NAVAL INQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1933, Page 7

NAVAL INQUIRY

COMMANDER REINSTATED

LONDON, December 20,

The Admiralty Board, reviewing the sentence passed on LieutenantCommander John Hugh Lewis, acquitted him of responsibility for the explosion, but reprimanded him for navigational faults.

He was reinstated in command of submarine L 26.

Three rating were fatally injured, 1 ; !4 more seriously injured, and live were gassed as the result of an J < xplosion in flic L 26 in Oampbellt o wn Harbour Ivintyre, Scotland, while the men were at dinner on October 8. The previous day the submarine had run f aground on the Kintyre coast, when proceeding to manoeuvres. It was considered that she was slightly holed when she grounded, and that water reached the cells of the batteries, which were being recharged at the iime of the explosion.

Lieutenant-Commander John Hugh Lewis, who commanded the L 26, was court-martial led and charged with stranding her, and neglecting, after the grounding, to ensure a sufficient examination of the batteries before recharging. The expert evidence given showed that there was nothing to explain the explosion. The court found the charges proved, dismissed Lieutcn.'mt-C'nnmander Lewis from Iris g.hip. and severely reprimanded him. ■ • —r