Stenhouse Street plane crash

COWDENBEATH Rotary Club is looking to remember two residents who tragically died in a plane crash in the town during the Second World War. 

Mary Hunter, 54, and 14-year-old Christina Thomson were aunt and niece who were killed when the aircraft smashed into two homes on Stenhouse Street.

The pilot was killed as well as Elizabeth Baird, 66, and her 21-year-old daughter Grace Baird.

However Mary and Christina were buried in Beath Old Cemetery, in Old Perth Road, in an unmarked grave. 

The local rotary club hope to erect a plaque on the lair to remember them, after the story grabbed the attention of local primary school pupils.

However, to do so, Fife Council, as the custodians of the cemetery, have requested that, if possible, any relatives of Mary and Christina come forward, hopefully to provide permission, before any works can start.

Club president, Craig Bennet, said they are hoping any surviving family members will get in touch and grant consent to the installation of a commemorative plaque.

The crash is well known in Cowdenbeath history, however, the circumstances of it meant that much of the details were kept under wraps.

Mary and Christina lived at 190 Stenhouse Street. On January 28, 1942, as a result of a tragic accident, a Fulmar plane from HMS Merlin, at Donibristle Air Base, crashed into and destroyed the adjoining houses at 188 and 190 Stenhouse Street.

The pilot was killed, and at 188 Stenhouse Street, mother Elizabeth Baird, 66, and her 21-year-old daughter Grace Baird were killed.  They are buried in a marked grave in Beath Old Cemetery. 

Mary and Christina are buried together, with two other close relatives, in an unmarked grave near to the Bairds. 

At a recent talk by Mr Bennet, to Primary 7s at Foulford Primary School, a pupil asked where those who died in the plane crash were buried. 

After checking with Fife Council bereavement services, the club discovered that Mary and Christina were buried in an unmarked grave. 

The rotary club are now seeking to commemorate the tragic deaths by erecting a plaque on their family lair. 

"We, at Cowdenbeath Rotary Club, hope that there will be relatives who will read about our wish to remember Mary and Christina," said Mr Bennet.

"We hope too that the installation of the plaque will fill a hole in the history of the town.

"Given that we only discovered about the unmarked lair as a result of a question from a Foulford Primary School pupil, we also hope to involve the school in the process. 

"However, first and foremost, Fife Council have asked that, if at all possible, we obtain the consent from any relatives of Mary and Christina to go ahead with our plans and it is this what we now seek.