Newspaper Transcription MM55

1956, 7th July

CHARLES GALLACHER

KIRKCONNEL PIT FATALITY.

A distressing fatality occurred in Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, on Saturday in which the victim was 25-year-old Charles Gallacher, 3 Trostan Road, Kelloholm. He was working as a stripper in the north-east conveyor section of No. 1 Colliery when the accident occurred. It was near the end of the voluntary Saturday shift when a large stone, weighing about three and a half tons, fell from the roof where Gallacher was working and pinned him to the ground. Workmates rushed to his assistance and worked desperately to move the stone and release their trapped comrade, which they managed to do, but, unfortunately, he was beyond human aid and died within a few minutes. Deceased was highly thought of in his native town and the sympathy of the entire Community goes out to his young wife and infant child.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 11/07/1956 / W / 7 / B - MM55

FATAL ACCIDENT INQUIRIES

Miner Killed By Falling Stone

Sheriff W. E. R. Hendry and a jury held a public inquiry in the Sheriff Court House, Dumfries, on Monday, into the circumstances of the death of Charles Gallacher (25), coal miner, 3 Trostan Road, Kirkconnel.
The, evidence was to the effect that Mr. Gallacher was employed as a coal stripper with the National Coal Board. On 7th July he was engaged stripping coal from the coal face in North-East Section, No. 1 Pit, at Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, when a large stone fell from the roof on top of him and crushed him. He sustained injuries from which he died there and then, the cause of death being traumatic asphyxia, fracture of the spine, and severe shock.
A formal verdict in accordance with the evidence was returned by the jury.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 27/10/1956 / - MM55