James Mathieson

On a somber Saturday, March 20, 1971, a tragedy unfolded in the heart of Glasgow. Station Officer James Mathieson, a dedicated member of the Glasgow Fire Service, responded to a house fire at 141 Deanston Drive in Shawlands. James Mathieson, approximately 48 years old, led his men from Pollok fire station into the burning tenement building. He was ascending the stairs towards the top-floor flat, engulfed in flames, when he suddenly collapsed. Fellow firefighters rushed to his aid. They administered oxygen and desperately tried to revive him, but their efforts were in vain. James Mathieson was pronounced dead before the ambulance could even arrive. The suspected cause was a heart attack. The fire itself, started accidentally by a settee catching fire in a flat occupied by a young family, ravaged the building. The flat was destroyed, the roof severely damaged, and seven families were forced to evacuate their homes. James Mathieson left behind a wife and three children. His eldest son’s wedding was scheduled for the following week, a joyous occasion now overshadowed by grief. This monument stands as a testament to James Mathieson’s bravery and sacrifice, a permanent reminder of a life lost in the line of duty. The inscription on the monument reads: “Saturday 20th March 1971 whilst engaged in fighting a serious house fire Station officer James Mathieson of the Glasgow fire service died whilst engaged in fire fighting”.