HC Deb 19 May 1939 vol 347 cc1803-5 The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Mr. THORNE: 1. To ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can give any information in connection with the gun explosion on the new British destroyer at Portland harbour on Wednesday; and what were the numbers of ratings killed and injured?
Mr. Thorne

May I say that I am very much obliged to the two Ministers for coming down to answer the questions that I have on the Paper to-day.

The Civil Lord of the Admiralty (Colonel Llewellin)

I regret to inform the hon. Member that on Wednesday, 15th May, one rating was killed and three injured on board His Majesty's Ship "Eskimo." The accident was due to the firing of a machine gun which had been left loaded after the previous day's practice. A full inquiry will be held into the circumstances of the accident. I would like to take this opportunity of expressing the Admiralty's sympathy for the relatives of the dead man.

2. Mr. Thorne

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give any information in connection with the explosion at Woolwich Arsenal on Wednesday; how many men were killed and injured and what was the cause of the explosion?

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Hore-Belisha)

The explosion occurred in one of the buildings in the ammunition filling factory. I regret to say that a man and a boy were killed, and two boys were injured. The injured are, however, progressing satisfactorily. The cause of the explosion is not yet known, but is being investigated by a court of inquiry. I should like to take this opportunity to express the sincere sympathy of the War Office with the relatives of the deceased, and also with the injured boys.

Mr. Thorne

May I take it for granted that, in the case of the man who was killed, compensation will be paid?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

If he had any dependants, that will be the case.

Mr. G. Hicks

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the House any information regarding the explosion which took place in Woolwich Arsenal yesterday.

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I regret to say that a serious accident occurred at 9.45 a.m. on 18th May at the proof butts, Woolwich. A routine test of ordinary cordite for filling cartridges for the 3.7-inch antiaircraft gun was in progress, and the first round was being loaded. No secret or experimental stores were involved. For the purpose of tests of this kind, a cartridge case is filled with the propellant which is to be tested, and a dummy shot is used. The cause of the explosion is not yet known, but, whatever the cause, a charge of about 6 lbs. of cordite in the brass cartridge case was fired before the cartridge was properly in the gun. The base of the cartridge was blown out backwards, and the fragments struck and killed five men and injured four others, one seriously. The cartridge had been filled at the proof butts by men belonging to the same party as those killed. The accident may have been due to one of a number of different causes, or a combination of such causes, which it will be the duty of the court of inquiry to determine. I should like to express the sincere sympathy of the War Office with the relatives of those who lost their lives and also with the injured men.

Mr. Hicks

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his reply, and am sure that the whole House will share in the sympathy which he has expressed. May I ask him what form the inquiry will take?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I do not know precisely, but it will be a proper court of inquiry.

Mr. Thorne

May I take it that the right hon. Gentleman's reply this morning will also apply to the question that I have down for Monday, and that it will not be necessary for me to repeat it?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Yes, Sir, if the question relates to the same subject.