Enterkine Colliery explosion, 1930

Shortly after the day shift began on 11 December 1930, an explosion in the Ell coal section of No. 9 Pit at Enterkine Colliery, Annbank, burned six men. Andrew McNeillie, John Gourlay and James Reddick died in Ayr County Hospital over the next eight days.

Cause

An ignition of gas, by the official view; it was also said, though not established, that a shot had been fired.

What happened

No. 9 Pit at Enterkine, worked by William Baird and Co., had been worked for over forty years and had only just restarted after a week's stoppage. Twenty men were at work in the Ell coal section when the explosion came, early in the dark, wet morning shift. Six were hurt, all of them burned: Andrew McNeillie, a drawer, was pinned under a wrecked hutch and his leg broken, and John Wilson's arm was broken so badly that it was amputated that night.

Men from the other section went to help. One of two benchers waiting for hutches was blown off his feet and the pair were driven back by bad air, but Thomas Adair reached the face and brought Wilson out. A doctor, Walter Scott, went down to give first aid, and the injured were taken to Ayr County Hospital. Rumours of a heavy death roll brought the women of Annbank village, a quarter of a mile away, to the pithead, and they stayed until the injured were up. The pit stopped work for the day.

McNeillie died the next day, John Gourlay on 14 December and James Reddick on 19 December. Daniel Vance, Robert White and John Wilson were the other three injured.

Rescue & recovery

Miners from the adjoining section brought the injured out, and Thomas Adair reached the face to carry out John Wilson. A doctor went down the pit to give first aid before the men were taken to Ayr County Hospital.

What's uncertain

Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.

• The official view was an ignition of gas, though it was also said that a shot had been fired. (disputed) ¹

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 11 December 1930 an explosion of gas in No. 9 Pit, Enterkine Colliery, Annbank, injured six men, three of whom died. ^1,2
• Andrew McNeillie died on 12 December, John Gourlay on 14 December and James Reddick on 19 December 1930. ^1,2
• The explosion was in the Ell coal section shortly after the day shift started, with twenty men at work there. ¹
• The official view was an ignition of gas, though it was also said that a shot had been fired. (disputed) ¹
• The pit belonged to William Baird and Co. Ltd. ^1,2

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• Bad Air (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…for hutches was blown off his feet and the pair were driven back by bad air, but Thomas Adair reached the face and brought Wilson out. A doctor,…”
• Coal (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…the day shift began on 11 December 1930, an explosion in the Ell coal section of No. 9 Pit at Enterkine Colliery, Annbank, burned six men.…”
• Pithead (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…the women of Annbank village, a quarter of a mile away, to the pithead, and they stayed until the injured were up. The pit stopped work for…”
• Putter (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…shift. Six were hurt, all of them burned: Andrew McNeillie, a drawer, was pinned under a wrecked hutch and his leg broken, and John…”
• Tub (contextual relationship)
  Named twice in this record, first in the narrative: “…them burned: Andrew McNeillie, a drawer, was pinned under a wrecked hutch and his leg broken, and John Wilson's arm was broken so badly that…”

Photographs & further reading

This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.

Sources

1. (secondary) Annbank 1930 — Scottish Mining Website
2. (primary) Colliery Disaster: Enterkine No. 9, 11 December 1930 — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 4 October 2026 · Last researched: 4 October 2026