CAPTAIN COLOMB&c.) (Tower Hamlets, Bow,asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, What was the number of men quartered at the gun on board the Kite when the accident took place on the 23rd instant; how many of these were petty officers or bluejackets who had been trained in the gunnery school of H.M.S. Excellent or Cambridge; how many were non-commissioned officers or gunners of Royal Marine Artillery, trained in the gunnery school of Eastney; what was the rank or rating of the captain of the gun; how often had this gun-crew been exercised at the gun during the month preceding the date of the accident; and, how many rounds had been fired by this gun-crow from this gun during the same period?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)There were three men stationed at the gun on board the Kite when the accident occurred. One of these was a bluejacket who had passed through the gunnery schools, and one was a bombardier of the Royal Marino Artillery, who was also captain of the gun. The gun crew had been exercised three times since commissioning on July 7, and one round had been fired during- this period.
§ CAPTAIN COLOMBDoes the noble Lord mean to say that only three men were stationed at the gun?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONSo I am informed.
§ CAPTAIN COLOMBI beg to give Notice that I shall call attention to that statement on the first available occasion.