COURT MARTIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 24 April 1933, Page 3

COURT MARTIAL

NAVAL OFFICER DISMISSED

TRIED TO STRIKE STOKER

PLYMOUTH, February 17

Lieutenant: Anthony Cecil Capel Miers, of H.M.S. D.-rt, was dismissed from his ship and severely' reprimanded 'by a naval court martial at Devonport to-day for attempting to strike a stoker.

■Lieutenant Miers is well-known in Rugby circles. He ’ formerly played regularly for the Loudon Scottish a n d figured in trial ■ mr-tches for Scotland and the Royaf Navy. Evidence was given that on returning to bin-shop early on February 5, Lieutenant Miei’s had a conversafi |ii on football matters with ,a stoker, John 1 Jenkins, and bee m, ? excited. He attempted to strike tb P stoker, to whom he later apMogised. Lieutenant Miers himself reported the incident to h u commanding officer, as <a result of which the court martial wan held. Neither Jenkins nor the pcntenani, who -gave evidence, could give any reason for th e quarrel.

On beh:Jf of the accused. liy maste r Lieutenant -C«min an d e-r -R. H. Johnson s-aid that the matter would never have come to light had not the aecubed reported it himself. He. ' Vua therefore s elf-convicted. The incident wag generally known throughout the ship, but members of the ship’s cmnn,anv wei\ unvYliar: to come r.n-waj-J to give evidence until ordered to do

“It is greatly to his cr°d-t,” nd rl “d Lieutenant-Commander Johnson, ‘‘that his reuse of duty wrr, so strong as -to compel him to reveal the matter t 0 lus commanding officer.”