New commemorative plaques to mark the sacrifice of two Dundee firefighters who died in the line of duty are to be unveiled in Dundee as part of the Fire Brigade Union’s Red Plaque Scheme.

The ceremony will take place at 1pm on 13th April at Blackness Road Fire Station, just over 60 years after their deaths.

John Jamieson Buist died at a fire at Grants Jute Warehouse, Dundee on 13^th April 1962, after being trapped by burning bales of jute. His colleagues attempted to rescue him from the burning debris for over two hours. He lived with his wife, a former firewoman, and young son at the Northern Fire Station. He was 53 and had 30 years’ service. 

The second firefighter to be commemorated is William Carnegie, who was fatally injured less than three months later while attending a fire on Mains Road, Dundee, on 14^th June 1962. He sustained severe head injuries after falling 30 ft from the roof of a two-storey tenement at 58 Mains Road. He was taken to hospital and died of his injuries on July 8th, at 44 years of age and was survived by his wife and their 17 year old son. 

The ceremony will be attended by senior FBU officials, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service senior officers, an FBU piper and Lord Provost, Bill Campbell, on behalf of Dundee City Council.

These Red Plaques are part of a scheme set up by the Fire Brigades Union during its centenary to commemorate firefighters who died in the line of duty. Read more about the scheme in this exclusive interview with Tam McFarlane, Fire Brigades Union National Officer.