TWO SOLDIERS KILLED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20988, 15 December 1939, Page 8

TWO SOLDIERS KILLED

THIRD SERIOUSLY INJURED BOARDING MOVING TRAIN FATALITY IN THE SOUTH (By Telegraph.—Press Association) INVERCARGILL, Thursday Two soldiers were killed and a third seriously injured when they attempted to board a special troop train at Edendale at nine o’clock tonight. The victims were:— Killed Private James Nelson, of Nelson Street, Invercargill. Private George Sheedy, of Otautau, Southland. Injured Private William Young, of Roxburgh. Condition serious. When the train, which was a special train from Burnham bringing troops on final leave, stopped at Edendale, a number of men left the carriages to farewell Captain M. C. Rice, who was leaving the train there. They evidently did not attempt to return to the carriages until the train had started to move. Three of them slipped when attempting to board the train and were dragged under it, Private Nelson and Private Sheedy being killed outright. Private Young was caught between the carriage and the platform and extricated with difficulty, a number of the troops easing the pressure of the carriage on the injured man. The bodies of Private Nelson and Private Sheedy were brought to Invercargill, and Private Young was admitted to hospital in Invercargill.