TOPIC:

The 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers had arrived at Pembroke Dock on 5th September, after having taken part in manoeuvres on Salisbury Plain. Whilst preparing to depart for Southampton, en route to South Africa, Private George Jones was fatally wounded.


Shortly before noon a serious accident caused by the foolhardiness of a drummer named Grainger cast a gloom over the whole encampment. He appears to have been engaged cleaning a rifle, and while doing so placed a cartridge, which he believed to be blank, but which really was not so, into it. In the course of some skylarking which followed, the weapon discharged, and the ball struck Private Jones behind, passing afterwards through his abdomen and striking Private Moran on the arm. The injured men were immediately removed to the hospital, and were later in the evening reported to be progressing favourably. Grainger was arrested and a regimental board of inquiry held during the afternoon elicited the fact that the cartridge used was an old one that Grainger had picked up. Jones's injuries subsequently proved fatal.


Yesterday, the Coroner, Mr H. J. E. Price, held an inquest at the Hut Encampment, Pembroke Dock, touching the death of Private George Jones, of the Welsh Fusiliers, who was accidentally shot at the camp on Sunday.
Private Wm. Jarvis deposed that deceased was a private in the Reserves, having been discharged at Gosport in January, 1897. He was 28 years of age. In civil life he was a constable in the Cardiff Borough Police. He had been called to join his regiment.
Thomas Grainger, drummer in the 1st Batt. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, deposed he did not know deceased and had never seen him. He (witness) was standing outside the drummers' barrack room talking to others about 11.15 a.m. He picked up a rifle which was standing against the wall. He believed it belonged to Drummer Archer. He was loading and unloading it without cartridges for practice. He turned round and saw Drummer Butler with a cartridge which he believed was a dummy. He put it in the rifle, pulled the trigger, and the shot went off. He did not have the rifle to his shoulder. He heard someone shout in the barrack room opposite where he was standing. He positively said he thought there was no danger in firing off the rifle with the cartridge. When he found he had wounded someone he at once reported himself to his Captain and was put in the guardroom.
Surgeon-Major Poole, R.A.M.C., deposed to attending deceased. He had a severe gunshot wound in the left arm. It was attended with profuse haemorrhage and shock. He died on Monday evening. The bullet passed behind the left shoulder blade, entering the chest, piercing the upper portion of the lung, and passing out through the left upper arm. Death was due to internal haemorrhage.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," adding as a rider that there was no evidence to show where the cartridge came from, or who was responsible for it being in Butler's possession.
The Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph, Wednesday 25th October 1899

The 1st Battalion departed Pembroke Dock the same day, in the evening, arriving at Southampton on the Monday, to embark on the "Oriental.". Grainger reportedly accompanied them, under arrest.

On Wednesday afternoon the remains of Private George Jones, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who was accidentally shot on Sunday, and died on Monday evening, were removed to Newport, his native place, for interment. The body was conveyed to Pembroke Dock Railway Station on a gun carriage, covered with the Union Jack, and followed by Captain Hanbury and other officers and men, with members of the town police force and two colleagues of the Cardiff Police Force, who seemed much affected.
South Wales Daily News, Thursday 26th October 1899




The remains of Police-constable George Jones, of the Cardiff Police, who was accidentally shot by a drummer-boy named Grainger at Pembroke Dock, where deceased had joined the colours as a Reservist of the Welsh Fusiliers, were interred yesterday afternoon in Newport Cemetery. The body had been removed from Pembroke to Lewis-street, Newport, where deceased's parents reside and the cortege left the house about 3 o'clock and proceeded by way of Commercial-street and Stow-hill to the Cemetery. A column of 50 Newport police, under Inspectors Hale and Evans, headed the procession, and this was followed by about 90 members of the Cardiff force under Head Constable McKenzie, a contingent of the Cardiff Fire Brigade marching in front of deceased's old colleagues. The firing party consisted of details from the Mountain Mule Battery, stationed at Newport Barracks, under the command of the battery sergeant-major. The coffin, borne on an open hearse, was enshrouded in wreaths and flowers. There were five mourning and other coaches. Numbers of persons congregated at intervals along the route to await the passing of the cortege.
South Wales Echo, Saturday 28th October 1899

My own thoughts would be that an accidental discharge under those particular circumstances, as described, appear to me at least, quite unforgivable, terms like an "old" cartridge, a "dummy", a "blank" and so forth seem inappropriate, a soldier knows the difference, very tragic indeed.

I appreciate that the battalion was preparing to move out, but it seems rather sloppy to have cartridges lying around, whether they were live or duds.

Does anyone know what became of Thomas Grainger, the drummer? Did he eventually get sent out to South Africa?