Name Of Mine On Which Last Employed
Cooperative CM, Amalgamated Collieries, Collie, WA

Place Of Burial
Collie Cemetery, Western Australia

Submitted by
Moya Sharp - Admin

Cause of Death
Mine Accidents

Other Information
He had been the manager of the mine for 18 months prior to his death. SHOCK - Quite a shock was experienced by all residents of the town about midday on Saturday last when the news began to circulate that Mr. Andrew Watson had been killed during the morning as the result of the overturning of a locomotive in the Co-Operative Collieries, of which he was manager for about 18 months. Many rumors are current as to how the accident occurred, but as the coronial inquiry which which was opened shortly after the accident was adjourned until tomorrow (Saturday morning) we refrain from publishing any of the reports which have been given us. The deceased was 41 years of age and was born in Wallsend N.S.W., where he was educated in the Convent School under the Sisters or Mercy. His father died when he was but two and a half years of age. He commenced work at the old Wallsend Mine in his native town when he was thirteen years of age, and later on worked at various mines and for a time was engine-driver at the Seaham Mine and later worked at North Bulli on the coal cutting machines. Leaving there he went to the Corrimal Mine shotfiring. Deceased was always a man of studious habits and decided early in his career to try and, if possible, make his way to the top of the ladder in the coal mining world. He contended that to do this a wide and varied experience was necessary and to help in gaining that experience he decided on leaving Corrimal to try his fortunes in New Zealand. He there took a position as mine deputy at Paparoa at which place he obtained a second-class manager's ticket. Leaving Paparoa he acted as deputy at Denniston Hill, N.Z., for some time. Returning to New South Wales he was for a time deputy at Killingworth Colliery. Whilst at this mine he received an appointment to come to this State as underground manager to the Westralian mine at Allanson some fiive-and-a- half years ago. After three years in that position he set for and obtained a first class manager's ticket, and on the 4th March of last year he received his first appointment as manager for the Collie Co-Operative Collieries,Ltd. At the time of his appointment the main workings of this mine had collapsed and a new mine was on on the point of being opened up which, of course, only allowed for a very restricted output. However, by sheer hard work and determination the deceased manager within twelve months had opened up the new mine sufficiently and in such a splendid manner for the Company to again supply all its own trade - an achievement pronounced by experts to almost without a parallel in the coal mining industry of Australia. Mr.Watson, it might be mentioned, introduced the C.E.A.G. electric lamp into several of the leading coal mines in N.S.W. He was, especially in New South Wales, a great press correspondent on various public matters and subjects appertaining to the coal mining industry. He was delegate for the Killingworth Miners' Union for about three years. He was also a staunch co-operator and served as a committeeman for the West Wallsend Co-Operative Society and also the Collie Industrial Co-Operative Society and was at the time of his death a candidate for the presidency of the latter institution. He leaves a widow and young family of four girls and one boy to mourn their loss. The eldest child is only 13 years of age, and the youngest one year. His aged mother is still a resident of West Wallsend. The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon last. The cortege moved from his late residence to St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church where the usual service was held. The next move was to the railway station from where a special train conveyed a very large assemblage of friends to the cemetery to pay their last tribute of respect to one whom they honoured and respected in life. The remains were laid to rest in the Catholic portion of the cemetery, the Rev. Father Brody conducting the burial service in a most impressive manner. He also referred to the many excellent traits of deceased's character and of the mood he had done without ostentation and practically without the knowledge of anyone. The pallbearers were representatives of Coal Owner's Association and Directors and shareholders of the Co-Operative Collieries. The chief mourners were the widow and family. Amongst hose who forwarded wreaths, cards, letters and telegrams were:— Messrs and Mesdames McCaskill, Larney, F H. Watt, Dransfield, W. Baird, B. Wells and family, Beswick, Montgomery, Ferry, J. Willis, Morton and family, Green and family, Ferris, Fisher and Dorothy, Walker. A, Anderson, Martin, A. A. Wilson. Quarrell, McVee and family, R. S. Green. 0'Shea, E W. Stuchbury. J. C Wall, Reg. Hunter, Holmes, A. Muir, F. Popple, Maher, J, Ashby, J. Jones, J. Dickson. E. Reeves and family, R. Mc-Vee, J. Willis, T. Wall, A. F. Miller and family. Bruce, Lynch, C, Dransfield, Price, H. R. Williams, Brennan, J. Robson, A. Sherton, O'Callaghan, Brechin. Fishwick, Chippington and family. S. Lawson, Weller, F, Stuchbury and M. P. Mahony ; Messrs. C. Trosser and J. Hughes (Bunbury), O. Beard and Dransfidd, senr.; Mesdames Hayward, Robertson, Baird. Macauley and Edie, T. J. Hughes, J. Hughes, Casey, McGilvray. and Conlin and family, Misses V. Beswick and A. Ferry, Shareholders of Collie Co-Operative Collieries and Coal Owners' Association. Funeral arrangements by Mr. H. Doyle.
- Collie Mail, Friday 5 December 1919, page 4 Inquest: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/256065425?searchTerm=%22Andrew%20Watson%22&searchLimits=l-state=Western+Australia