‘‘lt is with much regret.that I have to announce that an unfortunate accident occurred at the Army School of Instruction, Trentham, on Saturday morning,” said the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F.Jones) to-night. “The accident occurred during a demonstration which was being given to a class of officers and non-commissioned officers undergoing instruction in the practical use ol bombs. “The chief instructor, Major R. J. D. Davis, N.Z.S.C., an officer of long experience and recognised. as an expert in weapon training in all its phases, was himself giving the demonstration, and was in the process of throwing a, bomb, the fuse of which had been lit. The bomb exploded and he was killed, together with three others.

 “In addition, *l2 of the class were wounded, four of them seriously. The remaining 11, who suffered shock, were able to go to their quarters and soon returned to normal. “All the injured men were immediately attended to by the camp medical staff, and all except those suffering shock were quickly removed to the Wellington Public Hospital by Army motor ambulances, held in the camp to moot such emergencies, the most serious cases being admitted within half an hour after the accident. “The next-of-kin of the dead and injured officers and soldiers were notified of the accident by telegram, and progress reports, where there was a turn for the worse in any of the injured, were dispatched to the next-of-kin during the week-end. “

ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, VOLUME 62, ISSUE 101, 9 FEBRUARY 1942, PAGE 2