§ Commander SOUTHBY (by Private Notice)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any further information regarding the explosion reported by the Admiralty to have taken place at Chatham on board His Majesty's Ship "Vindictive"?
Mr. ALEXANDEROn the 23rd July an official statement was published by the Admiralty reporting the death of one naval rating and the serious injury of two others, owing to an explosion which took place on board His Majesty's Ship "Vindictive" on that morning. According to a report received from the Royal Naval Hospital at Chatham last night, the coroner's inquest on the engine-room artificer who was killed found that death was accidental and due to injuries caused by the bursting of a fuze, issued in mistake for a bomb-pistol, which deceased was engaged in cutting through. In a rider, the jury recommended that in future some distinctive marks be used to prevent a repetition of the mistake. A Court of Inquiry has been held, but the Report has not yet reached the Admiralty, and I regret that I am obviously unable to give further information until the Report of the Court of Inquiry has been carefully considered.