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Post by tammccann on Mar 4, 2010 21:38:14 GMT 1
This year marks the 50th anniversary to the Cheapside st Fire disaster Where 14 fire fighters and five salvage corps personnel lost their lives in an explosion when they tackled a blaze at a whisky warehouse in Glasgow.The fire at Arbuckle Smith and Company on Cheapside Street happened in 1960.My friends father was a fireman and gave his life that day Archibald Darroch.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2010 22:59:54 GMT 1
I seen the name of a friends Father on the memorial in the Necropolis Tam during Peters Tour.
Can you believe, Archiebald Darroch.!!!!
Was your friend Kenny Darroch ?
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Isabel
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Post by Isabel on Mar 5, 2010 12:28:56 GMT 1
A classmate of mine from my primary school in Castlemilk Annette Mc Millan's brother died in the Cheapside Street blaze. Unfortunately I can't remember whether he was a fireman or in the Salvage Corps. RIP
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Post by tammccann on Mar 5, 2010 14:27:43 GMT 1
Yes Andy My wife use to work with Kens wife many years ago ,Havnt seen Ken for years now ,Are you still in touch?
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Post by trotsky on Mar 5, 2010 14:33:21 GMT 1
When I was an apprentice joiner I spent some time working for Roy’s the joiners in Ravel Row who used to do a lot of work for Danskin and Fletcher the factors. About a week after the fire one of the joiners and me were sent to an address in Westmuir Street that was up the close next to Kean’s the butchers. Our instructions were to break into the house through the front door and change the locks, secure the property and return the new keys to the factor. We did this type of work fairly often, it was usually done when tenants who can’t pay the rent do a moonlight flit, but this time it was different. When we got to the flat and started forcing the door a couple of the neighbours came out from across the landing to see what all the noise was. When we explained that we had been sent by the factor and what we were there to do, they started to tell us about the people who lived in the house. There was a husband, wife and daughter and they told us they all worked in the factory where the fire disaster had occurred. According to the neighbours the mother and daughter were killed in the fire and the husband had not been seen at the flat since the fire. When the door jamb gave way and we entered the house the breakfast dishes were still lying on the table with the crusts of toast alongside the cold tea pot and the bed in the recess was unmade. I remember a little wooden ornament that was used to put letters in sitting on top of the cold fireplace; it had a photograph of Millport and the crocodile rock in the sunshine. Hope they had a good time when they were there. Often wonder if what the neighbours told us was true, and if it was, what became of the husband
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2010 14:39:07 GMT 1
Yes Andy My wife use to work with Kens wife many years ago ,Havnt seen Ken for years now ,Are you still in touch? I worked with Ken for years and was at his wedding to Elaine. We have drifted apart and like you have not seen them for ages. What a coincidence.
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Post by Waverley on Mar 5, 2010 15:14:02 GMT 1
Tam that is a wonderful image you have done for the anniversary of the Cheapside Street Fire. I will frame the copy you gave me and I will give it to an old family friend who is a retired Fire Chief next time I visit him in his retirement home.I am sure he would appreciate it.
I remember as a child at London Road Primary School all the children brought a donation to school for the Disaster Fund that was set up soon after the fire.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2010 16:02:33 GMT 1
Hi Tam,
I was not aware that you had created the image.
It is superb.
Well done
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Post by thecaltondefender on Mar 5, 2010 17:10:09 GMT 1
A classmate of mine from my primary school in Castlemilk Annette Mc Millan's brother died in the Cheapside Street blaze. Unfortunately I can't remember whether he was a fireman or in the Salvage Corps. RIP Gordon Mcmillian was one of the Glasgow Salvage Corps killed in the disaster,i worked with a couple of his cousins years later..
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Isabel
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Post by Isabel on Mar 5, 2010 19:00:48 GMT 1
Thanks for the info. I thought he was in the Salvage Corp but wasn't 100% sure.
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Post by jeannie on Mar 12, 2010 4:07:33 GMT 1
My Uncle Alex's brother - in - law Bill Crockett was killed, one of the first fireman sent inside the building . Bill was a compassionate man who was one of the first on the scene when Auchengiouch mine caved in around six months prior to the Cheapside street tragedy. My Steve was a baby and that is why I remember this , My uncle Alec worked at the pit so that is the connection.
R.I.P
jeannie
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Post by tammccann on Mar 28, 2010 16:06:28 GMT 1
Today was the 50th anniversary of the Cheapside fire, on the spur of the moment i phoned charlie and we went along to the service held in the Nacropolis, The 19 deaths still stand as the highest number of fatalities in the peacetime history of the British Fire Service. the fire started in the Arbuckle,Smith &co Ltd whisky bond containing more than a million gallons of whisky and 31000 gallons of rum Suddenly and without warning, the 60ft-high walls of the bond blew out onto Cheapside and Warroch streets. In Cheapside Street, three firemen were killed under falling masonry which also wrecked a new turntable ladder. In Warroch Street the death toll was 11 firemen and all five Salvage Corps victims were killed instantly. The tragedy left Glasgow - the notorious "Tinderbox City" - stunned and the whole of Scotland in mourning.
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Post by pwm437 on Mar 28, 2010 17:52:07 GMT 1
I've just finished watching an excellent documentary by the BBC on the tragedy. I remember being taken by my sister and her pal along Adelphi Street, to just behind what is now the mosque and watching the flames. I was only about four, but it is still a vivid memory in my mind.
The bravery of those firemen was awesome, heroes every one. Glasgow gave them a very dignified send off.
God bless them.
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Post by trotsky on Mar 28, 2010 18:25:44 GMT 1
My sincere apologies to anyone who read my post #4 and were confused about its content. I have mistakenly got two fire tragedies mixed up, my post refers to the James Watt Street fire in November 18th 1968 and not the Cheapside St Fire referred to here, sorry.
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Post by Waverley on Mar 28, 2010 19:44:42 GMT 1
Great photos Tam. And pass on our best regards to your brother in law for the Official Remembrance Brochure I will always cherish it and also his offer of tickets for the ceremony in the Cathedral which we refused because we both felt we weren't dressed for it. As I said to you Tam 'I was a wee bit under the weather and could've quite easily have left it out this morning..thank the Lord I did attend as it really was quite poignant from start to finish. For those who died you will always have a place in the hearts of the people of Glasgow.
'Aye Ready"
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Post by tammccann on Aug 7, 2010 21:53:49 GMT 1
while on my many walks around the Necropolis i came across the grave of four firemen who lost there lives tackling a fire in Graham Square 1927 , The tragedy occurred on 24th December 1927 While the Brigade were fighting a very serious fire on that night in a block of warehouses at Nos. 8 to 32 Graham Square, some of the floors suddenly collapsed, causing the deaths of four firemen, James Conn, Harry W. M’Kellar, David Jeffrey, and Morrison Dunbar. The men, were all attached to the Central Division . I wondered why no wreath was ever laid on this grave like the Cheapside st fire,got in touch with the Group Commander(brother in law) of Strathclyde fire Bragade and he got on the case,A wreath will now be placed on this grave every year the same time as the cheapside st fire. I am sure charlie and myself will discover many more gems in this wonderfull place
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Post by Waverley on Aug 7, 2010 22:53:07 GMT 1
Excellent find Tam I am glad to see that we are finally being rewarded for the amount of hours we have spent wandering all over the Necropolis. How did we miss that memorial stone before.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 8, 2010 0:03:44 GMT 1
Yes Tam, great foties considering they were taken after Midnight.!!
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Post by patrick on Aug 8, 2010 12:12:27 GMT 1
The funeral procession makes its way up towards the Cathedral and the Necropolis as it passes the High Street and George Street junction.
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Post by bettyb on Aug 9, 2010 14:48:17 GMT 1
What wonderful stories and sooo sad
bettyb
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Post by tammccann on Sept 7, 2010 18:54:06 GMT 1
Came across these memorials to the Cheapside fire today at the old Finnieston ferry site. This mosaic was created by the children of Anderson and ST Patricks primary Schools
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Post by Waverley on Sept 7, 2010 19:11:04 GMT 1
Excellent Tam...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2010 22:26:16 GMT 1
Nice one Tam.
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Post by tammccann on Oct 16, 2010 18:31:30 GMT 1
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2010 18:44:37 GMT 1
Nice one Tam.!
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