Seeking family members of fallen miners

The Glen Afton Pukemiro Society Inc is looking for family members of the men who lost their lives at the Glen Afton Mine on September 24, 1939.

Glen Afton Pukemiro Society has worked closely with the community-led development team at Waikato District Council and the local community to create a memorial to honour the 11 victims of the mining disaster, and a karakia/blessing will take place later this month.

“We would like to connect with the whanau of the men who lost their lives so that they can be involved in the planning and take part in the blessing,” society member John Reid said.

Reid, who has lived in Glen Afton for more than 60 years, said the memorial is in recognition of the significant impact it had on the families and the community all those years ago.

The incident occurred after a small fire, which started the day prior and was thought to have been put out, continued to smoulder, leading to a build-up of carbon monoxide. The mine manager, seven miners, and two electricians tragically lost their lives.

The men who died were William Rae Bell, Christopher Blackburn, William Brown, James Clark, Walter George Cole, George Hunter, Richard Ireland, John “Jack” Marshall, William Peden, Raymond Vivian Turley and William Wilcox.

Their deaths left 24 children fatherless.

Waikato District Council’s community-led development advisor, Lianne van den Bemd, said it was important to give families a place to go to remember the history of this site and to tell visitors about what happened.

If you are or know of any family connections, please contact Beth at bethpickering56@gmail.com.

The karakia/blessing of the memorial will take place on Sunday, September 28 on the reserve opposite 38 Inglis Road. Everyone is welcome to attend.

To learn more about the disaster, memorial, and Glen Afton, head to glenaftonpukemiro.nz.