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Blaketown beach drowning tragedy - plaque unveiling *PHOTO ALBUM*
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DescriptionJune 2022
Unveiling of the Blaketown Beach Tragedy plaque on Saturday 18 June 2022. Thanks to the generous efforts of Peter Ewen and Tony Kokshoorn, 100 years on, this important event has finally been permanently remembered.
It was interesting to research the victims and find their full names and correct ages, as old papers had often recorded incorrect details.
Irene Messenger, (sister of David Evans - youngest child of Harry Evans - who was unable to attend) and myself (great grand daughter). Also present were other family, including a descendant of Robert Duffy's extended family and a small group of interested public.
I will post the full names and ages of the victims in comments, as well as a copy of the words on the plaque. Date of Photo2022Map[1] ContributorCynthia McCaughan
Unveiling of the Blaketown Beach Tragedy plaque on Saturday 18 June 2022. Thanks to the generous efforts of Peter Ewen and Tony Kokshoorn, 100 years on, this important event has finally been permanently remembered.
It was interesting to research the victims and find their full names and correct ages, as old papers had often recorded incorrect details.
Irene Messenger, (sister of David Evans - youngest child of Harry Evans - who was unable to attend) and myself (great grand daughter). Also present were other family, including a descendant of Robert Duffy's extended family and a small group of interested public.
I will post the full names and ages of the victims in comments, as well as a copy of the words on the plaque. Date of Photo2022Map[1] ContributorCynthia McCaughan
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Location (city or town)Blaketown tipheadPersonIrene MessengerEventBlaketown beach drowning tragedy - plaque unveiling
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Date Created22nd June 2022CommentsCynthia McCaughan
Robert (Bob) John DUFFY, born Reefton, 21 July 1891 (birth not registered). Aged 30. Oldest son of Robert and Isabella Duffy, Bob worked at one of the mills. His body was not found.
Henry (Harry) David EVANS born Reefton 13 September 1886. Aged 35. Oldest son of Henry and Alice Evans, married to Eva Lillian Lawn and father to Edith, Jean, Harry, Eva, Kathleen and David. Harry had lived in Greymouth after beginning his carpentry apprenticeship when he was 14, his four eldest children were born there. Harry and Eva had moved back to Reefton during WWI to help his elderly parents when his younger brother enlisted. Harry’s body was recovered at the Tiphead and identified by his brother William Evans.
Frank Henry HART, born 1 Aug 1904, either Reefton or Westport. Aged 17. Son of William and Annie Hart, who shifted to Westport from Reefton about 1904. Frank was working for the railways as a cadet at Reefton when he died. His body was not found.
Arthur Job HUTCHINGS, born Greymouth 7 January 1877. Aged 45. He was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Hutchings and one of six siblings. A single man, he worked on the waterfront at Greymouth and owned a boat which provided coastal shipping of goods. His body was not found
John Leslie (Les) O’Donnell, born Cronadun 16 April 1900. Aged 21. He was the son of Timothy and Margaret O’Donnell. One of six children, he was a skilled rugby player and worked on his father’s farm. His body was recovered at Cobden. He was identified by his father and sister Kathleen.
George Conrad WILSON born Reefton, 16 Aug 1905. Aged 16. He was the youngest victim. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Wilson and the eldest of five. His body was recovered at Camerons and identified by his uncle Conrad Henry Haub.
Henry David Evans and George Conrad Wilson are buried in adjoining plots at Reefton Suburban Cemetery.
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Cynthia McCaughan I had not realised Arthur's body had not been found. Which makes the gold cross that I have that was awarded to him in either 1905 or 1906 for saving a workmate from the river, just that much more special.
Thank you again.
David Perry
Does anyone know if George Wilson aged 16 who lost his life in this tragedy was connectioned to, or was a relative to the Wilson’s who owned Wilson’s hotel in Reefton back then?
Cynthia McCaughan
David Perry not that I could find. You asked this question before? His father, George Henry Wilson born in London was a cordial manufacturer. He married in NZ in 1904, in 1905 was a cordial manufacturer in in Wellington. He worked for Mr Stallard of Reefton as manager and then purchased the business in 1910.
David Perry
Cynthia McCaughan Sorry Cynthia, can you tell me what business Henry Wilson purchased from Mr Stallerd from in Reefton?
Cynthia McCaughan
Cordial manufacturing: INANGAHUA TIMES, 2 SEPTEMBER 1910, PAGE 3
Heather Newby
Admin
When I was growing up in Blaketown i knew there had been the drownigs but i didnt know the details.. no one talked about it except to say thats why B;aketown beach is dangerous...But as we were growing up we swam there a lot and we all knew that the rips down by the tiphead were dangerous in the outgoing tides so we swam in the middle up towards the Stonecrusher.
Cynthia McCaughan
Heather Newby sad to think of the wasted lives. My great grandfather, the only victim who left behind a family, has over 270 descendants.
Heather Newby
Admin
Cynthia McCaughan yes,, and the dangerous condtions come suddenly when the tide is going out,, and people would get caught unawares,, unless they knew what the hazards were, Signs would be good to warn people.My sister and I got caught in a rip down there by the tiphead and it took us about an hour to get back in to shore,
Del Godfrey
What a wonderful acknowledgement, and fitting some family members there! RIP those who lost their lives.
Kim Mclaughlin
Frank Hart was my Grandfathers cousin. His mother Annie was my Great Grandfathers sister. I would be real keen on any information you may have found about him and the disaster in general if possible
Cynthia McCaughan
a couple of trees on Ancestry have him as Francis Henry Hart, but his birth and death registrations are Frank Henry Hart
Kim Mclaughlin
Cynthia McCaughan he is def Frank Henry Hart
Cynthia McCaughan
Kim Mclaughlin I tried to find photographs - if you find any of Frank that would be great
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Many thanks to you Cynthia McCaughan Cynthia for all your efforts, and to Tony Kokshorn also. Sorry I was unable to be there.
Cynthia McCaughan
I was thinking of you
Cynthia McCaughan
Elizabeth Ann Beech did you ever find a photograph of Arthur?
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Cynthia McCaughan don't think so. I'd have to have a look.
Murray Bradley
Great beach to swim at .we swam from end of Rigg St track but yes you had to be careful. wend down most days in summer and often saw Gorden Richardson patroling the waters.
Robert (Bob) John DUFFY, born Reefton, 21 July 1891 (birth not registered). Aged 30. Oldest son of Robert and Isabella Duffy, Bob worked at one of the mills. His body was not found.
Henry (Harry) David EVANS born Reefton 13 September 1886. Aged 35. Oldest son of Henry and Alice Evans, married to Eva Lillian Lawn and father to Edith, Jean, Harry, Eva, Kathleen and David. Harry had lived in Greymouth after beginning his carpentry apprenticeship when he was 14, his four eldest children were born there. Harry and Eva had moved back to Reefton during WWI to help his elderly parents when his younger brother enlisted. Harry’s body was recovered at the Tiphead and identified by his brother William Evans.
Frank Henry HART, born 1 Aug 1904, either Reefton or Westport. Aged 17. Son of William and Annie Hart, who shifted to Westport from Reefton about 1904. Frank was working for the railways as a cadet at Reefton when he died. His body was not found.
Arthur Job HUTCHINGS, born Greymouth 7 January 1877. Aged 45. He was the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Hutchings and one of six siblings. A single man, he worked on the waterfront at Greymouth and owned a boat which provided coastal shipping of goods. His body was not found
John Leslie (Les) O’Donnell, born Cronadun 16 April 1900. Aged 21. He was the son of Timothy and Margaret O’Donnell. One of six children, he was a skilled rugby player and worked on his father’s farm. His body was recovered at Cobden. He was identified by his father and sister Kathleen.
George Conrad WILSON born Reefton, 16 Aug 1905. Aged 16. He was the youngest victim. He was the son of George and Elizabeth Wilson and the eldest of five. His body was recovered at Camerons and identified by his uncle Conrad Henry Haub.
Henry David Evans and George Conrad Wilson are buried in adjoining plots at Reefton Suburban Cemetery.
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Cynthia McCaughan I had not realised Arthur's body had not been found. Which makes the gold cross that I have that was awarded to him in either 1905 or 1906 for saving a workmate from the river, just that much more special.
Thank you again.
David Perry
Does anyone know if George Wilson aged 16 who lost his life in this tragedy was connectioned to, or was a relative to the Wilson’s who owned Wilson’s hotel in Reefton back then?
Cynthia McCaughan
David Perry not that I could find. You asked this question before? His father, George Henry Wilson born in London was a cordial manufacturer. He married in NZ in 1904, in 1905 was a cordial manufacturer in in Wellington. He worked for Mr Stallard of Reefton as manager and then purchased the business in 1910.
David Perry
Cynthia McCaughan Sorry Cynthia, can you tell me what business Henry Wilson purchased from Mr Stallerd from in Reefton?
Cynthia McCaughan
Cordial manufacturing: INANGAHUA TIMES, 2 SEPTEMBER 1910, PAGE 3
Heather Newby
Admin
When I was growing up in Blaketown i knew there had been the drownigs but i didnt know the details.. no one talked about it except to say thats why B;aketown beach is dangerous...But as we were growing up we swam there a lot and we all knew that the rips down by the tiphead were dangerous in the outgoing tides so we swam in the middle up towards the Stonecrusher.
Cynthia McCaughan
Heather Newby sad to think of the wasted lives. My great grandfather, the only victim who left behind a family, has over 270 descendants.
Heather Newby
Admin
Cynthia McCaughan yes,, and the dangerous condtions come suddenly when the tide is going out,, and people would get caught unawares,, unless they knew what the hazards were, Signs would be good to warn people.My sister and I got caught in a rip down there by the tiphead and it took us about an hour to get back in to shore,
Del Godfrey
What a wonderful acknowledgement, and fitting some family members there! RIP those who lost their lives.
Kim Mclaughlin
Frank Hart was my Grandfathers cousin. His mother Annie was my Great Grandfathers sister. I would be real keen on any information you may have found about him and the disaster in general if possible
Cynthia McCaughan
a couple of trees on Ancestry have him as Francis Henry Hart, but his birth and death registrations are Frank Henry Hart
Kim Mclaughlin
Cynthia McCaughan he is def Frank Henry Hart
Cynthia McCaughan
Kim Mclaughlin I tried to find photographs - if you find any of Frank that would be great
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Many thanks to you Cynthia McCaughan Cynthia for all your efforts, and to Tony Kokshorn also. Sorry I was unable to be there.
Cynthia McCaughan
I was thinking of you
Cynthia McCaughan
Elizabeth Ann Beech did you ever find a photograph of Arthur?
Elizabeth Ann Beech
Cynthia McCaughan don't think so. I'd have to have a look.
Murray Bradley
Great beach to swim at .we swam from end of Rigg St track but yes you had to be careful. wend down most days in summer and often saw Gorden Richardson patroling the waters.
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West Coast New Zealand History (23rd Jun 2022). Blaketown beach drowning tragedy - plaque unveiling *PHOTO ALBUM*. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 07:02, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/31233