Dover Chronicle - Saturday 06 April 1918
GUN PRACTICE ACCIDENT.
TEN VICTIMS OF EXPLOSION ON EAST COAST.
It is believed that four men have lost their lives, while six others were seriously injured, by an accident which occurred out Monday morning on the South East Coast. At the time they were engaged on gun practice. Two loud explosions, in rapid succession, indicated to people in the district that something untoward had happened, and comrades of the sufferers on hurrying to the spot found that some of the fatalities had been instantaneous. Prompt medical attention was forthcoming. and men who were badly wounded ,mere conveyed to hospital. All the victims were service men.
The victims were Fred Belfield, 19, (bombardier), Samuel E. Houchen. 24, Albert T. Aldridge, 22, and Arthur Large, 26 (gunners), all single men, belonging to the Royal Marine Artillery. At the inquest on Tuesday. Sergeant Charles Bryan said the four men formed part of the crew of a trench mortar. The accident was caused through the bomb exploding inside the gun. All the men were efficient and fully-trained. Captain Cecil Brook-Short said defects might exist in a bomb which would not be detected by those firing it. These would be due to carelessness, or. as the coroner suggested, criminal negligence on the part of those making the bomb. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, adding a rider expressing their view that better inspection should be provided to guard against defects in the making of the bombs