THE EARL OF HARROWBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
What truth there is in the allegations made in the recent court-martial over the shooting incident by Cape Wrath as to the gunnery officer on H.M.S. "Relentless" being posted without having done a gunnery course, and after his applications for this purpose had been turned down, and whether other factors could in any case possibly make up for a man being in this responsible position during firing with live shells without this necessary preparation.
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD CHALFONT)The gunnery training given to officers on the General List is adequate for the duties required of a gunnery officer in a ship of this class with relatively simple armament. The officer had, I understand, made no application for a gunnery course.1466WA While such a course would have beam an advantage, it was not strictly necessary, particularly as just before the exercise an experienced gunnery officer was nade available from another ship to assist with pre-exercise training and briefing on the particular form of fire support to be carried out. The Commanding Officer and Gunnery Officer of the ship were both found guilty of negligence at a court-martial on 21st August, and were sentenced to be reprimanded.