MineArchiveMonkland Colliery roof fall, 1903
On the forenoon of 8 October 1903 a fall from the roof buried a young miner, John M'Donald, in No. 11 pit of James Dunlop and Co.'s Monkland Colliery at Calderbank. His father and a workmate, Philip Jarvie, ran to dig him out; the roof came down on them too, and all three died before they could be freed.
| Date | 8 October 1903 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Monkland Colliery |
| Region | North Lanarkshire |
| Primary type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Associated types | Rescue |
| Fatalities | 3 (3: John M'Donald, his son John M'Donald junior, and Philip Jarvie (43), all of Airdrie.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of roof at the working place, followed by a second fall on the men digging out the first victim.
Rescue & recovery
All three were dead before they could be extricated.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 8 October 1903 a fall of roof in No. 11 pit, Monkland Colliery, Calderbank, buried John M'Donald junior. 1
- His father and Philip Jarvie went to his rescue and were buried by a further fall; all three died. 1
- Three were killed by the fall of roof at the working place. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…John M'Donald, in No. 11 pit of James Dunlop and Co.'s Monkland Colliery at Calderbank. His father and a workmate, Philip Jarvie, ran to dig…” - Roof Fall (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “A fall of roof at the working place, followed by a second fall on the men digging…”
Sources
- (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: Lanarkshire accidents 1901-1914 (Airdrie, Calderbank) — Scottish Mining Website
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Monkland, No.11, 1903 — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 13 October 2026 · Last researched: 13 October 2026