Lyttelton Tragedy
THE sinking of a fishing launch by shell fire and the tragic death of one of the two occupants took place in Lyttelton Harbour on Thursday in circumstances that demand the most rigorous examination. Few persons in the country could have read the details, as reported yesterday in a message from Christchurch, without feeling shocked and indignant. It may be true that mishaps take place in war time and that in this particular case there were features which, from an official point of view, will exonerate members of the shore battery from anything worse than excess of zeal or a too literal obedience to instructions. A military Court of Inquiry is sitting, and further comment on the incident would be out of place at the present time. But it cannot be emphasized too strongly that while there may be valid reasons for the Court to sit in camera there could be no justification for withholding publication of its findings, whatever their nature. The general public will expect to read them and will not be satisfied with anything less than a full explanation.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST19391014.2.13
Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 23948, 14 October 1939, Page 4
Word Count
184Lyttelton Tragedy Southland Times, Issue 23948, 14 October 1939, Page 4
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