b. 14/03/1865 Blyth, Northumberland. d. 14/02/1908 Glencoe Colliery, Dundee, South Africa.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 13-14/02/1908 Glencoe Colliery, Dundee, South Africa.
William Nicol was born on 14th March 1865 in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Blyth, Northumberland, the second of five children of Reverend George and Margaret Muir (nee Wilson). When William was just 5, the family moved north of the border, and settled in Old Monkland, Lanark. When he was old enough, William entered the mining industry and gradually worked up the ranks. At some point in the 1890s, he emigrated to South Africa where he became an Inspector of Mines.
On 30th April 1902, he married Agnes Miller in Dundee, Natal, and they would have a son George Nicol Muir in 1907. On the discovery of diamonds at the nearby Glencoe Colliery, William became employed at the mine. Tragically, this would cost him his life when he was involved in attempting to rescue fellow miners following the explosions. He was buried in Dundee Cemetery, where there is also a memorial to men killed at Glencoe.
EM CITATION:
On the 13th and 14th of February, 1908, a series of destructive explosions took place in the Glencoe Colliery, Natal, in the course of which a large number of Europeans and natives lost their lives. The above named showed most conspicuous gallantry in descending the shaft with various rescue parties, and William Nicol Muir lost his life in endeavouring to save the lives of others.
BURIAL LOCATION: DUNDEE CEMETERY, DUNDEE, SOUTH AFRICA.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
