SENTRY IN COOKHOUSE

Waipa Post, Volume 47, Issue 3357, 29 July 1933, Page 2

SENTRY IN COOKHOUSE

REST OF GUARD ASLEEP. EARLY MORNING SURPRISE. It was alleged at a court-martial at Chelsea Barracks on May 28 that a Scots Guardsman who was supposed to be on sentry duty at the Magazine, Hyde Park, was in the cookhouse, and that: the sergeant and other members of the guard were all asleep five minutes before reveille. Sergeant Fazackerley pleaded not Ist Scots Guards, was charged with neglecting his duties when non-com-missioned officer in charge of the guard by failing to ensure that: — (a) The guard under his command was ready to be turned out properly dressed punctually at reveille; (b) the relief for the sentry was properly dressed at all times’. Sergenat Fazackevly pleaded not guilty.

Company Sergeant-major A. Taylor said that about 5.55 a.m. on May 10 he visited the guard and noticed that there was no sentry. “I climbed over the gate to the magazine,” lie said. “I saw a guardsman in the cookhouse evidently preparing breakfast. I said, ‘Where is the sentry?’ He replied, H am.’ ” Witness said that in the guardroom he found all the other members of the guard asleep. Not one of them was washed, shaved, or in any way ready to turn out. The sentry was due to be relieved, and the guard to turn out at 6 a.m. He woke Fazackerley and asked him when he was going to turn out the guard, and Fazackerley said, “It wants two minutes to six.”

Sergeant Fazackerley, giving evidence, said he visited the sentry (Guardsman Cavender) at 5 a.m. He then went into the guardroom, took off his equipment, cleaned it, and put it on the table to dry. While there he lay on a form. He must have dozed off.

Fazackerley said that his reply to Sergeant-Major Taylor was, “It is not yet six, and the clock is fast.” He said he instructed each member of the guard to wash and shave as they came off sentry duty ready to turn out at reveille.

Guardsman Cavender was charged before the same court-martial with leaving his post. He pleaded not guilty, and in evidence said that at 5.45 a.m. he went to the cookhouse to put on the kettle to save the cook as much trouble as possible. , Fazaqkerley was ordered to be reduced to the ranks and Cavender was sentenced to 14 days’ detention.