Working in a mine was full of danger and many miners risked their lives to save their fellow worker/s. Many other dangers lurked at the wharves, rivers and coastal waters; where rescues were a somewhat common event.
We have record of some of these events in a wonderful publication called "ZEALANDIAS BRAVE, The Royal Humane Societies in New Zealand 1850 - 1998" by John D Wills. The Society has an index online.
The Treasury, Thames, has a copy of this book and a file of extra information on the awards applicable to the Coromandel Peninsula area. Many New Zealand libraries hold copies of the book.
One award involved the following men for a rescue at the Caledonian Mine Thames 1886:
AWARD: Case No 538 - 550, ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY of AUSTRALASIA
Page 104-105. They all received the BRONZE MEDAL:
THOMAS GROAT REID, FRANCIS THOMAS ROWE, SAMUEL HANCOCK, JAMES AUTRIDGE, HUMPHREY AUTRIDGE, WILLIAM CAMPBELL, JOHN RICHARDS, WILLIAM CORIN, JAMES LAWES, BENJAMIN BARKER, JOHN ALEXANDER MCINNIS, JOSEPH DUNN AND CHARLES REUBEN MANUEL.
These men went to the aid of HUGH HILL and THOMAS CASELY on 28 April 1886 when they were overpowered by gas in the CALEDONIAN MINE, Thames.
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| Award Case 538 - 550 |
