This is another sad day in NZ Mining history. Below is the story and names of the men that lost their lives, On this day we remember them.
Around 12km southwest of Huntly, at the Glen Afton mine, carbon monoxide gas from a fire killed 11 men on Sunday, September 24, 1939. Four men had entered the mine in the morning to investigate an electrical fault and reported gas. The manager and six others followed.
The – GLEN AFTON COLLIERIES ROYAL COMMISSION – reported on the cause of the underground fire which was found to have occurred in the said mine on the 24th day of September, 1939. There was an earlier fire at about 10 o’clock in the morning on Saturday, 23rd September, 1939. Two witnesses stated that at the time of this fire WILCOX the underviewer said, ” This looks like a short,” indicating his opinion that the origin of the fire had been an electrical short circuit. The report was of the opinion, however, that there was no justification for that assumption and reached the conclusion that the fire on Saturday morning was caused by a dropped cigarette or a naked light coming into contact with inflammable material. Subsequent examinations of the mine by several persons proved that the site of the fire on Sunday morning was the same as that of the fire on Saturday. In the reports opinion the only safe conclusion is that the Saturday morning fire was not properly extinguished, but revived and burned vigorously after work ceased in the mine for the day.
THE DAY GLEN AFTON MINE TOOK ELEVEN LIVES.
Those who died were:
BELL William Rae 31
BLACKBURN Christopher 42
BROWN William 46
CLARK James 51
COLE Walter George 46
HUNTER George Wallace Gillathy 39
IRELAND Richard 64
MARSHALL John Sinett 33
PEDEN William 43
TURLEY Raymond Vivian 34
WILCOX William 57
On this 24th day of September, we remember these 11 NZ Miners, our thoughts are with the families that were affected and whose lives were changed forever on this day in NZ Disaster History.
On this 24th day of September, we will always remember these 11 NZ Miners, our thoughts are with the families that were affected and whose lives were changed forever, on this day in NZ Disaster History.
Credits
nzhistory.govt.nz
sooty.nz
NZ Survivor Limited
New Zealand’s Choice for Workplace
Civil Defence and First Aid Equipment.
