DEATH AT RIFLE PRACTICE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 24 June 1943, Page 5

DEATH AT RIFLE PRACTICE

AIRMAN ACCIDENTALLY SHOT Auckland, June 23. Had regulations or instructions been carried out and an inspection of rifles made before the disc aiming was commenced, this unfortunate accident would never have occurred, said the coroner, Mr F. K. Hunt, when he concluded an inquest into the death of Walter Lloyd George Littlejohn, leading aircraftman, single, aged 26, whose widowed mother lives at Mount Albert. Littlejohn was shot by another aircraftman during routine rifle practice checking aims at an air station near Auckland'on 21st May. Arthur James Adams, an A/C.l said he received a clip of five dummy cartridges and he used them several times, replacing them in the clip for further use. He and Littlejohn were standing arm to arm and it would be possible for the dummy ammunition to become mixed during standing, practice. They had just finished standing practice and were about to commence aiming in the prone position, Littlejohn being opposite, about 3ft distant, testing witness’s aim with an eye disc.

“I aimed at the centre of his eye disc and pressed the trigger. The rifle discharged and Littlejohn was shot through the head,” added Adams. “I was unaware that a live cartridge was in my rifle and cannot account for its presence there unless I picked it up inadvertently off the ground during practice. I had no live ammunition in my possession and there was none on the range.” Adams stated that he was sure that three-quarters of an hour prior to the accident every cartridge in his clip was a dummy. Mr Hunt: Your rifle was not inspected before you went out? —No. When was it inspected?—Not at all. Major E. A. Porritt, M.C., said that immediately preceding the practice the squad being instructed repeatedly worked the bolts of their rifles backward and forward. Even if dummy cartridges had been in the rifles they would have been ejected. Witness said an examination showed that the empty shell found after the accident was badly weathered and appeared to be one that had been lying about for some time. His theory was that the live cartridge had been inadvertently picked up and placed in the clip holding four dummy cartridges. None of the other men in the squad had dummy cartridges in their rifles. Adams then said he thought he put the clip in when he was lying down. He was not told he was not to put the clip in. “I think the only explanation is that an old live cartridge had been picked up,” said the coroner. “It seems to me there should be more frequent inspection. I think this was a slip in the human element. I am very sorry for the relatives of the unfortunate young man who lost his life and also for Adams.” A verdict of death by accidental shooting while at rifle practice was returned —P.A.