§ Miss Vickersasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty how the accident between the British anti-aircraft frigate H.M.S. "Leopard" and the South African minesweeper "Pietermaritzburg" occurred; what casualties there were; and what was the estimated cost of the damage to H.M.S. "Leopard".
§ Mr. HayH.M.S. "Leopard" and the South African minesweeper "Pietermaritzburg" came into collision during exercises off Cape Point on 28th July.
One unmarried rating, Ordinary Seaman Thomas Bolton, was killed: there were no other casualties in either ship. Boards of Inquiry are being arranged by the two navies and the cost of repair of the damage to H.M.S. "Leopard" is being investigated.
On behalf of the Admiralty and the Royal Navy I would like to express my deep sympathy to the family of Seaman Bolton.