FATAL ACCIDENT AT TRENTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1916, Page 4

FATAL ACCIDENT AT TRENTHAM.

CHIEF INSTRUCTOR OF ENGINEERS KILLED.

IN BOMB-THROWIXG PRACTICE.

By Telegraph.-Press Association. ™i *, Wellington, Last Night When the House of Representative* met to-n.ght, Hon. .!„. Allen, Minister of Defence, said that it was his paintul duty to announce to the House that an unfortunate accident had happened that afternoon at Trentham. He had »n official report from General Robin on the mishap which he proceeded to rend to the House as follows: "At the class of instruction in trench warfare this afternoon, when bomb Growing with fabulite balls was in pre press, one unfortunately exploded whilst still in the act of being thrown in the hands of Captain Beekman, Chief Instructor of Engineers at the camp Lieut, Bale, late of the Royal Engineers ■assistant instructor), with Sergeant-Major-Instructor Osunage were in the «iime portion of the trench. Captain Beekmnn and Lieut. Bale were injured, and Cuptain Beekman, has, unfortunately, since .died of his injuries. Lieut. Bale, it is hoped, will resume duty in a few days. Sergt.-Major Gamwge was unhurt. There is no blame attachable to cnyone. The bombs were in good order and it was one of those iinfortimate accidents which cannot he avoided in dealing with bombs, and is incidental to training aw well as to active service, nnd it is not an uncommon occurrence in the bombing schools in France and England. Captain .Beekman was second in command of the Engineer Company thai was largely drawn from the New Zealand Railways, and went to the front under Lieut.-Colonel Barclay. Since Lis return to New Zealand, some five months ago, he has been Chief Instructor to the Engineer reinforcements at Trentham, and was carrying out part of his duties when the unfortunate accident occurred." r

The Minister added that Captain Bceknmn was called up for duty at Trentlmm. He leaves n wife (wlio at pi ■-sent is very ill), and three children, the eldest daughter being twenty years of age. v

Members listened to the reading of the report with marked evidence of regret.

LATER PARTICULARS. Wellington, Last Night. 'Hie Demonstration was arranged as nart o f the training of the 14th Reinforcements, who were drawn up in the vicinity for instructional purposes. Among the visitors witnessing the demonstration were his Excellency the Governor and Lady Liverpool, General Robin. Colonel Gibbon (Chief of General Staff), Major Sleeman (Assistant Director of Military Training), Captain Sir Robert Walker (Assistant Military Instructor), and a number of other staff-officers.

The operations were dir?eted by Major Sleeman, who has had experience of trench fighting and bomb throwing on

the front in Flanders, and under him were three instructors, Captain A. Boekman, L'ttit. Bale, and Sergt-Major Gainage. About 3 o'clock, Captain Bookman prepared to throw a fabulitc high explosive bomb, similar to those being used in the trenches at the front. It had a 15 seconds' fuse, which Cimtain Beekman had sot and lit. Evidently he held the bomb too long in his hand before throwing it, for it exploded (probably k in his hand), and 'mortally wounded him. Lieut. Bale was wounded, but not seriously. ''

The Governor, General Robin, and Colonel Gibbi.u were in a traverse about 50 yards away, watching the operations.

They immediately went to the assistance of the wounded instructors, and did all they coul.l for them. Captain Beekman v-as attended to by the camp doctors but died about ah hour later.

Lieut. Bale was brought into town and taken to the general hospital.