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Strongman Mine Disaster Funeral .1967.
On 19 January, 1967, there was an explosion in the Strongman Mine, near Greymouth, on the West Coast. 19 people were killed.
What happened?
The state-owned Strongman Mine lies 11 kilometres north-east of Greymouth, and was New Zealand’s largest underground coal mine. It had been open since 1939, and had an accident-free record.
On 19 January, 1967, just after 10am, an explosion blew through the section of the mine known as Green’s No. 2 Rise. In seconds the fireball from the explosion fired through the section, killing 19 of the 240 men who were working in the mine at the time.
An even bigger disaster was averted when just 140 metres from the point of explosion the fireball struck a wet patch in the tunnel where water was seeping through the walls. The fireball slowed, then went out, and in seconds the danger had passed.
Within four minutes other teams of miners had reached the tunnel leading to Green’s section, but were driven back by poisonous gas and smoke.
EVACUATION BEGINS
A full evacuation of the mine was ordered, and by 10:20am the police and medical teams had arrived. The rescue team, equipped with breathing packs, worked for 14 hours finding the bodies of the dead miners and bringing them to the surface on rail trucks. Often they had to dig their way through falls of coal and rock. Fire damp reached dangerous levels at times, increasing the risk of another explosion. Fire damp is the miners’ name for a gas of mostly methane which forms as decaying plant matter turns into coal. It becomes explosive when mixed with a certain amount of air.
The first bodies were brought to the surface at about 1pm. Thirteen hours later the rescue work was held up while the air cleared, and by then 15 bodies had been found.
After a delay of five hours the rescue work resumed, but when the smouldering coal burst into flames, the section where the remaining four bodies were was sealed off.
Three weeks later two more bodies were brought out, but the last two could not be reached, and were permanently sealed off.
A mass funeral was held on January 22 at the Karoro Lawn Cemetery in Greymouth.
How many died?
19 people died.
Other events and outcomes
Five of the rescue party were awarded British Empire Medal for their efforts.
The report of the Commission of Inquiry stated that two of the Mining Regulations had been broken. A shot hole for a charge had been fired in a way which was against the regulations, and had broken through the face to an area where fire damp had built up in some abandoned workings, triggering the explosion. The abandoned workings should have been checked for gas.
Because the Strongman Mine was State-owned, the Government of the time had to pay out between £200,000 and £250,000 in compensation.Date of Photo19th January 1967Map[1] External LinkNew- Zealand HistoryContributor Brian McIntyre
William Albert Whitehead
RIP chaps.
Rex Bourke
Russell Cust was only 19 -not 30
Brian McIntyre
Corrected. but not my photo I can not recall where I copied it from. Maybe was in a magazine.
Heather Newby
Lest we forget
Rex Bourke
Russell was the most beautiful boy with a killer smile and a blonde rn'r hair in the style like jerry lee lewis'' - his mum Mary was a joy to be around - she passed away a few months later- my dad was her big brother Ed Bourke and the loss of her youngest son and her fav brother and her cousin Bing Williams all in oneday was
Brian McIntyre
Not 100 percent sure but I think that I might have met him in the Gilmer
Brian McIntyre
I might be mistaken but were your family related to the Harrington family in Puketahi St
Brian McIntyre
If so then I met Eddie Bourke and was his daughter Clare married to Bobby Harrington
Rex Bourke
Yes -Russells mum was Mary Bourke (Barrytown) yes thats is my sister clare n' our father Ed
Brian McIntyre
The world is so small and this site makes it smaller still. I hope it goes on forever
Heather Newby
Turkey Bourke lived in Blaketown. His dad had a garage over the back of our house
Rex Bourke
And Paul Bourke (((the gold miner))) also lived in blaketown- they are all from barrytown- i dont remember turkey but i guess thats not his handle- but i do remember the tale of all the chinamans turkeys going missing down the end of brightstreet=turkey bourke -i guess
Heather Newby
The Bourkes had a Garage on their section behind our house in Blaketown. the Elderly Burke died .. not long ago. I will ask dad about it tommorrow when I ring him
Heather Newby
Turkey Bourke would be about 57 ish now.
Rex Bourke
sounds like pauls son john -he had another son called ray
Annie Van Looy
my dads coffin is the one at the front, we will never forget
Brian McIntyre
Yes right beside that silver banjo shovel
Annie Van Looy
yeah brian, its so good that people don't forget we have a memorial service up there every year, allways go, but some of the old boys arn't here anymore.
Heather Newby
Annie Van Looy dad was working in Strongman two weeks before it blew.. he was offered the choice to stay at Strongman or go back to Dobson,, ( which had caught fire two years previously and was flooded and drained). he went back to Dobson, Two of his Dobson mates were killed in Strongman.My husband and I take Dad twice a year to the cemetery to be with the boys.. he knew them all. RIP boys
Lynnette Beirne
Lynette French
Roanne Troost
George Kinsey was my grandad. Too sad for all of the families. My father also worked in the mine till the late 80's
Pauline Schafer
Nice to see the memories being kept alive, such a tragedy it was.
Tori Tremain Kinsey
My great grandad!
Blackball Tamz
Such lovely banter from a horrific tragedy.. Brought me tears reading the names and ages and children left behind... Strong families proud hardworking men... Gone but never forgotten. Proud coasters. Xx
Laurie Anisy
Rest In Peace.This tragedy affected the whole community.
Eleanor Morel
Yes my Dad was at the mine that day and I was working at the Hospital and I was in the front office to collect something when the call came through and I remember they cleared a ward to receive the injured. They sent me home. Mum and I waited all day to receive news of Dad. It was a very, very sad time. I remember the funeral so well and the rain. Everybody in Greymouth was affected in some way. May the 19 still be resting in peace.
Annie Van Looy
My mum Theresa van looy being helped out of the grave, she went down in there because she didn't want to let my dad go, bloody ? sad for everyone
May be an image of text
Tania Hadley
Hip .. It was My uncle Hugh Cate change his shift to look after his kids that day .. he was one of the 1st ones down there in mine rescue .. and my Aunty joy worked at Grey Base Hospital too ..
Barbara Cust
Russell Cust was only 20. Such a sad time!
Malcolm Pentecost
This is how response crews did it in the day . They deserve a medal .
PJ Spence
Remember that day like yesterday - the town siren indicating something serious had happened - the shocked look on our Mackay Street staff, realising that friends and/or family may have been involved - the confirmation it was Strongman - we closed the doors and staff left immediately to go where they needed to be at that time - - -
Veronica Moore
A sad sad day my beautiful cu,zzie Hughie O'Donnell was taken,sadly missed
Carolyn Luck
Remember that day and the funeral very well.
PJ Spence
My wife Dawn worked at Buchannans and so heavy was the demand for floral tributes that a florist team from Chch came over to assist - little sleep was had from raw hands and tears - - -
Wayne Leckie
Still remember this day like it was yesterday. May you all rest in peace ?????
Raewyn Taylor
Forever remembered ...
Tori Tremain Kinsey
·
My great grandfather also involved in this tragkc event ?
Ray Port
We were living in Ross at the time but I remember arriving home from school and mum was sitting in the lounge in tears.
?
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Joycelyn Pulley
♥️ Big hugs Annie. ♥️
Patrick Carmody
God bless them.
Pam Englefield-Absolum
and compensation? a film made?
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