Burngrange mining disaster facts for kids
Burngrange is a small area in the Scottish village of West Calder. It's on the far west side of the village. Most of the houses there were built in the early 1900s for people who worked in the local mining industry.
On January 10, 1947, Burngrange was the site of a very sad mining disaster. Fifteen miners lost their lives that day.
The Burngrange Shale Mine was located about 16 miles southwest of Edinburgh. It was in the area of West Calder in Westlothian. The mine was owned by Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co., Ltd. This company was part of Scottish Oils Ltd. Burngrange was one of 12 mines that dug for oil shale in the counties of Midlothian and West Lothian.
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The Burngrange Mining Disaster
What Happened at Burngrange?
On Friday, January 10, 1947, an explosion happened in the Burngrange Shale Mine. It was around 8 PM, and 53 people were working underground. The explosion was caused by Firedamp (a gas often found in mines) catching fire from an open acetylene cap lamp.
This first explosion quickly started fires that spread fast. The mine became filled with smoke and dangerous gases. This made it very difficult and risky for anyone to go deeper into the mine.
Heroes of the Disaster
Even though the situation was very dangerous, some brave people tried to help. Two men, David Brown and James McArthur, showed great courage during this terrible event.
David Brown's Bravery
David Brown was an overman at the mine, which means he was a supervisor. When the explosion happened, he went down into the pit to help. He and a fireman tried to reach the trapped miners. They faced thick smoke, but they kept going.
David Brown even tried to go in alone when the smoke got too bad for both of them. He shouted for the trapped miners but got no answer. He realized how serious the situation was. He sent a message to the manager, explaining that rescue teams with special breathing equipment were needed.
Later, David Brown borrowed special breathing gear from the National Fire Service. He and another trained rescuer tried again to reach the men. They faced very high temperatures and smoke so thick they couldn't see their lights. They had to turn back.
Even after more attempts, it became clear that the fires had spread too much. It was impossible to save the men until the fires were under control. Firefighting continued for four days. It wasn't until the night of January 13 that rescue teams could finally go past the fire area. Sadly, 15 men had lost their lives due to the dangerous gases and fumes.
For his amazing bravery, David Brown was given the Edward Medal. This award was later changed to the George Cross, which is a very high honor for courage.
James McArthur's Courage
James McArthur was a miner at Burngrange. He bravely volunteered to join the rescue team after the explosion. For his courageous actions, he was awarded the King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.
Both David Brown and James McArthur were also recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund Trustees. They received honorary certificates and grants for their efforts to rescue their fellow workers.
Images for kids
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Memorial in West Calder.
