FIVE DEATHS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 33, 9 February 1942, Page 4

FIVE DEATHS

BOMB EXPLOSION ARMY SCHOOL TRAGEDY (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. "It is with much regret that I have to announce an unfortunate accident which occurred at the Army School of Instruction, Trentham, on Saturday morning," said the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, to-night. "The accident occurred during a demonstration which was being given a class of officers and non-commis-sioned officers undergoing instruction in the practical use of bombs.

"The chief instructor, Major R. J. D. Davis, N.Z.S.C, an officer of long experience and recognised as an expert in weapon training in all its phases, was himself giving a demonstration and in the process of throwing a bomb, the fuse of which had been lit, the bomb exploded and he was killed, together with three others. In addition 12 of the class were wounded, four of them seriously, and one of these died later. The remaining 11 who suffered from shock were able to go to their quarters and soon returned to normal." Following are the names of those killed and injured:— Killed. Major R. J. Davis—Mrs. Davis, Paraparaumu (wife). Sergeant R. A. Peters—Mr. W. Peters, Hastings (father). Acting-Sergeant R. S. Thomson— Mrs. N. G. Thomson, Whitecliffs (wife). Corporal R. M. Geard—Mrs. Annie Geard, Auckland (mother). Died From Injuries Acting-Sergeant H, H. Wood—Mrs. E. Wood, Auckland (wife). Seriously Injured Sergeant T. A. Bolton—Mrs. T. A. Bolton, Ashhurst (wife). Corporal R. G. Mauger—Mrs. J. D. Mauger, Methven (wife). Corporal G. G. Stevenson—Mr. G. Stevenson, Masterton (father). Injured, Not Seriously Lieutenant O. H. Burford—Mrs. J. J. Burford, Wangariui (wife). Staff-Sergeant A. J. Cocker—Mrs. J. Cocker, Nelson (mother). Staff-Sergeant N. W. Faithful—Mrs. A. E. Faithful, Okaihau (mother). Sergeant T. B. Burtt—Mrs. E. C. Burtt, Christchurch (mother). Sergeant R. B. Hastings—Mrs. D. E. Hastings, Matamata (mother). Sergeant H F. Speden—Mrs. M. E. Speden, Gore (wife). Corporal A. R. Brain—Mrs. E. R. Brain, Frankton Junction (mother). Private T. K. Wood—Mrs. A. E. Wood, Wellington (wife). "All the injured men were immediately attended to by the camp medical staff," said the Minister. "All except those suffering from shock were quickly removed to the Wellington Public Hospital by army motor ambulances held in camp to meet such emergencies. The most serious cases were admitted within half an hour after the accident. The next-of-kin of the dead and injured officers and soldiers were notified of the accident by telegram and progress reports, where there was a turn for the worse in any of the injured, were dispatched to the next-of-kin during the week-end. A coroner's inquest was held at Trentham camp on Saturday afternoon and a military Court of Inquiry also commenced its investigation." The Minister added that the Government deplored the sad loss of life that had occurred and deeply sympathised with the bereaved and also with the relatives of the injured men.