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Tangiwai National Memorial
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DescriptionOn Christmas Eve 1953, New Zealand’s worst railway disaster occurred when the Wellington-Auckland night express train crashed into the Whangaehu River. 151 people were killed.
On 26 March 1957 the Tangiwai National Memorial was unveiled at Karori Cemetery. Designed by government architect F. Gordon Wilson, the memorial features sixteen graves of victims of the Tangiwai disaster, each with a bronze plaque at the foot. The eight named plaques are for: Edith Monica Cook (23), Jean Mary Cranch (19), Heather Edna Golding (29), Eileen Frances Hale (35), Kathleen Florence Hallam (24), Ronal Charles Hammond (25), Walter Edward Murray (54) and Adrianus Hubertus Thonissen (27). There are also eight graves for those whose bodies were never identified. These bear the inscription 'Known Unto God'.
On 26 March 1957 the Tangiwai National Memorial was unveiled at Karori Cemetery. Designed by government architect F. Gordon Wilson, the memorial features sixteen graves of victims of the Tangiwai disaster, each with a bronze plaque at the foot. The eight named plaques are for: Edith Monica Cook (23), Jean Mary Cranch (19), Heather Edna Golding (29), Eileen Frances Hale (35), Kathleen Florence Hallam (24), Ronal Charles Hammond (25), Walter Edward Murray (54) and Adrianus Hubertus Thonissen (27). There are also eight graves for those whose bodies were never identified. These bear the inscription 'Known Unto God'.
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Described ByJessie Bray SharpinDate of Description25/06/2019References'Tangiwai memorial dedication', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/tangiwai-national-memorial-dedication, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 30-Nov-2017
'Tangiwai railway disaster', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-tangiwai-railway-disaster, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 7-Aug-2014
Additional notesKeywords:
Karori Cemetery
Tangiwai Disaster
Memorial
Date of Description25/06/2019References'Tangiwai memorial dedication', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/tangiwai-national-memorial-dedication, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 30-Nov-2017'Tangiwai railway disaster', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-tangiwai-railway-disaster, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 7-Aug-2014
Additional notesKeywords:Karori Cemetery
Tangiwai Disaster
Memorial
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Tangiwai National Memorial. Archives Online, accessed 02/06/2023, https://archivesonline.wcc.govt.nz/nodes/view/101917