MineArchiveCallendar Brickworks pit roof fall, 1915
On the afternoon of 23 June 1915 a heavy fall from the roof buried two men in the pit at the Callendar Brickworks, Glen Village, near Falkirk. James Fleming was dead when they were dug out, and Walter Wilson died of his injuries in Falkirk Infirmary ten days later.
| Date | 23 June 1915 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Callendar Colliery |
| Region | Falkirk |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 2 (James Fleming, a young man of Laurieston, and Walter Wilson, 61, who died in Falkirk Infirmary on 3 July 1915.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A heavy fall from the roof.
What happened
The Callendar Coal Company's brickworks at Glen Village, south of Falkirk, made its building bricks from pit blaes. On the afternoon of Wednesday 23 June 1915, while men were at work there, a heavy fall came away from the roof and buried two of them, James Fleming and Walter Wilson.
Their cries brought other workers, who dug them out of the debris. Fleming, a young man who lived with his parents in Mary Street, Laurieston, was dead. Wilson was taken to Falkirk Infirmary with a dislocated thigh and internal injuries; he died there on 3 July, aged 61.
Rescue & recovery
Other workers heard the two men's cries and dug them out of the debris.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On the afternoon of Wednesday 23 June 1915 a heavy fall from the roof entombed two men, James Fleming and Walter Wilson, in the pit at the Callendar Brickworks, Glen Village, near Falkirk. 1,2
- Fleming was dead when the two were dug out; he was a young man who lived with his parents in Mary Street, Laurieston. 1,2
- Wilson was taken to Falkirk Infirmary with a dislocated thigh and internal injuries. 1,2
- Walter Wilson, aged 61, died in Falkirk Infirmary on 3 July 1915. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Blaes (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “…at Glen Village, south of Falkirk, made its building bricks from pit blaes. On the afternoon of Wednesday 23 June 1915, while men were at work…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The works' history, quoting the Dundee Evening Telegraph's report of the fall.
View sourceThe Dundee Courier's report of the fall and the date of Wilson's death.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Callendar Brickworks, Glen, Falkirk, Stirlingshire — Scottish Brick History
- (secondary) Accidents post-1915 — Scottish Mining Website
Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026