Orwin & Millar
Genealogy
John Aitken
1888 - 1945 (57 years)-
Name John Aitken Birth 1888 Kanimbla, NSW, Australia 
Gender Male Death 21 Nov 1945 Helensburg, NSW, Australia Burial Helensburg, NSW, Australia Person ID I19822 OrwinMillar Last Modified 16 Nov 2011
Father John Aitken, b. 25 Jul 1855, Torphichen, West Lothian, Scotland d. 31 Jul 1902, Mount Kembla, Wollongong City, New South Wales, Australia (Age 47 years)Mother Mary Ann Murphy, b. 20 Oct 1861, Liverpool, Lancashire, England d. 1941, Wollongong, NSW, Australia (Age 79 years)Marriage 16 Oct 1878 Windsor, NSW, AUstralia Family ID F7065 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family 
Rose Kirby d. Yes, date unknown Children 1. Living 2. Living 3. Living 4. Daphne Aitken, b. 1919 d. 1919 (Age 0 years) Family ID F7067 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 16 Nov 2011
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Notes - John turned 14 a couple of months before the Mt Kembla Coal Mine reopened and went to work in the place his father and older brother had been killed. He moved to the Northern Illawarra coal fields and, according to his grand-daughters, was amongst the first miners to work the Helensburg Mine.
Officially his death was recorded as 'death by drowning after a boating mishap" but the family believed he died due to dust on the lungs and the official finding was to prevent the mining company having any responsibility and thus no need for them to pay out any compensation to his widow and family.
Two of his daughters were on the beach the day that John died. Thelma swam out with a life saving belt on to him to try and save him whilst Catherine manned the belt reel. Both were recognised for their bravery.
- John turned 14 a couple of months before the Mt Kembla Coal Mine reopened and went to work in the place his father and older brother had been killed. He moved to the Northern Illawarra coal fields and, according to his grand-daughters, was amongst the first miners to work the Helensburg Mine.