I found a copy of the original 1947 report of the above including a separate map, amongst my late fathers belongings, he was a miner in the south Wales coalfield where he used to set explosives underground. I believe they studied the Burngrange report to learn what they could from that experience. It makes sad reading.  

Do you know anyone who would like to have it?  I can pop it in the post if someone is interested in having it.

Regards,
Chris

It is encouraging to learn that there are people out there who are keen to preserve history and remind us of the hard lives people had. But they had a great sense of comradeship. I would never have binned it out of solidarity with miners everywhere . . . it has already moved house with me twice!

Regards,
Chris

Hi my name is Barry Robertson I’m doing a project about the Burngrange Pit Disaster I’m looking for pictures of the pit and also the miners and the equipment and clothing they wore.

I wondered if you could give any information about my grandfather Hugh Wilson who was killed in a mining accident at Burngrange about 1940? My parents both lived in West Calder in Back Street.

My mother was 14 when her father died and has never spoken about her Dad. She is in a care home now and is unable to give me any information. She was always very upset at Christmas.

I met someone from West Calder recently who knew my father- George Peat Morris.
If you could point me in the right direction.

Best wishes

Gwen Brown

From:   Tom Wilson
Sent:    20 March 2013

Hello,
My cousin Gwen Brown recently enquired about our Grandfather Hugh Wilson who was killed in a shale mining accident in the 1940's

Could you let her know that I found details at Scottish Mining Site  which states Hugh Wilson aged 49, a shale miner, died 24 Dec 1943 at the Fraser Pit, West Calder, Lothian. He was struck by material from shot.

Many thanks
Tom Wilson

Fraser Pit in production, 1950's. (BP Archives 19801-002)

Hello

I’m making a documentary for BBC Scotland about the History/Social History of the Shale Oil industry in West Lothian.

I’m trying to find people with a link to the Burngrange disaster and I see on your site there is a Margaret Foster who posted a poem about the disaster on 11 Jan 2012.  She also says she heard the alarm and that her dad helped with the rescue.

Would it be possible for you to put me in touch with Margaret – either by supplying me with her email or by supplying her with mine/

Best Wishes

Brian

Burngrange 1947

The siren blared and fear took hold
As families quake in terror
Beneath the ground the men are trapped
Within a living horror

Explosion, fire and poison gas
Is the hell that holds them
The coal that gives their daily bread
Has turned its back against them

Fifty made it to the shaft
Out of the living hell
How they did we can but wonder
God alone can tell

The fires quelled, gas expelled
The search does not abate
They reach the fall and breach the wall
The men are found...To late

Sixty years on down the track
The pit is closed
The miners gone
Fifteen names on a dull bronze plaque
Time moves on

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Margaret Foster January 1007 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Burngrange Scotland
Jan 1947 - I heard the siren go off but I was only three and I of course was to young to understand what was happening. My Dad was on a different shift but he went immediately to the pit head where the rescue teams were organised.  He never talked much about it except to say it was one of the saddest experiences of his life.

The plaque stands in the main street in West Calder.