John MacFarlane

140th Officer Cadet Training Unit, Royal Engineers Bowbridge Road Camp, Newark. Died at Harlow Wood, Orthopedic Hospital from a gun shot wound received during a training accident. Admitted to Newark Hospital he was later taken to Harlow Wood and operated on for the badly infected wound dying later from surgical shock following Gangrene Toxaemia.

Inquest Coroner Lt Col H Bradwell.

Lt W Harrison, Pioneer Corp Battle Drill Instructor, the men were climbing the hill (Queens Sconce) in single file during a night training exercise. Each man had a rifle, ball ammunition and the safety catches were off, as part of the exercise assumed the enemy would appear at any moment. Officer Cadet Alan John MacDonald was immadiatly behind Officer Cadet MacFarlane when his trigger snagged on a branch or wire discharging a round into MacFarlane buttock.

Dr Gilbert Parker of Harlow Wood, Orthopedic Hospital, Officer Cadet MacFarlane arrived with sever Gangrene and an operation to save his life was performed. He was returned to his bed but died not long after.

Coroner Lt Col H Bradwell verdict of accidental death with no blame attached to the exercise standards or Officer Cadet MacDonald.

Unknown