KILLED IN SHAM FIGHT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4710, 7 November 1917, Page 5

KILLED IN SHAM FIGHT.

Six Canadian soldiers were killed b v the explosion of a mine during a sham fight at a camp in Hampshire on August 16. The names_of the killed are: —Donald Chester" M'E'wan, George Edward Rogers. William Allan Manvood, C. P. H. Gaslar, Harrv Poole, and Herbert Arthur Lyall Osmond. • Lieutenant Wilfrid Turner Clieyne, at the inquest, said he marched l two parties of the combined strength of between 350 and 400 to tlie bombing area for night operations. Sergeant-Major Tasker explained that it was to be realistic trench warfare with star shells and exploding bombs to represent artillery bariage. Four mines of two kinds to explode together were laid under his instructions. Upon a signal the party in two columns were to advance on either flank of the mine area. Two of the mines were bred by the instructor. Tire other two were to be fired bv wires, against which the men would trip as they advanced. Haviim no wires he connected these two mines by twine to a string which he pulled. An explosion followed. He called to his observer._ “All clear Scott?” and; in a few minutesthe reply came, “Yes.” He then ordered the two parties to advance. One party straggled and moved to the centre. He called. Close to the flank,” but apparently Ins order "as misunderstood.. Fifteen minutes a ter the first explosion he heard another explosion. He was blown into a sap. The only reason he could give for the second explosion was that the lever of the detonator of one ot the mines had failed to act and that one of the men as they advanced must- have kicked it afterwards. . It the men on the left had earned out the order tho v would have been safe and probably he would have been the only one blown up because he walked right over the mines. The verdict was “Accidental death from shock, following injuries.