John Miller Langdon of the Brunner Rifle Volunteers,1893 - killed in the Brunner Mine disaster aged 33 years.

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DescriptionSergeant John Millar Langdon [or John Miller Langdon] of the Brunner Rifle Volunteers. He was killed in the Brunner Mine disaster on 26 March 1896 aged 33 years. A total of 65 miners died in the disaster, almost half of the Brunner underground work force. This was the worst mining disaster in New Zealand’s history.

Photographed by Vivian Kerbins & Co., probably during their visit to the West Coast during March and April 1893.
[purchased September 2021] PhotographerVivian Kerbins & CoDate of PhotoMarch 1893Map^[1]ContributorHeather Newby

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Location (city or town)BrunnertonPerson John Miller LangdonOrganisation (eg business) Brunner Rifle VolunteersEvent John Miller Langdon of the Brunner Rifle Volunteers

Category Information

Category TagWarPeopleCoal Mining

From Facebook

Date Created28th September 2021CommentsDeborah Sweetman
Hope I don't affend. But it looks like a German helmet.

Cameron Hood this was my
Grandma’s uncle

Gregory Ross
amazing old photo, and great that you know its history.

Tom Hartill
John Langdon was one of a few miners to have a life insurance but it was made out to his father the next of kin who had just separated from the family.
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Heather Newby
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Admin
Tom Hartill was he married?
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16w
Tom Hartill
No, he was single & 33 when he died Heather.
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16w
Darian Zam

Hi Tom. I know John Maunder Langdon his father had a number of gold claims over time, he had one up in Nelson, from the mid 1880s to the late 1890s. He spent a lot of time away from the family, there's more than one occasion he is noted as not being present. He and Harriett hired men to run the ferrying endeavor. He was away working his claims when one died, away later that year when the inquest was held, and was also away when John Miller Langdon was killed, and for the funeral to my knowledge. I don't think they separated as in broke up the marriage if that's what you mean, he just wasn't there a lot.

Tom Hartill
Hi Darian, In the book by Susan Battye, "The Mine's Afire" it mentions John as being single.

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John Miller Langdon of the Brunner Rifle Volunteers,1893 - killed in the Brunner Mine disaster aged 33 years.

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