Deputy Firemaster Stanley McIntosh died at a fire at Colvilles Steelworks and Station Officer Joseph Calderwood died a week later.
A Commemorative plaque bearing the names of Assistant Firemaster Stanley McIntosh and Station Officer Joseph Calderwood who died as a result of the incident on Monday the 7th of January 1963 at Colvilles Limited, Mossend Works, Bellshill was unveiled 10-30am on Thursday the 8th of August, 1985 at Motherwell Fire Station.
The fire was a in Metal lean-to shed 20 feet by 8 feet used as a Paint Store and containing flamable liquids, paraffin, diesel, petrol, paint, etc., in containers 1 gallon to 4 gallons. 5 Appliances from Motherwell, Coatbridge and Hamilton attended. Apparently Deputy Firemaster McIntosh was showing new Firemaster (Firemaster John Stewart) round the stations in the area when they received a call about the fire and decided to attend the incident. When they arrived Station Officer Calderwood took them into the paint store, they were at the door when there was an explosion, the Firemaster was blown off his feet and saved by the heavy overcoat he was wearing, Deputy Firemaster McIntosh was killed and Station Officer Calderwood was seriously burned and died of his injuries a week later.
Deputy Firemaster Killed
TRAPPED IN BLAZE AT
COLVILLES
Senior Colleague Badly
Burned in Explosion
The assistant firemaster of
Lanarkshire, Mr Stanley Mcintosh, aged 47, of Allan Villa, Kennedy Drive,
Airdrie, was killed last night in an explosion while fighting a fire in the
paint store at Colvilles Mossend Works, Bellshill.
Station Officer Joseph Calderwood, of Motherwell, who was alongside him, was
seriously injured and is critically ill in Law Hospital, Carluke.
The county’s new Firemaster, Mr John Stewart, who took up his duties on New
Year’s Day, was also injured, but declined medical attention until the fire was
brought under control.
The assistant firemaster and Station Officer Calderwood were kneeling at the
paint house door directing a line of hose on the fire when there was a series of
explosions.
The blast blew Mr Stewart outside burning him at the back of the head and
scorching his tunic. Other firemen managed to pull Mr Calderwood clear but were
unable to reach Mr McIntosh.
The explosions were believed to have been caused by thinners igniting.
Five fire appliances from Motherwell, Hamilton, and Coatbridge tackled the
outbreak and the fire was under control in two hours.
Rescue Impossible
Firemaster Stewart said later at
his home in Manse Road, Motherwell:- “I was most fortunate. Mr McIntosh, Station
Officer Calderwood, and I were on our way out of the paint store when there was
an explosion. The blast hit me on the back.
“It was quite impossible for us to get back in to rescue Mr McIntosh.”
The paint store is a corrugated iron lean-to measuring about 20 feet by eight
feet and constructed against one of the inside walls of the workshop premises.
It contained paint, thinners, and other fluids in 50 gallon drums.
Mr McIntosh, a native of Aberdeen, served with the North Eastern area fire
brigade, before joining the Lanarkshire brigade about 1951. He was appointed
assistant firemaster in 1954 and was awarded the M.B.E. for distinguished
service in the brigade.
He is survived by a wife and daughter.
(Picture on back page.)
(The Glasgow Herald, Tuesday, January 8, 1963. Page 1.)
Injured Fireman Very Ill
Station Officer Joseph Calderwood,
the Lanarkshire fireman who was badly burned in an explosion at Colvilles
steelworks, Mossend, on Monday night, was dangerously ill early today in the
Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.
(The Glasgow Herald, Wednesday, January 9, 1963. Page 5.)
Death of Injured Fire Officer
Station Officer Joseph Calderwood,
of Motherwell, who was badly burned in an explosion at Colvilles Mossend Works,
Bellshill, on January 7, died last night in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The assistant Firemaster of Lanarkshire, Mr Stanley McIntosh, was killed by the
explosion which was caused by a fire in a paint store.
(The Glasgow Herald, Tuesday, January 15, 1963. Page 1.)
Injured Fire Officer is Seriously Ill
Station Officer Joseph Calderwood,
Lanarkshire Fire Brigade, who was injured last night in an explosion while
fighting a fire at a steelworks in Mossend, near Motherwell, was “seriously ill”
today at Law Hospital.
The Assistant Firemaster, Mr Stanley McIntosh (47) was killed in the explosion
which was at a paint store at the works of Colvilles Ltd.
The county’s new Firemaster, Mr J. Stewart, who took over control of the
Lanarkshire Fire Brigade on New Year’s Day, was leaving the paint store at the
time of the explosion, but escaped serious injury.
Mr McIntosh, of Allan Villa, Kennedy Drive, Airdrie, had been Assistant
Firemaster in Lanarkshire for eight years. He was awarded the M.B.E. in 1961 for
distinguished service.
(Greenock Telegraph, Tuesday, 8 January, 1963. Page 1.)
Death of Injured Fire Officer
Station Officer Joseph Calderwood
of Motherwell, who was badly burned in an explosion at Colvilles Mossend Works,
Bellshill, on 7 January, died last night in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
The Assistant Firemaster of Lanarkshire, Mr Stanley McIntosh, was killed in the
explosion which was caused by a fire in a paint store.
(Greenock Telegraph, Tuesday, 15 January, 1963. Page 1.)
Firemen honour colleagues who died in 1963 steelworks fire
A Plaque honouring the memory of
two dead firemen was unveiled at Motherwell Fire Station last week in a simple
and moving ceremony.
The firemen being honoured were Deputy Firemaster of Lanarkshire Stanley
McIntosh and Station Officer Joseph Calderwood, who died following a paint shop
explosion at Colville’s Mossend Steelworks on Monday, January 7, 1963.
Deputy Firemaster McIntosh was killed in the explosion and Station Officer
Calderwood died a week later from his injuries.
Former colleagues and friends of the two men joined Joseph Calderwood’s
relatives at the unveiling ceremony last Thursday.
Introducing the platform party, Divisional Officer Stewart Mercer said: “To some
people it may seem that 20 years plus after the event is a little too long to
wait to honour these men, but here we are today and the ceremony is no less
significant.”
EMIGRATED
He added: “Year after year the
memory pales, but we have never really forgotten our colleagues who died. While
we would not like to dwell on sad memories of that dreadful day, it must be
heartening for Mr Calderwood’s widow to know that her husband and Deputy
Firemaster McIntosh are still remembered and will be remembered forever in the
fire service.”
Mr McIntosh’s wife died several years ago and his daughter Lesley is believed to
have emigrated to New Zealand.
Also at the ceremony were Firemaster Clive Halliday, fire brigade chaplain, Rev.
Peter Houston, regional councillor James Irvine, Deputy Firemaster John Hales
and former Firemaster John Stewart, who was on duty at the fateful fire with
officers McIntosh and Calderwood.
EXPLOSION
After a dedication by the Rev.
Peter Houston, Mr James Irvine, chairman of Strathclyde Regional Council’s
police and fire committee, unveiled the memorial plaque. “Today we are not only
paying tribute to these fine officers, but to the whole of the fire service,” he
said.
Examining the plaque after the ceremony, Station Officer Calderwood’s daughter,
Mrs Betty Denholm said: “It’s an honour to be here today. AIthough it brings
back memories, I don’t think it’s a sad occasion, but I feel it’s wonderful that
they have both been recognised after all this time.”
In describing the tragedy to the Advertiser 22 years ago, Mr James Stewart, who
had just been appointed Firemaster for Lanarkshire, said: “The three of us
(himself, Mr McIntosh and Mr Calderwood) were in the paint shop and were on our
way out when there was an explosion. I had just given some orders when the blast
hit me in the back. The two others were behind me. It was quite impossible to go
back into the hut.”
And following last Thursday’s ceremony, Mr Stewart said he was “honoured” to be
present at the unveiling of the plaque.
When he died, Mr McIntosh (43), had been Deputy Firemaster for six years and
before coming to Lanarkshire, had served with the North Eastern Fire Brigade. He
was awarded the M.B.E. in 1961.
FUNERAL
Station officer Joseph Calderwood
(56), died from his injuries in Glasgow Royal Infirmary three days after Mr
McIntosh’s funeral.
He joined Motherwell and Wishaw Fire Brigade in 1938 and served at
Rutherglen and Coatbridge before being appointed Staton Officer at Motherwell in
1948. In 1959, Station Officer Calderwood was awarded the long service and
exemplary conduct medal to mark 20 years as a fire fighter.
<PHOTO> At the unveiling of the memorial plaque are (1. to r.): Firemaster Clive
Halliday, Mr Ian Calderwood, his mother Mrs Catherine Calderwood, Regional
Councillor James Irvine, the Rev. Peter Houston and Divisional Officer Stewart
Mercer.
<PHOTO> Station Officer Joseph Calderwood (Head and shoulders)
Lesley, where are you?
CAN our readers in New Zealand —
and we know that lots of expatriate Lanarkshire families, still read the
Advertiser — help us contact Deputy Firemaster McIntosh’s daughter, Lesley?
Or perhaps, someone nearer home also may have news of Lesley.
In the weeks leading up to the unveiling ceremony, Divisional Officer Jim Gordon
tried but failed to find out where Lesley now lives.
And he hopes that Advertiser readers will be able to help in the search.
He said: “We know that Lesley is believed to have emigrated to New Zealand about
five years ago following her mother’s death. As far as I know, there are no
other relatives living in the area, but hopefully, someone who knew the family,
will know where Lesley, who is married, is now living.”
Divisional Officer Gordon would like to send photographs of the memorial
ceremony to Lesley along with press reports.
When he died, Deputy Firemaster McIntosh lived with his wife and Lesley at
“Allan Villa”, Kennedy Drive, Airdrie.
Anyone who has information about Lesley’s whereabouts can contact Divisional
Officer Gordon at Motherwell Fire Brigade Headquarters, telephone 51425.
(The ? Advertiser, Friday, August 16,1985. Page 26.)