diff --git a/ckan/logic/action/delete.py b/ckan/logic/action/delete.py
index 933e7624b43..8803768db22 100644
--- a/ckan/logic/action/delete.py
+++ b/ckan/logic/action/delete.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 '''API functions for deleting data from CKAN.'''
 
+from sqlalchemy import or_
+
 import ckan.logic
 import ckan.logic.action
 import ckan.plugins as plugins
@@ -252,6 +254,15 @@ def _group_or_org_delete(context, data_dict, is_org=False):
     rev = model.repo.new_revision()
     rev.author = user
     rev.message = _(u'REST API: Delete %s') % revisioned_details
+
+    # The group's Member objects are deleted
+    # (including hierarchy connections to parent and children groups)
+    for member in model.Session.query(model.Member).\
+            filter(or_(model.Member.table_id == id,
+                       model.Member.group_id == id)).\
+            filter(model.Member.state == 'active').all():
+        member.delete()
+
     group.delete()
 
     if is_org: