BALLANTYNE'S FIRE
TUESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 1947
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

During the afternoon of Tuesday the 18th November, 1947 fire broke out in the cellar of J Ballantyne & Co, a department store on the corner of Colombo and Cashel Streets in Christchurch. The fire soon became out of control with the loss of 41 lives.

For further information see the book The Ballantyne Fire Disaster by Gordon G Walker (GG Walker, Christchurch, 1983)

These names are taken from the Register of Inquests, Archives Wellington (Mrs Cody No 1948/1077; others No 1948/1078 recd. 20 Sept 1948.) Thanks to John Wilson for these, and to Robert Bruere for further information.

THOSE THAT DIED DURING THE BALLANTYNE'S FIRE
BEALE Margaret Kathleen 25 13 Nayland Street Credit Office
BLAIR Caroline Sarah 21 27 Retreat Road, Avonside -
BRADBURY Ruth Lillian 26 7 Ashgrove Terrace Credit Office
BROWN Edwin Alexander 48 17 Elgin Street Credit Office
BURR Dorothea Lillian 37 122 Colombo Street Office
CHALLIS Jane Kinsman 20 71 Chrystal Street Display Dept
CHRISTENSEN Nellie Elenora Marie 20 27 Chapel Street Office
CODY * Violet May Mrs 30 2 Taylor Crescent, Spreydon Credit Office
COLES Shirley Dorne 20 478 Cashel Street Millinery Department
DICK Jean Archibald 20 Hutcheson Street Millinery Department
DIVER Molly Patricia 23 53 Ranfurly Street, Kaiapoi Accounts Department
ELWOOD Iris Evelyn 23 81 Barbour Street Millinery Department
FERRITER Agnes 41 862 Colombo Street Credit Office
FORDE Mary Sabina 20 75 Montreal Street Credit Office
GILLARD Eileen Joyce 26 273 Armagh Street Credit Office
HAMILTON Clare Aileen 16 10 Harewood Road Credit Office
HAMILTON Helen Ballantyne 26 24 Ayr Street Credit Office
HAMPSON Gerald James 25 35 Sails Street Credit Office
HAMPSON Marie Elizabeth 22 35 Sails Street Credit Office
HAYMAN Rosalind 20 23 Mayfield Avenue Millinery Department
HEPBURN Wilhelmina 39 113 Burke Street In Charge of Millinery Department
HUDSON William John 48 197 Clyde Road Secretary of the Company
KELLIHER Mary Teresa 20 YWCA Credit Office
LAWSON Willard Alan Single 41 Bishop Street Credit Office
LLOYD Judith Marie 21 32 Dormer Street Credit Office
LOUGH John Harold Welsh 65 115 Merivale Lane Accounts Department
LOVELL Colin Frederick 24 King Street, Rangiora Credit Office
McKIBBIN William Shaw 25 56 Dyers Pass Road Audit Department
McLEAN Mary Margaret Mrs 50 1 Garden Road Clerical Department
NEWTON Emma Earl 57 138 Olliviers Road, Linwood Secretary to Mr Hudson
OSVATH Vilma 32 113 Peverel Street Millinery Department
RODGERS Kelvin John 20 103 St Albans Street Credit Office
SERRA Mary Catherine Muriel 24 11 Tilford Street Credit Office
SMITH Jessie Sewart 19 148 Peverel Street Credit Office
STEWART Arthur 63 49 Hamilton Avenue Partner of Stewart, Beckett & Co(auditor)
STEWART Mawson 32 42 Alpha Avenue(married with 2 children) Employee (nephew of above)(auditor)
STREET Joyce Frances Elizabeth 28 352 Manchester Street Retail College
WARD Isobel Ann 23 1 Dover Street Display Dept
WEBB Kitty Patricia 24 15 Western Terrace Millinery Department
WERE Bertha Mrs 22 18 Berry Street Credit Office
WILBY Myrtle Joy 18 23 Clive Street Credit Office

* Died from injuries received.


INJURED DURING BALLANTYNE'S FIRE
KENNEDY Lois M Miss 20 4 Swanns Road, Richmond -
NASH Nancy Gladys Mrs 25 71 Conway Street, Spreydon -

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