Fife Accidents 1915-1925

This section contains newspaper reports on accidents in miscellaneous areas of Fife from 1915 - 1925 inclusive. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for reports by the Inspector of Mines and accidents in other areas.

22 October 1915

Fife Miner Killed - Robert Birrell (35), a miner employed in the Wellesley colliery, Wemyss Coal Company, was killed by a race of hutches on Friday evening. He was a native of Leven, and leaves a widow and young family. He was formerly in the Black Watch. [Scotsman 25 October 1915]

11 January 1916

A Dysart Pitworker Killed - A lad named Vance, residing at Dovecot Crescent, Dysart, was instantaneously killed at the Randolph Pit, Dysart Collieries, yesterday afternoon. He was employed at the pithead, and had apparently been leaning over the rail at the pit mouth, looking down the shaft, when the cage descended and practically decapitated him. He was 15 years of age. [Scotsman 12 January 1916]

15 January 1916

Fatal Mining Accident in Fife - John Stevenson (17), a drawer, was killed in Earlseat mines, Wemyss Coal Company, by a fall of debris on Saturday afternoon. He was finishing work, his father having left the pit shortly before owing to illness. He resided with his father in Denbeath. [Scotsman 17 January 1916]

25 January 1916

Fatal Colliery Accident in Fife - Martin Tracey (21), miner, Preston Crescent, High Valleyfield, met with a fatal accident at the Fife Coal Company's Valleyfield colliery yesterday. He was engaged uncoupling a hutch, when he was overtaken by a heavy roof fall, which occurred without warning. [Scotsman 26 January 1916]

5 February 1916

Fatal Accident At A Fife Colliery - Alexander Clunie, brusher, Reid Street, Dunfermline, was fatally injured on Saturday morning in the shaft of Dean Pit, Kingseat colliery. At one of the bottoms where the cage stopped he fell from the vehicle, which, moving away, crushed him against the side of the shaft causing injuries which proved almost instantaneously fatal. He was 31 years of age and married. [Scotsman 7 February 1916]

26 April 1916

Miner Killed at Kinglassie – Late on Wednesday evening James Beveridge, son of Mrs Robert Beveridge, High Street, Leslie, was killed instantaneously by a fall from the roof in Kinglassie pit, and two fellow workers had narrow escapes. Deceased was 36 years of age, the main support of a widowed mother, and very highly respected in the community. The body was conveyed home next morning. [Lochgelly & Kelty News 2 May 1916]

10 August 1916

Fatal Accident to a Fife Miner – William Mearns Sinclair, 52, brusher, 14 Blairhall Cottages, East Grange, died in Dunfermline & West Fife Hospital yesterday from the effects of an accident which he received in the Coltness Iron Company's Blairhall Pit on the previous day. [Scotsman 11 August 1916]

11 January 1917

Fatal Pit Accident At Valleyfield - James Kelly, miner, lately residing at Preston Crescent, High Valleyfield was killed at work in No 1 Pit, Valleyfield Colliery, of the Fife Coal Coy on Thursday. While he was engaged at the face a fall of stones weighing at least a ton caught him and crushed him internally. He died after being taken to the surface. His eldest son was working beside him at the time of the accident. Kelly was 52 years of age. [Dunfermline Journal 13 January 1917]

16 January 1917

Fatal Termination to Oakley Brusher's Accident - William Chapman, brusher (42), lately residing at 53 Oakley Rows, Carnock, who a week ago sustained severe internal injuries at Oakley Colliery, wrought by the Kinneddar Collieries, died on Tuesday in Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. While he was in the act of brushing the roof a large stone fell upon him. [Dunfermline Journal 20 January 1917]

20 January 1917

Serious Accident to Valleyfield Miner - While James Williamson, miner, Preston Crescent, High Valleyfield, Culross, was engaged on Tuesday morning in No 1 Pit Valleyfield Colliery of the Fife Coal Coy, a fall of coal [illegible] discovered that Williamson had sustained severe injuries, which include a fractured pelvis. He was removed to Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. His condition is regarded as critical. [Dunfermline Journal 20 January 1917]

NB James Williamson died 20 January 1917 in the Cottage Hospital, Dunfermline of a fractured pelvis

8 February 1917

Miner Killed At Blairhall Colliery - Between 5 and 6 o'clock on Thursday evening, Patrick Hughes (26), miner, lately residing at Red Row, near Newmills, was struck by a large stone which fell from the roof of the Lady Veronica Pit, Blairhall Colliery. He was working at the face at the time. His injuries proved fatal. The stone which fell weighed about a ton. [Dunfermline Journal 10 February 1917]

27 February 1917

Townhill Miner Killed - Wm. Campbell Fleming, aged 23 years, 14 Chisholm Crescent, Townhill, while at work on Monday was severely injured. Fleming, along with two other men were attending a coal cutting machine, and after the coal cutter had been started the machine swerved round the coal face, with the result that the cutting wheel came in contact with Fleming's right leg and severed it from his body, and caused other serious injuries to his abdomen. He was taken to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital, where he was attended to by Dr Dalgliesh. His injuries being of such a serious nature, little could be done for him, and he died about 2 am the following morning. Fleming was of a quiet and modest disposition, and much sympathy is extended to his aged parents at this time. [Dunfermline Journal 3 March 1917]

18 June 1917

Overwind Accident At Lethans - Seven Miners Injured - Early on Monday morning a somewhat serious accident occurred in No 2 Pit, Lethans Colliery, belonging to the Wilsons and Clyde Coal Coy. Limited. A party of day shift men were being lowered at the time. An overwind occurred with the result that the descending cage struck the bottom with great force, and seven men were injured, viz. - William Simpson (57) miner, Woodside Terrace, Steelend, right leg fractured at the knee; James Torley (19) miner, Woodside Terrace, Steelend, left knee dislocated; John M'Ghie (24) miner, Woodside Terrace, Steelend, both knees staved; Thomas Peggie (35) miner, Deanside, Saline, left knee staved; Robert Clemenson (44) pit inspector, Saline, left knee staved; Andrew Cunningham (19), drawer, Loch Road, Saline, right knee staved; George Moultrie (19) drawer, Preston Place, Saline, right knee staved. After the accident Dr Zuill, Oakley, was summoned and having attended to the men's injuries he ordered Simpson to be removed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. The others were conveyed home. The cause of the overwind is not known. It is supposed to have been due to grease accumulating on the brakes. The cage was the sixth which had been lowered that morning, and nothing untoward had happened previously. The engineman on duty at the time of the accident was John Coulen, jun., Woodside Terrace, Steelend. After the occurrence Coulen's father took charge of the engines and they worked all right. [Dunfermline Journal 23 June 1917]
16 June 1917

11 June 1918

George Cairns (46), miner, 28 Blairhall Village, was killed by a fall of stone in the Lady Veronica Pit, Blairhall colliery. [Scotsman 15 June 1918]

23 December 1918

James Muir (14), pit-boy, residing at 63 Nether Street, Kirkcaldy, died in Kirkcaldy Hospital from injuries sustained through being crushed by a fall of coal in the Lady Blanche Pit, Dysart. [Scotsman 25 December 1918]

6 January 1919

Robert Lawrie (38), miner,18 Rosslyn Street, Kirkcaldy, has died in Kirkcaldy Hospital from injuries sustained while at work in Dubbie Pit, Dysart Colliery. He had been engaged in the shaft assisting to repair the pumping rods when a large stone crashed on to the roof of the cage on which Lawrie was standing. The stone did not puncture the roof of the cage, but it made a dent about two inches deep. Lawrie must have been standing with his head close to the roof of the cage, as he received a punctured wound on the top of the head. [Scotsman 8 January 1919]

14 January 1919

Explosion at a Fifeshire Colliery - James M'Ewan, pit fireman; Alexander Wright and John Henderson, brushers, the two first named residing at Blairhall village, and the third at Culross, were admitted to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital yesterday suffering from injuries received by an explosion of fire-damp at Blairhall colliery, Coltness Iron Company (Limited.). The men were engaged in the Lochgelly splint seam. Following the firing of a shot with the object of bringing down the brushing, there was a loud explosion. M'Ewan and Wright were scorched about the hands and faces. Henderson, in addition to being burned about the hands, face, and neck, showed symptoms of having inhaled a quantity of the ignited gas. Last evening the condition of the men was reported to be critical The cause of the accident has not been established. [Scotsman 15 January 1919]

NB Alexander Wright died January 20 1919

28 March 1919

Tail Runner's Death - The third [Fatal Accident Inquiry at Dunfermline Sheriff Court] related to the death of Jas. Beveridge, tail runner, lately residing at North End, Crossgates, who died on 28th March in Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital, from injuries received on 4th March in the William Pit, of Fordell Colliery, by being crushed between an ascending race of hutches and the side of a dook. Michael Johnstone, 22, motorman, School House, Fordell, deponed that deceased had been going up the Glassee dook of the William Pit, and as his lamp went out he was left in the dark and was caught by the up-going race of hutches. There had been no tail-runner employed in the dook since the accident. The dook was nearly worked out. James Beveridge, 34, fireman, North End, Crossgates, an uncle of the deceased, and employed in the William Pit, corroborated this evidence, and said that deceased had told him that he was walking in front of the race of hutches. William Johnstone (46) under manager at the William Pit, residing at Old School House, Fordell, also stated that since the accident no tail-runner had been employed in the Glassee dook. The Procurator-Fiscal said that if that system had been in force on 4th March, Beveridge would not have been killed. The system prior to the accident was unsatisfactory, and it was quite obvious there were alternatives which might have adopted, and had they been adopted the accident would not have occurred. Mr J M Davidson [solicitor for the coal owners] pointed out that while there was no question that travelling on the hutches in dooks was permissible by the Coal Mines Act, the roof in this particular instance was too low to permit of that being done with safety. To go behind the race of hutches was to step into a death trap. The Sheriff addressing the jury said they had got to consider whether a different practice might not have prevented this accident. At the time the accident happened, there was no reason whatever why the practice which was adopted immediately after was not in use. The jury agreed to add to their formal verdict that it would be much better for the men to go up the dook before belling away the race. [Dunfermline Journal 24 May 1919]

6 June 1919

Demobilised Soldier Killed in Fife Pit accident - James Faichney, jun., miner, Stirling Street, Tillicoultry, was killed in the five-feet seam of the Lord Bruce pit, Blairhall colliery. He was clearing away, a fall of redd when a second fall took place. An hour and a half elapsed before the body was recovered. It was Faichney's first day in the pit after demobilisation from the Army. He had been a prisoner of war. [Scotsman 12 June 1919]

Fife Miner Killed - On the first day of his return to the mines after demobilisation, Jas. Faichney, a miner of 25 years of age, has been killed by a fall in Lord Bruce Pit, Blairhall Colliery, near Dunfermline. Faichney had been at work repairing a roadway where a fall had occurred, when the roof again gave way. He was buried and crushed, and when extricated, after and hour and a half of hard work on the part of his comrades, he was found to be dead. Deceased, whose whom is in Tillicoultry, was married 18 months ago. Returning to France after the ceremony he was taken prisoner by the Germans. The fatality occurred the first day he went below. [Dunfermline Journal 14 June 1919]

29 August 1919

Fife Miner Asphyxiated - A distressing accident took place yesterday at the Fife Coal Company's Valleyfield colliery, resulting in the death from asphyxiation of Alexander Gordon, miner, Main Street. Lowvalleyfield , and, the narrow escape of an elder brother, Joseph Gordon, miner, residing at the same address. In search of nails, Alexander entered a heading which had been closed. He was absent for some time, and his brother went in search of him, finding him unconscious. Joseph also collapsed. A search party found the brothers together, both unconscious. Under treatment Joseph recovered, but the other succumbed. [Scotsman 30 August 1919]

Miner Suffocated - Alexander Gordon (28), miner, who resided in Main Street, Low Valleyfield, met his death by suffocation in Valleyfield Colliery on Friday morning. Gordon went in search of nails and entered one of the headings which had been shit off for some time. His brother, Joseph Gordon, missed him a little later and found him prostrated, and he also collapsed. Other workmen volunteered assistance and ultimately got both men out from amongst the deadly gas to the main road. At the pithead Joseph recovered, but Alexander was beyond all aid. The others of the rescue party were considerably affected by the foul air. [Dunfermline Journal 30 August 1919]

Workmen's Compensation - House of Lords and Breach of Rules - Court of Session Decisions Reversed - The House of Lords yesterday reversed the judgement of the First Division of the Court of Session in three appeals arising out of the Workmen's Compensation Act which raised the question, whether or not a workman who did something in breach of prohibitions took himself outside of the sphere of his employment.

In the second case, where the Fife Coal Co. were again the appellants, Alexander Gordon, Low Torrie, Newmills, on 28th August 1919, went in search of lattice nails to a portion of the heading above the level where he was working, and which had been fenced off for five weeks prior to the accident. He was overcome by gas, and died before he was rescued. Sheriff-Substitute Umpherston found that Gordon broke the regulations by entering the danger zone, but did not find that Gordon did so in the interests of the employers. He also found that Gordon knew where nails could be obtained without incurring the risk of entering a gas-infected zone. The First Division, in making an award in favour of Gordon's mother and sister, decided the case on the assumption that Gordon broke the regulations in the interests of the Coal Company. The House of Lords yesterday allowed the appeal of the employers in all three cases. [Scotsman 18 December 1920]

2 September 1919

Fatal Pit Accident at Lumphinnans – A miner named John Colville, who resided at 33 James Street, Dunfermline, was killed and a young man named Thomas Canavan, School Street, Cowdenbeath, was badly injured about the face, by a shot going off prematurely in the five feet seam of No 1 Pit Lumphinnans, yesterday. Colville was married. [Scotsman 3 September 1919]

5 September 1919

Wemyss Miner Killed - George Sinclair labourer, residing at 146 Den Road Kirkcaldy, was accidentally killed at Wemyss Colliery yesterday. While shunting was being carried on at the pithead, Sinclair was knocked down by one of the waggons, which passed over him, partially severing his head from his body. Deceased was about 50 years of age, and unmarried. [Scotsman 6 September 1919]

10 November 1919

Fatality At Blairhall Colliery - James Gannon (64), labourer, lately residing at Torry Workmen's House, Newmills, met with a fatal accident at Blairhall Colliery on Monday forenoon. Gannon had come to the Colliery in search of work, and, being unaccustomed to the workings, had gone on to the railway at the siding. He was knocked down by an engine and killed instantaneously. [Dunfermline Journal 15 November 1919]

12 March 1920

Fatal Mining Accident At Methil – As he finished work in the Lochhead Pit, Wemyss Coal Company, on Friday night, Thomas Buist, Aberhill, Methil, was caught by a fall of coal and killed. He was 27 years of age and leaves a widow and child. [Scotsman 15 March 1920]

30 May 1920

Fife Miner Killed - John Clark, miner, residing at 3 Hendry's Wynd, Kirkcaldy, has died in Kirkcaldy Hospital as the result of injuries to his head and arm, caused in the course of his employment by a fall of stone from the roof in Randolph Pit, Dysart. [Scotsman 1 June 1920]

13 June 1920

Fatality At Blairhall Colliery - Peter Armour (23), a repairer residing at Main Street, Low Torry, met with a fatal accident at Blairhall Colliery on Monday. About 2am he had been employed at No 4 [illegible], Lord Bruce Pit of the colliery, when a quantity of stone fell upon him from the roof, fracturing his skull. Death was almost instantaneous, the body being examined at the Colliery by Dr Henderson. [Dunfermline Journal 19 June 1920]

6 November 1920

Townhill - Accident To Local J.P. - An unfortunate accident befell Mr George Izatt, the popular Townhill Justice of Peace, on Saturday last. While at work in Townhill Colliery a fall of stone from the roof caught him on the right shoulder, then fell on his right boot, crushing both severely. He was speedily conveyed home where Mr Alex. Malcolm rendered first aid, pending the arrival of the doctor. [Dunfermline Journal 13 November 1920]

7 December 1920

Townhill - Accident - While at work at No 7 Pit Townhill, on Tuesday, Hugh Stevens, miner, residing at Co-operative Buildings, had his foot severely crushed by a large stone falling from the roof. He was immediately conveyed home and medically attended to. Mr Stevens is well known in billiard circles about the district, being the winner of the New Cup last year, and it is hoped that his accident will not prevent him entering the competition this year again. [Dunfermline Journal 11 December 1920]

20 January 1921

Pit Explosion – Six Men Injured Near Dunfermline – Kinnear [sic] colliery, near Dunfermline, owned by the Oakley Collieries (Ltd.), was the scene of an alarming accident yesterday. As a result six men were injured. Their names are William Stobie, a married man, residing at Milesmark, Dunfermline; James M'Neil, married, residing at Comrie village, Oakley; Alexander Love, married, Oakley: Hugh Love, unmarried, his son; Robert Mitchell, Milesmark ; and Adam Pollock, Oakley. The men were engaged in the five-feet seam, where naked lights are in use, when there was an unexpected ignition of gas. All the men received burns of a serious nature. Assistance was quickly forthcoming, and the men were conveyed to the pithead, where they were medically attended to. Stobie and M'Neil were in a critical condition, and were conveyed to the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. Mitchell and Pollock were taken to their homes [Scotsman 21 January 1921]

NB William Stobie died January 22 1921

22 February 1921

Leven Colliery Mishap - At Fife Coal Company's Leven Colliery on Tuesday, a section of the overhead gangway suddenly collapsed and two hutches and four men were precipitated to the ground, a drop of 12 to 15 feet. All the men were more or less injured. Their names are James Pentland, James Hart, Thomas Quinn and Thomas Blow all residing in Leven. They were admitted to Wemyss Hospital. [Dunfermline Journal 26 February 1921]

19 March 1921

Wemyss Miner's Fatal Injuries - John Black, miner, West Wemyss, died in the Wemyss Memorial Hospital on Saturday as the result of injuries sustained in the Victoria Pit of the Wemyss Coal Company on Tuesday. He was caught between two hutches, and sustained internal injuries. Black was 38 years of age and unmarried. [Scotsman 21 March 1921]

7 June 1921

Man Drowned At Kinglassie - Thomas Duncan, iron turner, 52 Harcourt Road, Kirkcaldy, was accidentally drowned at the pit at Kinglassie, while repairing the shaft. Duncan had apparently overbalanced from the cage, and fallen down the shaft. As there was a considerable amount of water in the pit, Duncan was drowned. The deceased, aged 40, leaves a widow and four children. [Dunfermline Journal 11 June 1921]

26 August 1921

Fatal Accident in Fife Pit - Yesterday morning Daniel Banks (15), drawer, son of George Banks, miner, Dundonald Terrace, Lowvalleyfield, was accidentally killed in the Fife Coal Company's No. 2 Pit, Valleyfield colliery. He was crushed between a moving hutch and the end of a bench at which he was working. The boy's father was an eyewitness of the accident [Scotsman 27 August 1921]

4 October 1921

Fatal Accident At A Fife Colliery - George Marshall (40), a shanksman, who resided the The Shore, Kincardine-on-Forth, was killed at Blairhall colliery, near Dunfermline, about four o'clock yesterday morning. While engaged in repairing the shaft in Lady Veronica Pit he failed to observe that the cage was being lowered, the result being that he was hit on the head and knocked into the sump and killed instantaneously. The sump contained about twenty feet of water and mud. [Scotsman 5 October 1921]

Sequel To Fatal Colliery Accident – The sequel to the death of a shaftsman in Blairhall Colliery of the Coltness Iron Coy., was heard in Dunfermline Sheriff Court on Thursday when John M'Ewan, engineman, Low Causeway, Torryburn, pleaded not guilty to having contravened the coal mines Act by neglecting to attend properly to a signal he had received. Accused was represented by Mr John Cassells, solicitor, Hamilton, agent for the Scottish Colliery Enginemen and Boilermen's Association. After a lengthy proof, Mr Cassells, for accused, declared that it would be a terrible thing for M'Ewan to go through life with the knowledge and belief that anything he had done had brought about the death of this man. Sheriff Umperston, finding the charge proved, said it was undoubtedly a very serious case for the accused, but, on the other hand, it was a very very serious charge, looking to the responsible position which accused occupied, having almost in his trust so much of the safety of the other men down in the pit. A fine of £5 with the option of two months' imprisonment was imposed. [Hamilton Advertiser 21 January 1922]

14 October 1921

Fatal Accident In Fife Pit - A fatal accident took place last night in the Wellesley Pit, Denbeath, owned by the Wemyss Coal Company. David Hogg, North Bridge Buildings, Aberhill, Methil, and His son were at work on a 10-foot seam when the coal burst on the top of them. The father managed to jump clear, but his son Andrew, aged 19 years was overwhelmed and died soon after being extricated. Hogg, who was slightly injured, was able to proceed home. [Scotsman 15 October 1921]

24 October 1921

Pit Accident at Kirkcaldy - Man Killed, Another Injured - An accident occurred at Pannie Pit, Kirkcaldy, yesterday, resulting in the death of one of the employees and severe injury to another. While four men were engaged in repairing the shafting supporting the roof of one of the cuttings two of the beams gave way, crushing two of the workers underneath. Help was at once forthcoming, when it was discovered that in the case of Robert Traill, ,7 Orchard Lane, Dysart, the accident had proved fatal. The other man, George Burt, 36 Viceroy Street, Kirkcaldy, was found to be badly crushed, and was immediately removed to hospital. Traill was about 46 years of age, and leaves a widow, and five of a family. [Scotsman 25 October 1921]

15 November 1921

Fatal Fife Mining Accident - A fatal accident occurred yesterday at the Wellesley colliery of the Wemyss Coal Company, Denbeath. The men attending a coal-cutting ;machine had occasion to swing it round to a fresh part of the face when John-Cooper (25) was struck by the bar, and sustained injuries to which he succumbed later in the day in the Hospital. Cooper was unmarried, the son of Mr. W .Cooper Buckhaven. [Scotsman 16 November 1921]

21 January 1922

Crossgates Miner Killed - Thomas Cowan (23), who resided at Back Street, Crossgates, was accidentally killed in the Alice Pit, Fordell Colliery, on Saturday. He leaves a widow and child. [Scotsman 23 January 1922]

24 February 1922

Fatal Sequel To Fife Mining Accident - Robert M'Knight (39), residing at Jordan Terrace, Methil, has died in Wemyss Hospital as the result of an accident in Leven No. 4 pit in November. He was struck in the back by a stone from the roof and sustained injury to the spine. He was a native of Denny, and leaves a widow and five children. [Scotsman 1 March 1922]

15 February 1922

Fatal Accident At Fife Colliery - James Greig (18), son of Mr David Greig, Durie Broom, Leven, was yesterday fatally injured by a hutch, in the Wellesley Colliery of the Wemyss Coal Company. He was employed as a drawer, and had just recently restarted work. [Scotsman 16 February 1922]

7 July 1922

Miner Killed in Fife Pit - John Gilmour (58), who resides in Methil, was killed by a fall from the roof in the Wellesley Colliery of the Wemyss Coal Company yesterday. He was buried under some 40 tons of redd, and death was instantaneous. He leaves a widow and grown-up family. [Scotsman 8 July 1922]

15 September 1922

Fifeshire Pit accidents - A fatal accident occurred at No. 2 Pit, Valleyfield Colliery, early yesterday morning. Daniel M'Quade (20), a machineman, was at work at the coal face, when about two tons of material fell upon him , fracturing his skull and killing him instantaneously. He had been residing in lodgings at 37 Dundonald Terrace , Lowvalleyfield. He belonged to Lochgelly.

William Gray, 58 years of age, a miner residing at Button's Buildings, Torryburn, was admitted to Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital yesterday morning suffering from serious injuries received through an accident at Lady Veronica Pit, Blairhall colliery. He was at work at the coal face in the Lochgelly Seam when a stone weighing about 6 cwts. fell upon him from the roof , fracturing his skull and left leg. [Scotsman 16 September 1922]

8 December 1922

Ex-Navyman's Death In Fife Pit – While working in the Michael Colliery of the Wemyss Coal Co, yesterday morning, Edward Hall, 52, Bruce Terrace, Leven, was caught by the bar of the coal cutting machine, and killed almost instantly. He was a native of Cornwall, and served for over 20 years in the Navy. He rejoined in 1914, and was on board HMS Majestic when the ship was torpedoed. [Scotsman 9 December 1922]

23 March 1923

Miner Fatally Crushed At Dysart - As the result of an accident yesterday afternoon at the Randolph Colliery, Dysart, James Cunningham, miner (46), lost his life. He was crushed between tubs. He resided at 57 Edward Street and was a married man. [Scotsman 24 March 1923]

4 September 1923

Dunfermline Miner Killed At Pithead - A fatal accident occurred yesterday forenoon at the pithead of the Wallace Pit, Dean colliery, Kingseat, near Dunfermline. The victim was Alexander Drummond, who was in the act of repairing a cage. The cage was about to descend, when he was accidentally caught by the safety apparatus on the side , which fell upon his neck, causing instantaneous death. Drummond was between 50 and 60 years of age, was married, and resided at 127 Pittencrieff Street, Dunfermline. [Scotsman 5 September 1923]

8 September 1923

Fatal Accident at Leven Colliery - Robert Drysdale (50), shunter, Fife Coal Company, was fatally injured at Leven colliery on Saturday afternoon. He was assisting in shunting operations , and was seated on the engine buffer, when he was thrown off by a jolt. He fell in front of the waggons, which passed over his shoulder. He succumbed shortly after. Drysdale resided at Methilhill, and leaves a widow and family. [Scotsman 10 September 1923]

19 September 1923

Fatal Result of Fife Pit accident - Thomas Michie, miner, Mayflower Street, Townhill, Dunfermline, died yesterday from the effects of an accident which occurred at Townhill colliery on Tuesday. While he was engaged at his working face, a stone, weighing about two tons, fell without warning from the roof, striking him on the head. Deceased, who was thirty years of age, was married [Scotsman 20 September 1923]

4 October 1923

Fatal Accident in Pit at Dysart - James Wallace, 50 years of age, unmarried, residing at 92 Rosslyn Street, Gallatown, yesterday met his death as a result of an accident in Randolph Pit, Dysart. He is understood to have been engaged in taking hutches from the cage, when it suddenly descended. He was struck on the head and crushed. [Scotsman 5 October 1923]

27 October 1923

Fatal Pit Accident - Christopher Muir (65), residing at Townhill Road, was fatally injured in the pit of Messrs The Lochside Coal and Fire clay Company, Limited, at Townhill, on Saturday. Employed as an inspector, he had just finished his work for the day when, proceeding along a roadway, he slipped, and fell in front of a rake of loaded hutches, one of which was overturned and fell upon him. [Scotsman 29 October 1923]

2 December 1923

Torryburn Miner Succumbs To Injuries - In Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital last night Thomas Bond, Main Street, Torryburn, succumbed to injuries which he sustained in an accident in No. 1 Pit, Valleyfield Colliery, on Friday: He was engaged at his work, at the foot of a brae when a heavy coil of wire rope ran over the brae and caught him before he could get clear. His skull was fractured. He was 32 years of age. [Scotsman 3 December 1923]

29 December 1923

Mining Accidents - James Templeton, Leven, working in the Wellesley Colliery, was caught in a coal cutter by the leg. Three toes were injured so badly that they had to be amputated. One of his legs was also crushed. John Adam, Leven, was caught by a burst of coal from the face, and sustained a broken leg. [Dunfermline Journal 29 December 1923]

7 February 1924

Fife Miner Killed - Wm. Marshall, who resided at Main Street, West Wemyss, a man of about 30 years of age, was killed yesterday, while at work in the Victoria Pit, West Wemyss. Marshall was completely buried by a fall of coal from the roof, and when he was extricated life was found to be extinct. He was a married man, with three of a family. [Scotsman 8 February 1924]

25 April 1924

Fatal Colliery Explosion - Andrew Malcolm, Ness View, Newmills, died in the Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital yesterday from the effects of an explosion of dust at the Coltness Iron Company's Blairhall colliery on Wednesday. He was employed as a fireman and shot-firer, Malcolm was 35 years of age, and married. [Scotsman 26 April 1924]

19 November 1924

Dysart Miner Killed - Alex. M'Kay, miner, residing at 17 The Braes, Dysart, was accidentally killed in the Lady Blanche Pit (Dysart) of the Fife Coal Co. yesterday as the result, it is believed, of a fall of roof. The deceased was fifty years of age, and leaves a widow and grown-up family. [Scotsman 20 November 1924]

6 December 1924

Fatal Accident To Fife Miner - As the result of injuries received in an accident at Muircockhall colliery, Charles Finlay (60), miner, 99 Main Street, Townhill, near Dunfermline, died in Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital on Saturday morning. He was working in the fourteen feet section, and was engaged in taking down head coal, when there was a fall of coal from the roof. His skull was fractured and several ribs broken. [Scotsman 8 December 1924]

2 January 1925

Two accidents in Kirkcaldy had a fatal termination in Kirkcaldy Hospital yesterday, John Methven, miner, 7 Cairns Street, and Millie Peggie, 25 Williamson's Place, Galatown, succumbing to injuries received. Methven was employed as a brusher in Pannie Pit, when a fall from the roof, pinned him to the ground. Several of his workmates immediately went to his assistance, and extricated him from the debris, but he had been severely injured about the spine, and bruised all over the body. Methven leaves a widow and a family of six. [The Scotsman 3 January 1925]

21 March 1925

Fatal Accident at Fife Colliery - An accident resulting in the death of Samuel Anstis (15), pithead worker, a son of Alfred Anstis, 8 Main Road, Crombie, occurred at Valleyfield Colliery on Saturday. While at work at the pithead the lad fell through a fence at the side of a creeper road to the ground below, a distance of approximately 20 feet. He received severe injuries to the head, and succumbed while being conveyed to Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital. [The Scotsman 23 March 1925]

Defective Pit Fencing – Young Collier's Death - The circumstances of a fatal accident at the Fife Coal Company's Valleyfield Colliery were investigated at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday. The victim was a boy of 15, Samuel John Anstis, who was employed as a pithead worker, and who was fatally injured by falling from a scaffold at the screening plant. It was elicited that deceased slipped on the scaffold and fell through an aperture in the fencing from which the middle spar was amissing. Several boys who worked with deceased, declared that the spar had been amissing for three weeks, although they had not reported the matter. Colliery officials however, affirmed that all the pithead fencing was regularly inspected, and one of these, an engineer, declared that the scaffold fencing was intact at least two days before the accident. The jury added to a formal verdict an expression of opinion that the accident was due to a defect in the fencing, which ought to have been repaired. [The Scotsman 15 May 1925]

18 September 1925

Fife Pit Fatality - John Gray (34), a brusher, residing in a Dunfermline lodging-house, was seriously injured as the result of a stone falling on him from the roof while he was at work in the Lord Bruce Pit, Blairhall Colliery, yesterday morning. He died an hour later while being conveyed to Dunfermline and West Fife Hospital in an ambulance. Deceased was a married man. [The Scotsman 19 September 1925]