Leonora Cemetery, Western Australia - Photo Find a Grave
Pietro “Peter” BENDOTTI
Age at Death29
Date Of Death26 June 1934 : Reg 19/1934 Mt Margaret
Place Of BirthColere, Bergamo, Lombardia, Italy
OccupationMachine Miner
Spouse's NameCarolina TAGLIAFERRI (1911-1987)
ChildrenMaria born 1932 and Agnes Mary born 1934 - both born in Leonora WA
Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial at the WA Museum in Kalgoorlie WA
Northern Times, Wednesday 27 June 1934
Eastern Goldfields Miners Memorial at the WA Museum in Kalgoorlie WA - Photo Paul Doust
Pietro "Peter" BENDOTTI
Photo SLWA
Pietro "Peter" BENDOTTI - Grave Leonora Cemetery
Name Of Mine On Which Last Employed
Sons of Gwalia GM, Western Australia
Diagnosis or cause of accident
Asphyxiated by accumulated Carbon Monoxide fumes from the previous night's firing. Andrea FASANINI died trying to rescue him.
Place Of Burial
Leonora Cemetery, Western Australia
Submitted by
David McMillan - Volunteer
MSW
Married
District
Leonora
Cause of Death
Mine Accidents
Father
Giuseppe BENDOTTI
Mother
Agnese BETTINESCHI
Place of marriage
9 January 1932 • Gwalia, Leonora, WA
Other Information
Also killed was Andrea FASANINI.
West Australian Dec 1935, page 19 MINERS' BRAVERY – Recognition by King of Italy.
It was announced yesterday by the Vice-Consul for Italy (Signor N. Costantino) that the King of Italy bad awarded the silver medal for bravery to Mr.Giovanni Nicoletti, of Gwalia, and posthumously to the late Mr. Andrea Fasanini, in recognition of their heroism in attempting to rescue a countryman who had been overcome by fumes in a winze at the Sons of Gwalia mine, Gwalia, on June 26. 1934.
The accident happened when. Pietro Bendotti and Fasanini, two machine miners, descended a winze to begin the morning shift. Bendotti was overcome by fumes which had collected in the shaft and Fasanini hastened to secure assistance. With Nicolettt and Ernest Camp he returned to the winze and the three of them tried to drag Bendotti 120.feet up the steep incline to safety. When Fasanini showed signs of being affected by the gases Camp went for help. Nicoletti, supporting both men, tried to drag their combined weight up by a rope, but he too became affected by the gases and was forced to let them go. Nicoletti lost consciousness just as he saw assistance coming. Nicoletti recovered from the effects of the poisonous fumes, but both Bendotti and Fasanini were dead when brought to the surface. At the inquest subsequently, the Jury added the following to its verdict of accidental death:
From the evidence given we ask that the names of Nicoletti, Camp and Fasanini be forwarded to the proper authorities, recognition of their bravery in a most trying and critical moment, and also that the court's deep appreciation of the conduct of all others concerned in the rescue be recorded.
See page 224 in Lyman L. and Fitzgerald, C. (eds) (2012) "110 in the Waterbag. A history of life, work and leisure in Leonora, Gwalia and the Northern Goldfields". Western Australian Museum.
