On the 27th of January, 1938 two explosions occurred at Messrs Nobel’s Explosives factory, Ardeer, Stevenston.  The force of the concussion waves were so strong, that the vibrations were felt as far away as Kilmarnock and Ayr.

The first explosion took place at 3pm on Thursday 27th January 1938 in gelatine mixing house, No. Z129, within the blasting department, where five men had been mixing a batch of nitro-glycerine, having successfully mixed thirteen batches earlier in the day.  All five were killed instantly.

A column of smoke, about 200 feet high, marked the site of the explosion.   As the I.C.I. workers ran to the safety of the shoreline, a second explosion occurred.  Nearby wooden huts collapsed and the girls working there had to be treated for minor cuts, bruises and shock.  The force of the explosion broke through the reinforced concrete wall surrounding the gelatine mixing house and sent pieces of concrete flying everywhere.  Four girls were running from Hut No. F91 when one was struck by a piece of concrete and died instantly from a fractured skull.

Those witnessing the second explosion said that “there was a sudden flash of orange-red flame which shot several hundred feet into the air.  As it died down, it was replaced with a column of smoke similar to that of the first explosion.”  The Dundee Courier reported “As the flames died away clouds of smoke belched overhead and spread out in the shape of a gigantic tree.”

The force of the explosions shook the buildings in Stevenston and broke the large window of David Lawson’s shop and post office in Caledonian Road.  The concussion wave was also felt in Saltcoats, where later in the day the population was subjected to a peculiar smell.  In Irvine, miners working underground in the Sourlie pit, also felt the force of the explosion. 

Father Thomas Kelly from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Saltcoats, arrived soon after the explosions occurred and was admitted.  Hundreds of men, women and children, gathered outside the factory gates and waited anxiously for news of their loved ones.  The official casualty list was posted on the factory gates just before 5pm.

The names of the dead were:

  • Joseph Hamilton, aged 61.  Foreman – 141 New Street, Stevenston, married.
  • Alexander S. Cameron, 58, Process man – Glebe Street, Stevenston, married.
  • Andrew Johnstone, 45, Process man – Moorpark Road East, Stevenston
  • Fred Smith, 41, Process man – New Street, Stevenston, married.
  • James McLelland, 28, Service waiter – 30 Boglemart Street, Stevenston, married.
  • Elizabeth Bell Hamilton, 21, Cartridge Worker – 8 George Place, Stevenston

On the afternoon of Saturday 29th January 1938 all the shops in Stevenston were closed while the funerals of five of the dead took place and crowds of people lined the streets while the funeral processions passed.  The first funeral was that of Miss Elizabeth Hamilton who had been a member of the Ardeer Church Choir.  The funeral procession led by her colleagues in the Cartridge Department walked to New Street Cemetery, where her funeral was attended by members of the Ardeer Church Choir and Sunday School teachers.

The funeral of Andrew Johnstone took place next, held at the Ardeer Church Hall, where Mr Johnstone had been a Rover Leader in the 11th Ayrshire (1st Stevenston) Boy Scouts pack.  The Rovers and Boy Scouts marched on either side of the hearse along New Street, where the funeral procession was joined by that of Fred Smith’s from Livingstone Church.  Together the two processions marched to Hawkhill Cemetery for their internments which was attended by over five hundred I.C.I. employees.

An hour later the funerals of Alexander Cameron at Livingstone Church; and James McLelland at Bethany Hall, took place, after which they were both interred at Hawkhill Cemetery, attended by a similar number of I.C.I. employees.

On Sunday 30th January, the funeral of foreman Joseph Hamilton, who had been an elder in the High Kirk, took place at Hawkhill Cemetery, attended by a large number of employees and officials of I.C.I.  The route of the funeral procession was once again lined with people.

At forenoon on Sunday 30th January 1938 memorial services were held in Ardeer Church, Livingstone Church and the High Kirk to remember those lost in the explosion. A public inquiry into the disaster was held at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court on 23rd May 1938 with Sheriff Martin Laing in the chair.  The jury concluded that no-one was to blame for the accident.