gillian .... I'm Andrew, your Gran was my aunt and your dad and I are cousins. My dad is Jim Rowan, in fact your Gran was more like a Gran to me too, I never knew the one on dad's side but she was very close to the family. We probably did meet at her funeral ... I last saw your dad at my cousin Stewart's funeral 2 years ago.

Say hello for me

[dwilpower]

Great to see this contemporary newsreel. Where did you find it? I have been fascinated by Knockshinnoch since the early 80's when researching the tragedy for a college project. I was very fortunate to meet and interview survivors and Dave Park who played an important role in the successful rescue. I am currently trying to locate and collate as much info- pics and such rare footage as this- in order to produce a comprehensive, definitive record to be made available online

[morturn]

Hi, thanks for uploading this clip, I only know about this disaster though its history. Reading the accounts of the rescue made the hair on my neck stand up, bravery on a scale like this should never be forgotten.

[alexairlie]

Thank you morturn for taking the time to comment.

[Travers54]

A great piece of colliery history, thank you for this video share.5*****

[alexairlie]

cheers travers54

[sliby01]

thankyou for posting. I now live near Creswell of the 1950 pit disaster and have worked in South African mines.The Mines rescue,brave wonderful people.

[connelpark]

please keep it on alexairlie the reaction here is all good

The big bonus for me was after the shot of the football row [ fitba raw ] was a picture of my granny and auntie madge

I dont think anyone even the familie's who lost loved ones would be anything but taken with this footage

Once again thank you

[connelpark]

the best record of the disaster i have seen

I was 9 when it happened and it was an eerie feeling for a number of days

My dad and uncles Dan and Alex were in the rescue team and their brother Dave was trapped but rescued

There was a tradgedy within a tradgedy when a husband and wife Salvation army team who attended this tragic event were killed on there way home to Saltcoats in a car crash

Thanks to alexairlie for a splensid posting

[alexairlie]

thank you connelpark for taking the time.I hope I have not brought back to many bad memories?

[Aftonlad]

I was 7 years old and living in New Cumnock when this drama took place. The memories still live vividly with me. The events had a pronounced effect on the people of the village. And now the pits are no more.....hardly justice is it?

[alexairlie]

Aftonlad,thank you for taking the time to post.I did worry about posting this incase it brought back terrible memories,if anyone would like me to remove this,just say.

[Tcheuchter1]

Real Working Class Hero's. The Real price of Coal

[alexairlie]

I Totally agree.