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| Statue marks pit deaths tragedy | Statue marks pit deaths tragedy |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A statue has been unveiled to commemorate 12 miners who were killed in a pit explosion near Stirling 85 years ago. | A statue has been unveiled to commemorate 12 miners who were killed in a pit explosion near Stirling 85 years ago. |
| The men, including two brothers and a 17-year-old, died following the incident at No 4 Pit at Plean Colliery, near Stirling, on 13 July 1922. | The men, including two brothers and a 17-year-old, died following the incident at No 4 Pit at Plean Colliery, near Stirling, on 13 July 1922. |
| The monument in their memory was erected just off Plean's Main Street. | The monument in their memory was erected just off Plean's Main Street. |
| Stirling councillor Gerard O'Brien, who lives in the village, said: "This monument is of national importance." | Stirling councillor Gerard O'Brien, who lives in the village, said: "This monument is of national importance." |
| It was my uncle that came in to tell me there had been Plean pit disaster and that my father was killed Elizabeth Wilson-McGuigan | |
| The explosion occurred just before the day shift were about to stop work. | The explosion occurred just before the day shift were about to stop work. |
| It was so far down the shaft that the afternoon shift only heard a faint detonation. | It was so far down the shaft that the afternoon shift only heard a faint detonation. |
| News of the disaster spread quickly and many volunteers from the surrounding villages arrived to take part in the rescue operation. | News of the disaster spread quickly and many volunteers from the surrounding villages arrived to take part in the rescue operation. |
| However, gas meant they were unable to go into the pit. | However, gas meant they were unable to go into the pit. |
| Many of the dead were from the nearby village of Bannockburn and were married with large families. | Many of the dead were from the nearby village of Bannockburn and were married with large families. |
| A further five had been injured. | A further five had been injured. |
| Elizabeth Wilson-McGuigan remembers the moment she found out her father had been one of the victims. | |
| She said: "I heard my mother screaming and it was my uncle that came in to tell me there had been Plean pit disaster and that my father was killed. | |
| "He was just 31, my mother was only 28, with five of us, and I was the oldest." |