WAR EPISODE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 20 November 1928, Page 7

WAR EPISODE

LATE EDITION

V.C. WINNER INJURED.

CLAIM FOR DAMAGES

SUIT AGAINST PRODUCER

f United Press Association—By Electric Telegrapn Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.)

Received 12.-5 p.m. to-day. LONDON, i'ov. 10. Before tile King’s Bench, the Australian Victoria Cross winner, Leonard Keysor, sued the him producer, G. B. Samiuedson, for damages for injuries received during the honing of the reenactment of the Gallipoli bombing episode, for which Iveysor wavs decorated. Rlaistiff’s case was that in consideration of £75 per week he went to the studio in the isie of Wight. Smoke bombs and gunpowder were used in the reproduction of the trench scene. He alleges that the bombs were carelesslythrown, and that the electrical, discharge of the gunpowder was faulty, with the result that a bomb, also gun-, powder, exploded in bis face, fractured hiss. jaws, and inflicted one hundred incised wounds in hisi left forearm, ajid fifty wounds in liis knee. He was con- j fined to his bed for five and a half weeks, and his jaw, despite operations, was permanently disfigured. Qross-exami.se d, Iveysor denied that he had not told Samuelson about the sandbag portion of the episode. “Samuo'json told be a lot of things’ I did to get the Victoria Cross, but I hadn’t done them at all.” (Laughter). The doctor ordered him to Monac, which was very quiet. Mr Beyfus (for the defence) : t: I suppose you went a crons the border To Monts Carlo.” Keysor: ‘‘Oh. yes.” Mr Justice Horridge: “I do "not think you need to’pursue that. Keysor admitted that he did not know the cardboard iam tin bombs were empty, with a small piece of fuse attached.

Mr Beyfus: “I suggest that not one of the bombs exploded.” Keysor; “Then? was a certain amount of smoke. Something exploded when I threw them back.”

The defendant gave evidence that he included the sandbag after Keysor had told him of it. It was not the case that the signal for firing the charge was the dropping of the sandbag. The scheme was as safe as it could be in a war films The ease was adiourned.