ON the evening of March 28, 1960, firemen were fighting a serious blaze at a whisky bond in Glasgow’s Cheapside Street when an explosion brought down the building’s walls. Fourteen members of the Glasgow Fire Service and five members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps were killed. It was, says the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, the largest loss of life ever suffered by a British fire service during peacetime. At the subsequent inquiry into the fire, firemen said they had never seen walls collapse as they had that night.

That October, it was announced that two George Medals were among the awards made to six members of the Fire Brigade and a police constable, “for gallantry, leadership, and devotion to duty” for fighting the blaze. The George Medals went to Station Officer Peter McGill and fireman James Dunlop. The British Empire Medal for Gallantry was awarded to sub-officer Charles Neeson, firemen George Alexander and John Nicholson, and PC James Gribben. Fireman William Watters received the Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct.

Letters of appreciation were sent to other firemen and members of the salvage corps by the Scottish Secretary of State, John Maclay.

Pictured here are the six firefighters. From left: Charles Neeson, John Nicholson, William Watters, Peter McGill, James Dunlop and George Alexander.