Mt Kembla Mine Disaster
- The Victims...
Aitken Henry, 23, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Aitken John, 47, married, father of 8, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Annesley Prosper James, 32, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla*
Bellis Richard, 62, (reported single & married), Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Best Thomas Sylvester, 48, married, father of 7, Miner, resting at Bowenfells*
Blackett Albert William, 22, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Blackett Robert George, 24, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Brasher William, 55, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla*
Bray William Varcoe, 38, married, father of 8, Miner, resting at Wollongong*
Brennan Michael James, 19, single, Wheeler. body not found*
Bryson John, 53, Miner, resting at Windy Gully - no next of kin
Carter Authur, 28, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Church Charles, 67, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Dixon George Henry, 22, married, father of 1, Wheeler, resting at Mount Kembla*
Doherty William, 29, single, Miner, resting at Albion Park
Dungey Francis, 46, married, father of 7, Day Deputy, resting at Mount Kembla
Dunning Frederick, 19, single, Wheeler, resting at Mount Kembla
Dunning Joseph, 24, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Dunning Thomas Richard, 46, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Egan Dennis, 20, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Egan Edward, 19, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Egan Michael, 29, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Egan Thomas, 32, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Filby William, 49, widower, father of 7, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Gallagher J. Daniel, 50, widower, resting at Windy Gully
Gallagher Edward, 38, married, father of 4, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Gallagher Michael, 45, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Gill Edward, 28, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Gleeson Stephen, 33, married, father of 5, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Hartley George Oliver, 22, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Head James, 32, widowed, father of 1, Miner, resting at Dapto
Healey Daniel, 32, single, Miner, resting at Dapto
Hewlett Alfred, 28, single, Shiftman, resting at Windy Gully
Hewlett William, 21, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Hitchens Jehu, 60, married, father of 2, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Howell Thomas, 36, separated, 1 child, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Hughes Thomas, 35, married, father of 1, Fitter, resting at Mount Kembla
Hume, Reynold, 27, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Hunt Percy Alexander, 42, married, father of 7, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Hunt Percy Spencer, 18, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Hunt William, 18, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
James Henry Robert, 33, married, father of 4, Miner, resting at Wollongong
James John Henry , 32, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Jeffrey John, 47, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Jones Robert, 21, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Kindred Thomas, 69, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Lane Richard Jnr., 17, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Lane Richard Snr., 44, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
MacCabe Henry Osborne, 45, married, father of 2, Engineer, resting at Wollongong
McCann Patrick, 33, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Wollongong
McDill James, 47, married, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
McLister Hugh, 24, single, Wheeler, resting at Windy Gully
Mclister James, 22, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
McMurray, William, 47, single, Night Deputy, resting at Windy Gully
Meurant Henry, 20, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Meurant William, 22, married, father of one, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Morris George, 34, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla*
Morrison Alexander, 15,single, Clipper, resting at Windy Gully
Morrison Henry, 17, single, Clipper, resting at Windy Gully
Morriss Thomas P, 26, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Morriss Walter Joseph, 52, married, 8 children, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Muir John, 18, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Muir Peter, 41, married, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Murphy John, 49, married, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Nees John George, 34, married, 6 children, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Nelson Jacob Alexander, 15, single, surface worker, resting at Windy Gully
Nelson William, 39, married, 5 children, Under Manager, resting at Windy Gully
Nixon William, 21, single, Wheeler, resting at Helensburgh
Peace Matthew, 38, married, father of 1, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Price William John, 26, married, father of 2, Wheeler, resting at Windy Gully
Purcell James Snr., 64, married, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Purcell James Jnr, 38, married, father of 3, Shiftman, resting at Wollongong
Purcell John, 33, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Purcell Patrick Francis, 45, married, father of 7, Engine Driver, resting at Wollongong
Purcell Thomas, 39, married, father of 6, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Rich Henry, 67, married, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Rich James Henry, 39, married, 6 children, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Robson Edward, 63, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Russell George, 20, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Ryan John, 33, married, 2 children, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Scott Daniel, 39, married, 7 children, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Silcock William, 14, single, Clipper, resting at Windy Gully *
Skilling Albert, 15, single, Clipper, resting at Mount Kembla
Smith Frederick, 14, single, Clipper, resting at Mount Kembla*
Stafford Claude Ramsay, 17, single, Clipper, resting at Mount Kembla
Stafford David Kembla, 17, single, Wheeler, resting at Mount Kembla
Stafford William, 25, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Stewart Francis, 38, single, Miner, resting at Wollongong
Thomas Richard, 26, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Tost Thomas, 30, single, Miner, resting at Windy Gully
Walker John, 16, single, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Walker Richard, 43, married, father of 6, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla
Walker William, 18, single, Clipper, resting at Mount Kembla
Wilkinson Joseph, 26, engaged, Miner, resting at Windy Gully*
Woodroof Charles, 33, married, Miner, resting at Wollongong - taken out alive but died 5 weeks later on the 8.9.1902
Youngman George, 37, married, father of 3, Miner, resting at Mount Kembla*
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*Details such as name, age, marital status and number of children may vary from newspaper and other published lists. Every effort is being made to confirm the correct information through more reputable birth, death and marriage records as well as through family historians. * = details confirmed
Number of children listed as those living at time of father's death.
Leave my blackened boots
by the cottage door.
Let every caller know
this was a working man's abode.
Verse on stone and above both from:
Conal Fitzpatrick in KEMBLA THE BOOK OF VOICES 2002
Page Under Construction!
Some of their stories:
 John & Henry AITKENJohn was born in Scotland in 1855 to parents Henry Aitken and Catherine Cunningham. He married Mary Anne Murphy in 1878 at Windsor and had 10 children, the eldest was Henry (b. 1879). The family was living in Hartly Vale before arriving in Kembla Heights circa 1900. John and Henry were working together on the coal at the time of the disaster. They were badly burned & both succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Father & son are buried at Windy Gully. From the collections of the Dryden family. |  Thomas Sylvester BESTThomas Sylvester Best 1853-1902 had arrived in Kembla Heights from the mining town of Lithgow, where he was a long time and popular resident. On receiving news that Best was being returned to Lithgow for his final resting place, arrangements were speedily made. Local collieries closed at 1 pm and hundreds of people lined the street to meet the coffin as the hearse headed by two local bands made its way to the cemetery. He was married with 7 children aged 22 - 3 yrs. Image sourced from Ancestry. |  William BRAYBorn 1864 Cornwell, England to parents John Bray and Mary Varcoe. He arrived in Australia 1880. Married Harriet Anne Radford at Moss Vale in 1887 and had 8 children. William was working as a coal miner, he died aged 38 of carbon monoxide poisoning leaving the greatest number of dependent children fatherless. He is buried at Wollongong General Cemetery in the Presbyterian section. Image from the Collection of Illawarra Images WCC Local Studies |
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 William BRASHEREnglish born William Brasher married Elizabeth Willett/Fishlock of the Cordeaux pioneering family in 1873 and had three children. He worked at the pioneer kerosene works before working at Mt Kembla colliery until 1887, when he went farming in Camden for 15 years before again returning to Mt Kembla. Later he ran a small dairy farm in Dapto, but the drought of 1901 sent him back to work the pit in April 1902 where he was killed in the the July disaster. In Memoriam South Coast Times, August 1903 |  Arthur CARTERThe first Arthur's family knew of his employment at Mt Kembla Colliery was a telegram from Mr Filby stating his boarder Arthur was among the dead. Arthur's father & brother-in-law traveled from Wallsend and found conditions far from satisfactory: no transport was provided for the coffins to the cemetery; the undertaker was too busy making coffins; they had to wait an hour as the grave was dug a foot short; and the registrar was away. Arthur lies in an unmarked grave. The Daily Telegraph 5.8.1902 |  Micky BRENNANWheeler Michael Brennan was the only victim who's body was reputedly never recovered or possibly buried without identification. He had only been working at the mine for week. A coffin was kept in a tool shed at the mine entrance in case his body was recovered. John Brennan repeatedly search for his son at the mine, he had also lost his wife and three daughters. He was found drowned two years later at Wollongong Harbour 11.5.1904. Image - The Examiner (Tasmanian) 6.8.1902 |
 Charles CHURCHCharles Church came from a Welsh mining family. He was born on 22 October 1834 in Bedwellty, Monmouthshire, to Matthew Church and Harriet Bradley the second of two boys and two girls. It is unknown when he came to Australia or found his way to Mt Kembla. He is believed to have been a bachelor. Detail from 1851 Census of Wales UK. |  Francis DUNGEYFrank was born in Cornwall England to William Dungey and Mary Hooker. He arrived in Australia circa 1879 and married Mary Jane Doherty in 1882 at Armidale. They had nine children together moving to the Illawarra circa 1887. By 1894 Frank was working at Kembla mine as a shiftman laying sleepers and working on the haulage system. By 1902 he had been promoted to day deputy when the explosion tore his body apart. He is buried at Mt Kembla cemetery. From the collection of the Benjamin/Murray family. |  Two of four Egan BrothersTHOMAS and DENIS were working at No. 74 bord in District three. MICHAEL and EDWARD were working at No. 84 bord in District 4 - their bodies were found not far from their workstations. The brothers died of carbon monoxide poisoning. In district 4, the origin of the disaster all 26 men died; in district three of 88 men working 42 died. Thanking Lauren Tate Thompson for these portraits. |
 Three of the four Egan BrothersTheir names are now lost to time, but family history has it that these photos are of the Egan brothers who died in the disaster. The broach belonged to either their mother, Margaret Egan (nee Murphy) or their sister Bridget. With thanks to Lauren Tate Thompson. |  Four EGAN BrothersEdward, Dennis, Michael and Thomas Egan all lost their lives in the Mt Kembla Mine Disaster. There weren't enough tables in the house to wash and lay out all the boys, so doors were taken off their hinges to use as tables. Each one dressed and prepared by the family for their last journey down the mountain to the Catholic section of Wollongong General Cemetery. |  William FILBYWilliam was born in Sydney on the 12 March 1854 to John and Amelia (nee Smith). He married Jannet Andrew at Lambton in 1874 and had 7 surviving children when she died in 1890. His brother Daniel was his undertaker and erected his grave at Mt Kembla cemetery. In Memorium South Coast Times 1.8.1903 |
 George Oliver HARTLEYGeorge Hartely lived at Hartley dairy farm where the suburb of Cordeaux Heights is now. He was the son of George Arthur Hartley (1849-1882) and Emma Waples (1846-1919). George had knocked off early & was about 50 metres from the surface at the junction of the No. 1 and the shaft traveling roads, 100 m either side of this point and he would have survived. He received horrendous injuries to his face, skull and scalp which he died from the next day. In Memoriam South Coast Times August 1903 |  Edward GALLAGHEREdward and his brother Michael were brought out to Australia from Ireland by their Uncle Peter Carr in 1886 who farmed at Cordeaux River. The brothers worked for their uncle until they paid off their fares and found work at Mt Kembla colliery. Edward married Anne Maria Moran in 1896 and had four children. He was an active member of the community. The brothers both died and are buried together in the Catholic section of Wollongong General Cemetery. Illawarra Images WCC Local Studies Collection. |  James Alfred HEADJames was born 1872 and raised in Mt Kembla. He was one of four children born to John Head (1821-1886) and Lucy nee Rixon (1837-1914), grandson of the well known Illawarra pioneer Benjamin Rixon of Figtree. Head married Letitia Susan Ryan in 1898 and had one surviving son in 1901 when his wife died of illness. When he died, he left an orphaned 2 year old son and his widowed mother and family without a provider. Thanking Mark Bourke for providing information for this post. The Worker 16.8.1902 |
 Daniel HEALEYDaniel was a single 35 year old miner and a member of the Kembla Heights gun club. Healey was working with Farrell a bord No 47 off the No. 6 Right Rope Road in District 3. He was found dead on the No. 6 Right Rope Road along with a group of other men. It appears as though they were trying to reach the Main Tunnel Travelling Road to escape but came upon deadly carbon monoxide gas. Dan is buried at West Dapto Roman Catholic Cemetery. Illawarra Images WCC Local Studies Collection. |  Thomas HOWELLThomas Howell has been a mystery until a descendant, Lynne White, put the pieces together. No death certificate was issued as his body was never claimed. Thomas was born in Vic on 31.3.1866 to David Howell (1831-1867) and Mary Matthews (?-1901), one of 5 siblings. He wasn't single as often reported, he was separated from his wife Melina Burgoyne with whom he'd had a daughter Florence M Howell in 1888 NSW. In Memorium inserted by his sister Sarah, 10th of July 1912 Newcastle Morning Herald. |  Percy Spencer HUNTThe night before the disaster Percy's mother had a warning in a dream that said "you are not to let him go down into the mine because you know he hates it". She told her daughter that she couldn't let him stay home because it wouldn't be fair to her husband. The coal mine was the only work available to Kembla's young men. She lost them both that day and buried them at Mt Kembla. Two other sons made it home alive, but Emily never recovered. From the collections of UOW Library Archives |
 Percy Alexander HUNTEnglish born Percy Hunt and his wife Emily (nee Youngman) came to Australia circa 1881 and had eight children. Judging by the birth places of their children they moved around a bit looking for work but spent time in the Hunter before moving to Kembla. Percy was at the coal face with his eldest son Percy and two younger sons Eric and Walter were working as clippers. The younger ones made it out, Eric taking part in the rescue operations. Percy and his son died of carbon monoxide poisoning. |  Thomas HUGHESWelsh born Thomas Hughes was the adopted son of mine manager William Rogers. He begged Mr Rogers to take him with him to Australia. Thomas lived in Kembla Heights, was a member of the Kembla Heights band, a Druid, and was married with one daughter when he was killed. He is buried at Mt Kembla Cemetery. Illawarra Images WCC Local Studies Collection. |  Henry Robert JAMESHenry James was born to pioneering parents David James and Isabella Rixon in 1869. He married Elizabeth Peace and had four children together. Henry was working at No 46 bord with brother-in-law Matthew Peace in district 3 near the No. 6 Right Rope Road. He managed to escape and helped carry others out also and returned to continue to help. However the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning lingered. He returned to work, but died suddenly in November. Thanking Karen Schleter for this information. |
 John JEFFREYJohn Jeffrey was a coal miner from Northumberland, England. He and his wife Hannah and one year old son John were living there at the time of the 1881 Census. By 1883 the family is in Wollongong given the birth record of their daughter Elisabeth followed by William in 1886. Little more could be found on John. He was buried on the 2nd of August and lies in an unmarked grave at Windy Gully. In Memorium 31.7.1903 Newcastle Morning Herald |  Henry Osborne MacCABERescuer Major MacCabe was the only man not from the mountain that was killed. He was the leader of a rescue party with William McMurray trying to find trapped men when he was overcome by deadly gas. The others tried to carry him, but could feel the effects of the gas taking hold so had to leave him. By the time they got back, both MacCabe and McMurray were dead. From the Collection of UOW Archives |  James McDillJames McDill was born in in 1855 in Riccarton, Ayrshire, to William and Isabella. He married Barbara Reside on 3 October 1873 in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. It is not known when he arrived in Australia but he was still in his hometown in 1881. His wife never remarried, there are no known children. Her words are heart wrenching in the In Memoriam South Coast Times 1.8.1908 |
 MEURANT BrothersWilliam and Henry Meurant lived in Mt Kembla with William's wife Ada (nee Filby). Pregnant Ada said goodbye to her husband at 5:10 am as he was in the front shift. Henry working on the back shift left for work at 7 am. She never saw either of them alive again. Another brother Edward was also working in the mine, he testified in the Coronor's inquest into their deaths. He stayed in the mine until he located his brothers, thinking them alive, he left. In Memoriam 8 30-7-1904 South Coast Times |  William McMURRAYNight Deputy William McMurray was asleep in the home of his sister's family when the pit exploded. He and his brother-in-law John Morrison rushed to the pit and were one of the first on the scene. John had four sons working in the mine. Two lost their lives and two made it out alive. William was overcome by carbon monoxide gas along with Major MacCabe as their rescue party tried to penetrate the tunnels to reach trapped miners, both died. Image from the collections of the Morrison family. |  George MORRISGeorge Morris was born on 24 April 1867 in American Creek, one of 10 children born to Martha Hill and Thomas Morris. He was 34 at the time of his death working at No. 50 bord with his mate Dunning they were found dead together on the No. 6 Right Rope Rd. His father had died just weeks earlier and his mother died days later. His nephew was also killed in the disaster. Image from the University of Wollongong Archives. |
 Alexander "Sandy" MORRISONFifteen year old Sandy Morrison was the closest working to the mine entrance. Young boys were often employed as clippers, clipping the skips on and off the endless rope. His body was found burnt and crushed under a rock fall away from his dismembered legs (Piggin & Lee 1992:52). He had three other brothers working in the pit, two survived. His father John Morrison, his uncle William McMurray a night deputy were one of the first to arrive at the scene. |  Henry MORRISONBrothers Henry, Alexander (Sandy), William and John Morrison were all working at the pit at the time of the disaster. It is thought that it was Henry's naked coffee pot lamp that ignited the gas that seeped out of a disused area into the tunnels where they worked. Henry and his brother sandy were working as clippers, both lost their lives, their older brothers working as contract miners and escaped. Their father John Morrison the deputy joined the search. Image from the Dryden family collection |  Walter Joseph MORRISSWalter lived on a dairy farm where Araluen Avenue is today and worked at the pit. With his wife Catherine (nee Saunders) they had 11 children. His eldest son Thomas, was working with him at the coal face at the end of No.1 Main Level Rope Road. Father 52yrs and son 26yrs died together. The two were burnt so badly, all the hair burnt off and skin peeling making identification difficult. Patrick Brownlee Walter's son-in-law was also injured. Image from the Collections of Mt Kembla Mining Heritage |
 Jacob Alexander NELSONFifteen year old Jacob Nelson, a clipper working at the mine entrance was killed instantly by the blast. His body blackened and mutilated beyond recognition was found buried under a rock fall. His five year old sister never forgot how her father came home from hearing the news he'd lost his son, he crashed through the door, held his hands in the air and cried 'Jacob, Jacob' (Piggin and Lee 1992:51 & 76) In memorium South Coast Times August 1903 |  William John NELSONWilliam was born in Scotland in 1863. He married Agnes Parkhill Leckie and had five children. William worked as a day deputy for the mine before being promoted to undermanager just two months before the disaster. At the time of the disaster he was with inspector Thomas Bates on No. 1 Right Traveling Road. Rescuers found the men, Bates recovered, but Nelson's limbs were already rigid. He is buried in an unmarked grave at Windy Gully. Thanking Debbi Wetzler & Kathie J Bezer for this post. |  William John PRICEWilliam was a Staffordshire man born in 1876 to Ann Jones and William Price. He married Fanny Emma Knight on 10 May 1897 in Victoria. They had three children together: Ivy Grace (1898-1898), William John (1899 Vic - 1971) and Louse Dorris born after her father's death in 1903. He was wheeler in the coal mine, his body the last to be recovered on the 11th of August. He was laid to rest at Windy Gully. The family returned to Victoria after his death. In Memorium South Coast Times 1.8.1903 |
 John George NEESGerman born John Nees had arrived in Mt Kembla circa 1882. He married Mt Kembla pioneer Robert Benjamin's daughter, Rebecca and had six children together. At the time of the disaster he was working with William Kine Stafford at the coal face, both died of carbon monoxide poisoning. John, Rebecca and baby George Nees From the Collections of Mt Kembla Mining Heritage |  George PEACEGeorge Peace was listed as injured in the disaster. Two years later he died, however, he was not added to the list of the victims of the Mount Kembla mine disaster. The effects of carbon monoxide poisoning didn't always manifest right away and men appeared recovered only to pass away suddenly later. George was working at the coal face with his brother-in-law Richard Walker in district 3 who also died. Thanking Karen Schleter for the information and identifying George in this image. |  Patrick Francis PURCELLPatrick Purcell was in the engine room talking on the phone to a man in the mine. He said "Down went the floor and al the house on top of me, and I had to get out the best way I could". He escaped but was badly burned, he died two years later from his injuries. He was buried at Wollongong General Cemetery, joining three of his brothers who were also killed. Patrick left behind a wife Margaret (nee Moran) and 8 children. The youngest only 3 years old. (Piggin & Lee 1992:51 and Herben 2002:34). |
 Edward ROBSONVery little is known about 63 year old bachelor Edward. Researches on Ancestry have found that he was born 12th of November 1838 in the coal mining town of Wallsend, Northumberland, England, to Sussanah Thew and James Robson, one of seven children. It is not known when he arrived in Australia, but two siblings also in Australia preceded him in death so there was no one to claim his body. He was the only victim buried the day after the disaster by the company at the new Kembla Heights cemetery. |  George RUSSELLGeorge Jnr was only 20 years old when he was killed. His father, a Scottish miner, arrived with his wife to Australia in 1879 to work at Joadja Shale mine. They moved to Lithgow around 1882. Then on to Mt Kembla a few years before the disaster. The headstone of George Jnr reflects the tragedy of a son's life cut far too short. "He never thought his time so short, in this world to remain. Nor thought when from his home he went that he'd never return again." Information thanks to Kembla Lodge |  William SilcockWilliam Silcock was born in 1888 in Yorkshire England the eldest of three boys born to James and Mary Elizabeth Silcock. The family had emigrated from England to Lithgow in 1890. Just 14 William was working as a clipper, his body was found 500 yards along the No.1 Right engine Road with his hair and clothing completely burnt off him except for a single shrivelled boot. His father James Silcock survived the disaster but received no compensation for the loss of his son SCT 15.11.1902 |
 Frederick SMITHFrederick Smith was born in Wellington NSW to John Robert Smith & Margaret Morris. Just 14 years old and working as a clipper when he was killed. His father had died 7 years earlier. Fred and two of his brothers were working at Mt Kembla mine to help support the family of 8 children. Thomas and Val Smith survived the disaster, Val said his kid brother was unrecognisable when he found him. They buried him at Mt Kembla Cemetery with his uncle George Morris who was also killed in the disaster. |  David Kembla STAFFORDDavid Kembla Stafford was only 17 years old when he died at Kembla Heights. He was born in Cordeaux River to William and Janet (nee James) Stafford and was the grandson of Mt Kembla pioneers William and Elizabeth Stafford. He is buried at Mt Kembla near his grandparents and 3 cousins who also died in the disaster. |  Richard WALKERRichard Walker was born at American Creek in 1858. He was living in Windy Gully near the Workman's Club rooms and was a member of the Gun club. Richard married Sarah Anne Peace in 1885 and had six children. He was working with his brother-in-law George Peace at No. 42 bord at the end of No. 6 Right Rope Road. He was carried out alive, but died at home two days later. Richard was buried at Mt Kembla. Image from Mt Kembla Mining Heritage Inc. |
 WALKER brothersBrothers John, 16 years, and Thomas William, 18 years, were working as clippers at the pit. William was found about 45 metres from the tunnel mouth, burnt and completely covered under a rock fall. Further inside along the No. 1 Right engine Road his younger brother John was found lying face down on a skip with his head crushed by a rock fall. Their father Thomas was also working in the pit, but managed to escape. He was found wondering in the bush and was unable to work again. |  George Henry YOUNGMANEnglish born George Youngman came to work at Kembla Heights from the northern coal fields of the West Maitland district. Married to Delia Griffith, they had four children, the youngest only months old had died two weeks before the disaster. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning with his brother-in-law and nephew, Percy Hunt Snr & Jnr, all buried at Mt Kembla. Delia returned to West Maitland with her 3 children where she married Lancelot Guest in 1904. From the collections of UOW Library Archives |  Joseph WILKINSONWe many never know poor Joe's true identity. His unnamed mate reports that Joseph Wilkinson was a native of Lancashire who deserted the Imperial Artillery while visiting Sydney during the 1901 Commonwealth Celebrations for the love of a South Coast girl. He was to be married on Saturday, but ended up in an unmarked grave at Windy Gully instead. With no family to claim him, there isn't even a death record that researchers could find. Bathurst Free Press, 4.8.1902 |
 Unclaimed bodiesSadly some of the miners who died in the disaster had no next of kin to claim their bodies. Thomas Tost, Charles Church, John Bryson and Thomas Kendred all single men, known only to their mates. Their goods and chattels were sold off by auction, their bodies placed in unmarked graves in the company cemetery at Kembla Heights, Windy Gully. South Coast Times 13th of September 1903 |  Thomas TOSTThomas Tost (Toste/Toast) was a bachelor with some connection to Germany it seams and a very neat house in Kembla Heights. He is reported to be one of the four unclaimed bodies to be buried in the mass grave at Windy Gully. South Coast Times 16.8.1902 |
