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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1997-10 > 0877610856


From: "DAVID HUNTER" <>
Subject: Coal Miners
Date: Fri, 24 Oct 97 23:42:47 UT


Janice wrote,
>My grandfather was a coal miner in Scotland. He worked at night and<
>dynamited for the workers the next day. Does anybody know what he<
> was called.<
John Giacoletti wrote,
>Ambitious.< I like it Ha Ha!
The true answer however Jan was that he was called a "Shotfirer" in the
smaller colleries the foreman or "Oversman" as he was called did the job as
well as looking after his own work in supervising the men. Men with special
responsibilities had to be certificated. The hierarchy went Colliery Manager,
Under Manager, Oversman,Deputy,Shotfirer with men progressing upwards in
responsibilities as they passed various examinations The records of these
examinations and issue of certificates or tickets as they were called was
supervised by the Mining Qualifications Board and issued by the relevant
government department responsible for safety in the coal and quarrying
industries at that time.It also involved the support branches of Surveying,
Mechanical and Electrical Engineering who could not hold any position of
responsibility unless they had also passed the relevant examinations.
Hopes this helps to explain things for you
David Hunter

Researching
HUNTER SCT> VA USA,HOLMAN>CNW UK
MILLER CO DWN NI,CORSTORPHINE SCT
RUSSELL STAFF UK>CA

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