1st Witness Testimony - 2nd Lt Gray
2/Lt Wingate Gray - V Battery R.H. states:
At Serny on the 2nd March about 2.30pm we were practicing firing with a trench mortar which had recently been issued to the battery. We had successfully fired the mortar three times, and on each occasion we considered the fuse in the bomb was too long. Previous to firing the fourth shot Major Goldie cut the fuse down as short as possible. The plug and the detonator were fixed in the bomb and carefully sealed in with plasticive. The bomb was then loaded in the usual manner. The fuze igniting the charge – about 4″ long, was then lit, and I cautioned those standing round to stand clear. A terrific explosion followed. I realized at once what had happened – viz, a premature in the bore – and saw a number of men wounded on the ground. It was subsequently ascertained that six men were killed outright and seven died of wounds including Major Goldie and 2nd Lieut Purchas. There were thirty five men wounded it total, some of whom are still in hospital, a few having returned to the Battery.
I consider the cause of the premature was due to the time fuze in the bomb being cut too short, thus causing the quick match to become exposed to the flash of the powder charge. It might possibly have occurred owing to the imperfect plasticive sealing if the wooden plug, although it was carefully inspected before loading by Major Goldie and myself.
2nd Witness Testimony - A/B.S.M. Morley
A/B.S.M. Morley V Battery R.H. states:
“On the 2nd March 1915, about 2pm, the whole battery paraded to see the trench mortar fired. It was successfully fired three times and each time the bomb fell to the ground but did not explode for several seconds. Previous to firing the fourth round, in order to obtain a burst immediately the bomb touched the ground, Major Goldie cut the fuze down as close as possible top the wooden plug. The mortar having been loaded in the usual manner, the whole battery was cautioned to stand back before lighting the powder fuse.
Immediately the fuze reached the powder charge there was a slight report and after a few seconds, thinking that it was a miss-fire, all the men closed in. As soon as they got within a few yards there was a violent explosion and several then fell to the ground.
3rd Witness Testimony - Sergeant Watkins
Sergeant Morley V Battery R.H. states:
At 2pm I was warned to parade my men to see the mortar fired. I was standing close by and saw everything that was going on. The first three rounds were successfully fired. The fourth round was prepared in an exactly similar manner to the previous rounds, with the exception that Major Goldie himself cut the bomb fuse down as short as possible. The mortar was loaded with the smallest charge on the range table, and the bomb loaded in the usual way.
Casualties
Roll of Officers, N.C.O's and men of V Battery R.H.A., killed and wounded by the accident to trench mortar on the 2nd March 1915.
Killed Outright.
56825, a/Bdr N. Fielding
49261, a/Bdr H. Knight
61508, S-Sth H. Nason
52844, Dvr A Walling
54638, Gnr C Wade
53520, Gnr H Lines
40068, Sgt A Drake.
Died of Wounds.
Major L M Goldie MVO, DSO;
2nd Lt E. C. Purchas
51296, Gnr C. White
67915 Dvr F. Sellins
47942, Dvr W. Nelham
17888, a/Bdr E. Ewing
69014, Gnr N. Chambers
Wounded.
51954 Gnr H Gowen, 64167 Gnr J Sivers, 51189 Gnr J Middleton, 38165 Dvr J Parker, 41803 Sgt R Beaver, 53681 A/Bdr J Pole, 43047 Sgt J Perry, 69414 Dvr J Ledger, 51190 A/Bdr C McGrath, 25915 Battery Sergeant Major A Rumley, 67895 Dvr H White, 63108 Gnr W Blaydon, 59532 Dvr G Warner, 51681 Gne A Whiddett, 55807 Dvr R Jarvis, 50415 Dvr C Bishop, 43537 Gnr B Galpin, 50795 Dvr W Thompson, 52808 Dvr R Day, 54923 Dvr G Elmer, 55612 Dvr J Luck, 52838 Gnr F Marchant, 78090 Dvr H Mylam, 2nd Lt P M Hosack.
Wounded and Rejoined Unit.
48150 Gnr G Saville, 57658 Gnr C Long
63416 Gnr C Calver, 88500 Dvr J Clements
34872 Cpl W Turner, 53500 Gnr J Wratten
33655 Sgt W Watkins, 40199 Dvr C Christmas
46811 Cpl E Salmon, 63342 Dvr B Davis
