A Fife town fell silent on Monday morning to mourn the dead of one of the region’s worst mining disasters.
Dozens of people turned out for a community service to mark the 85th anniversary of the Bowhill Pit Disaster.
Ten red roses were placed in town’s community garden, each representing the life of one of those killed following a firedamp explosion in the pit on October 31 1931.
An event that made national news at the time, those who helped to organise the memorial service said that it was important that the modern day inhabitants of Cardenden recognised the significance of events the best part of a century ago.
Alex Burns, the chair of the Cardenden Community Council and a former miner himself, was one of those who gathered for the event.
“It was a tragic accident,” he said.
“We hosted a similar service five years ago because it is important that we remember those who lost their lives.
“To see so many people here today is great as we never want people to forget what happened on that day.”
The explosion took place shortly after 11am on what was a Saturday morning, around a mile from the bottom of the pit shaft.
The force of the blast caused rumbles throughout the local area and rescue teams were summoned to attend from pits across Fife.
Upon arrival, however, their efforts were soon hampered by the presence of afterdamp, the toxic gas left by the firedamp explosion within the tunnels.
Canaries, taken down by the miners to alert them to the presence of the noxious gas, were quickly overcome, and it would be the following morning before rescuers could reach the blast area and the bodies of the men trapped within.
Typically, around 1,200 men would have been working in that part of the mine, however, because it was a Saturday, only 30 men were in the vicinity of the blast when it occurred.
News of the tragedy spread across the country, with King George V sending his condolences via telegram to the shell-shocked town.
The bodies of nine of those killed in the blast are buried alongside one another in Bowhill Cemetery.
Mary Murdoch, a member of the Cardenden Environment Group, which helped to organise Monday’s memorial, said: “At first I had only planned to lay a wreath, but John Gilfillan, the funeral director, has helped to put this event together in a week and it is hugely important for the town.
“It is something that will always be a part of Cardenden.”
