Cheapside Street

Cheapside Memorial Glasgow Necropolis C320/10 16/3/2003 The front face of the memorial C320/12 16/3/2003

Enough has already been said, written and depicted in pictorial form of that tragic night of 28th March, 1960, and the poignant aftermath when at the cost of an unparalleled loss of the lives of 14 members of the Fire Service and 5 members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps, Glasgow was saved from the direst consequences of one of the biggest conflagrations in the history of our City. The name of “Cheapside Street “will for ever bear a hallowed place in Fire Service records and in the history of the City of Glasgow, on the one hand recording the supreme sacrifice of so many fine and courageous firefighters in the course of duty and, on the other, reflecting the selfless courage and devotion to duty of their comrades who toiled bravely throughout the long night of adversity and danger until the battle against flame and burning spirit had been won.
A detailed technical report of the Cheapside Street disaster was published with the approval of the Fire Brigade Committee last Autumn and the vast demand for this publication, both from home and abroad, reflected the intense interest shown by many different branches of public life in the “ whys and wherefores” of the disaster. Suffice therefore for me to say that the tragic events have led to a detailed study being made of the entire field of storage of whisky and the siting of bonded warehouses generally with regard to the potential fire risks involved. A Committee set up at Home Office level is at present in the course of investigating the problems involved and the matter being in a sense “ sub judice “ I will refrain from commenting further at this juncture on this aspect.
During the period immediately following the disaster the Glasgow Fire Service was a centre piece in the National and local press and wide coverage was given by the British Broadcasting Corporation Sound and Television Services and by the Independent Television Authority.
The deep sorrow and intense grief shared throughout the country was demonstrated in many ways and not least by the very fine gesture of Her Royal Highness, Princess Margaret, in visiting the scene of the disaster on Wednesday, 30th March, while in Glasgow to fulfil other engagements. The Princess has many associations with Glasgow and this further expression of her intense interest in the City and her personal attendance to express the deep sympathy of Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal House was very much appreciated by all associated with the Glasgow Fire Service.
The public funeral of the victims of the disaster took place on Tuesday, 5th April when the general headline in the Press “A City Mourns” conveyed to all the feeling of the day. The poignant funeral processions to Glasgow Cathedral and St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Cathedral took place in a background of dignified and subdued splendour with full Fire Service honours, contingents from almost every Local Authority Fire Brigade in the United Kingdom taking part in the Parade. Mourners from every aspect of the civic and business life of Glasgow led by the Lord Provost and Magistrates attended the respective Services, together with representatives of the Secretary of State, Scottish Home Department officials, Chief Officers of many Fire Services and the contingents in the processions. Suitable arrangements were made for the attendance of the bereaved relatives and the accommodation in the Cathedrals was taxed to the limit, the attendance of invited members of kindred organisations being so great as to preclude admittance of the general public to the Service in Glasgow Cathedral
The interments took place at the Glasgow Necropolis Burial Grounds where common vaults were placed at the disposal of Glasgow Corporation through the generosity of the Merchants House of Glasgow. The graveside Services were conducted with solemn dignity by the clergy of the various denominations concerned and the entire funeral arrangements were carried out in a manner which epitomised the various extremes of grief from the personal sorrow of the relatives to the quiet mourning of the subdued citizens who thronged the cortege routes.
The hundreds of floral tributes received and laid out in the Necropolis were a further expression of the grief felt in all parts of the United Kingdom.
A very fine Memorial has now been erected by the Corporation of Glasgow in the Necropolis grounds in the vicinity of the burial vaults.

For those we love within the veil
Who once were comrades of our way,
We thank Thee, Lord: for they have won
To cloudless day

ROLL OF HONOUR

CHEAPSIDE STREET FIRE DISASTER — 28th MARCH, 1960

Killed in the fulfilment of duty at
the above disastrous outbreak of fire

GLASGOW FIRE SERVICE—

Sub Officer JAMES CALDER

Sub Officer JOHN McPHERSON

Fireman JOHN ALLAN

Fireman CHRISTOPHER BOYLE

Fireman GORDON JARVIE CHAPMAN

Fireman WILLIAM CROCKET

Fireman ARCHIBALD DARROCH

Fireman DANIEL DAVIDSON

Fireman ALFRED CHARLES DICKINSON

Fireman ALEXANDER ALLAN GRASSIE

Fireman GEORGE DICK McINTYRE

Fireman EDWARD RAYMOND McMILLAN

Fireman IAN ARCHIBALD CORMACK McMILLAN

Fireman WILLIAM ROBB WATSON

GLASGOW SALVAGE CORPS—

Superintendent Salvageman EDWARD CRAIG MURRAY

Leading Salvageman JAMES ALEXANDER McLELLAN

Salvageman GORDON CAMPBELL McMILLAN

Salvageman JAMES FRANCIS MUNGALL

Salvageman WILLIAM OLIVER

Killed during Fire Fighting Operations
MV. “Pagensand” — 2nd December, 1960

GLASGOW FIRE SERVICE—

Station Officer ROBERT DOUGLAS MEARNS

Not as we knew them any more,
Toilworn and sad with burdened care,
Erect, clear-eyed, upon their brows
Thy Name they bear

Firemaster Chadwick inserted the following letter in the Public Press as it was impossible to acknowledge all expressions of sympathy individually.

I have never addressed a communication before to the Editor of a Newspaper, but I would be extremely grateful if I could be afforded an opportunity through the channels of your Newspaper to express not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of the Officers and Men of the City of Glasgow Fire Service, our most grateful thanks and sincere appreciation of the magnificent kindness, sympathy, co-operation and understanding we have received from the members of the public of this great City in the disaster which befell us.
Such kindness is a source of great inspiration to the Staff of the Fire Service and I can assure you that the Officers and Men on the operational establishment will continue to give of their best in dealing with outbreaks of fire in this City, especially when they know that their services are so sincerely appreciated by the members of the public.

A Public Fund in aid of the dependants of those who lost their lives in the disaster was launched by the Lord Provost at that time (Sir Myer Galpern, J.P., M.P.) and evoked such a wonderful response that the final sum realised amounted to no less than £187,360. The Committee set up to administer the Fund acted with great promptitude and within the space of a few months the necessary provision for the dependants on a long-term basis had been made and the immediate disbursements carried out most expeditiously.
Numerous other donations in kind—offer of holidays for the stricken families, organised outings for the children and other similar schemes to alleviate distress—were received at Fire Force Headquarters and were much appreciated by the recipients.
Typical of the kindly interest shown by various people was the hand-sewing of a beautiful Pulpit Fall by the Ladies of the Guild of Work of Govan Old Parish Church. The Fall was presented by Firemaster Chadwick to St. Paul’s (Outer High) and St. David’s (Ramshorn) Church, Ingram Street (often referred to as the Fireman’s Kirk because of its proximity to the Central Fire Station) and dedicated by the Minister, The Rev. Matthew Liddell, B.D., on Sunday, 22nd May to the Memory of those who had given their lives on the tragic night of 28th March, 1960.
A Memorial Plaque subscribed to by the personnel of the Central Fire Station was unveiled in the Appliance Room of the Central Fire Station on Sunday, 7th August, 1960 by Bailie Philip Stinton, J.P. and dedicated by the Rev. Matthew Liddell, B.D.
(Report of the Firemaster of the City of Glasgow, 1960. Pages 7 to 11.)

who lost their lives in the fire
in Cheapside St. and Warroch
St. on Monday 28th March,
1960.

The Lord’s my shepherd, I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Ev’n for His own name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear none ill;
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
And staff me comfort still.

My table Thou had furnished
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me:
And in God’s house for evermore
My dwelling plate shall be.

For those we love within the veil,
Who once were comrades of our way,
We thank Thee, Lord: for they have won
To cloudless day.

And life for them is life indeed,
The splendid goal of earth’s strait race;
And where no shadows intervene
They see Thy face.

Not as we knew them any more,
Toilworn and sad with burdened care,—
Erect, clear-eyed, upon their brows
Thy Name they bear.

Free from the threat of mortal years,
And knowing now Thy perfect will,
With quickened sense and heightened joy
They serve Thee still.

There are no tears within their eyes;
With love they keep perpetual tryst;
And praise and work and rest are one,
With Thee, O Christ

Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see:
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay an be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness:
Where is death’s sting? where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy Cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee:
In life and death, O Lord, abide with me.

While the cortege is leaving the Church the organ will play the “Dead March” from “Saul” (Handel), and the congregation will remain standing until the family mourners have left the Church.

O GOD, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home!

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Bears all its sons away;
They fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the opening day.

O God our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home.

THE MEMORIAL IS ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN PROUD AND LOVING MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE GLASGOW FIRE SERVICE AND THE GLASGOW SALVAGE CORPS WHO PERISHED IN THE CHEAPSIDE STREET FIRE ON 28TH MARCH, 1960

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;                                            Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
He makes me down to lie                                                                    Yet will I fear none ill;
In pastures green; He leadeth me                                                      For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
The quiet waters by.                                                                            And staff me comfort still.

My soul he doth restore again;                                                         My table Thou hast furnished
And me to walk doth make                                                                 In presence of my foes;
Within the paths of righteousness,                                                  My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
Ev’n for His own name’s sake.                                                          And my cup overflows.

                                                                Goodness and mercy all my life
                                                                Shall surely follow me;
                                                                And in God’s house for evermore
                                                                My dwelling place shall be.

LAYING OF OFFICIAL WREATHS by THE LORD PROVOST, THE FIREMASTER and THE CHIEF OFFICER, Glasgow Salvage Corps.

O God, our help in ages past,                                                            A thousand ages in Thy sight
Our hope for years to come,                                                              Are like an evening gone;
Our shelter from the stormy blast,                                                    Short as the watch that ends the night
And our eternal home.                                                                        Before the rising sun.

Under the shadow of Thy throne                                                     Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Thy saints have dwelt secure;                                                          Bears all its sons away;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,                                                            They fly forgotten, as a dream
And our defence is sure.                                                                    Dies at the opening day.

Before the hills in order stood,                                                          O God, our help in ages past,
Or earth received her frame,                                                               Our hope for years to come,
From everlasting Thou art God,                                                         Be Thou our guard while troubles last
To endless years the same.                                                                                And our eternal home.

ROMAN CATHOLIC SERVICE Right Rev. JAMES WARD, V.G.,
Auxiliary Bishop of Glasgow

Enter not into judgement with Thy Servant, O Lord, for in Thy sight shall no man be justified, unless through Thee he find pardon for all his sins. Let not, therefore, we beseech Thee, the hand of Thy justice be heavy upon him whom the earnest prayer of Christian faith commendeth unto Thee, but by the help of Thy grace may he escape the judgement of vengeance who, whilst he was living, was marked with the sign of the Holy Trinity: Who livest and reignest world without end.

Deliver me, O Lord, from everlasting death on that dread day when the heavens and the earth shall be moved, and Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

V. I am seized with fear and trembling at the thought of judgement and the wrath to come. When the heavens and the earth shall be moved. That day is a day of wrath, of wasting and of misery, a dreadful day and exceeding bitter, when Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

Deliver me, O Lord, from everlasting death on that dread day when the heavens and the earth shall be moved and Thou shalt come to judge the world by fire.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Our Father (inaudibly).

V.            And lead us not into temptation.                      R.            But deliver us from evil.
V.            From the gate of hell.                                          R.            Deliver their souls, O Lord.
V.            May they rest in peace.                                      R.            Amen.
V.            O Lord, hear my prayer.                                      R.            And let my cry come unto Thee.
V.            The Lord be with you.                                        R.            And with Thy spirit.

O God to whom it belongeth always to show mercy and to spare, we humbly beseech Thee for the souls of Thy servants whom Thou hast called out of this world, that Thou deliver them not into the hands of the enemy, nor forget them forever; but command that they may be received by Thy holy Angels and taken to Paradise their true country, and that as they have believed and hoped in Thee, they may not suffer the pains of hell, but have joy everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

ANT. I am the resurrection and the life ; he who believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live : and every one who liveth and believeth in me shall not die forever.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Our Father (inaudibly).

Grant, O Lord, this mercy to Thy servants departed, that they who in their desires did Thy will, may not receive the punishments of their misdeeds: and that as true faith hath joined them to the company of the faithful here below, Thy mercy may make them the companions of the holy Angels in Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

V.            Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord                                R.            And let perpetual light shine upon them
V.            May they rest in peace.                                                      R.            Amen.
V.            And may the souls of the faithful departed,                    R.            Amen.
                through the mercy of God rest in peace.

An opportunity will be given after the departure of the official party for other wreaths to be laid.

                City of Glasgow Fire Service                                              Lanarkshire Area Fire Brigade
                Glasgow Salvage Corps                                                      Western Area Fire Brigade
                City of Glasgow Police                                                        Central Area Fire Brigade
                Pressed Steel Company Industrial Fire Brigade
                Glasgow Fire Service Pipe Band