In September 1937 a blaze tore through the workers' accommodation of W and A Graham farm, killing ten.
The day before, 26 people - including a number of youths - had arrived from Ireland ready for ‘ tattie-hoking’ season. Little did they know, their stay would be cut short.
As it often was, lodging for migrant workers was a converted shed for the young men of the group - while the females stayed in the slightly better cottage off the main farmhouse. Luxury wasn’t expected, and the upside down potato boxes with straw and old blankets were no surprise.
Also in the cottage was the elder of the group, Patrick Duggan, and his 12-year-old son. It was young Tom Duggan who would discover the fire, after waking at 1am.
Noticing the bothy’s flames, the boy rushed to gather help. Those not trapped inside the burning building attempted to break through the barn doors.
By the time they had succeeded, the shed was engulfed by the blaze.
The fire would claim the lives of 10 young men all aged between 13 and 23. Among the victims were three brothers, aged 13, 15 and 17.
An article published in the Kirkintilloch Gazette reads: “The fire alarm was given about a quarter past one, but when the Kirkintilloch Fire Brigade reached the scene the situation was hopeless. The flames were shooting high from the doomed building into the sky.
“While this building was lit up inside by the flames, the crowd who had gathered in the street saw what they took to be figures trying to reach the windows.”
Those trapped inside the building were attempting to escape through windows 8 feet off the ground, struggling to reach and make their way to safety. None succeeded.
The article continues: “A search of the burned-out building resulted in the finding of ten bodies. All were charred beyond recognition.
“The affair caused great grief throughout the community, and was generally regarded as the worst catastrophe experienced by the community since the days of the cholera epidemic.”
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After investigation, it was found that the fire broke out in the dining room. While it was separated from the male sleeping quarters by a wooden partition, the brick wall of the adjoining cottage saved the female quarters from the flames.
According to the Kirkintilloch Gazette, the survivors were - understandably - disturbed. It printed: “Most of the women were so unstrung that they had to receive medical and other attention.
“One girl in the squad - Mary Mangan - lost three brothers; and another Bridget M’Loughlin - two brothers. This latter girl was naturally very concerned about the effect of the disaster on her mother.
“Her husband was away in America, and there was only her mother, a brother, and a sister at home.”
The bodies were taken to the police mortuary, while the women of the party were housed in the St Ninian’s Church Hall. That week, the same church held a memorial service for those who had lost their lives.
Kirkintilloch’s population, along with Irish family members and friends, gathered with dignitaries from Parliament, watched as the ten coffins progressed through the town. Coffins which had no names, as the bodies were unable to recognise.
The news soon reached Ireland, where the village of Achill Sound where the workers had hailed from gathered to wait for updates. A few days later, the coffins were brought to Dublin aboard the SS Lairdsburn.
As the train took the men on their final journey back to Achill Sound, many lined the train tracks as bridges and level crossings to show sympathy. Once the young men were laid to rest, inquiries began to find the root of the catastrophe.
The High Commissioner Mr JW Dulanty commented: “When I was in Glasgow immediately after the deaths of the ten young men the general impression was that the employers W and A Graham would come in for serious censure for the lack of proper accommodation for the Achill harvesters.
“The view that the dire standard of accommodation was a major factor in the tragedy was one shared by members of the Irish community in Scotland.”
The inquiry found the youths had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, due to the amounts of coal in the stove. It was decided that new regulations on health and safety for migrant workers was needed.
This became known as the 1938 Housing (Agricultural Population) Scotland Act, which contained requirements for separate entrances for sleeping and living areas - little comfort for the families of those lost, aside from the hope of sparing others from a similar fate.
