Mark Saunders
New Member
I am investigating a 1941 ‘gunnery practice’ accident where a shell fell a 1000 yards short onto a house killing a lady in the coastal town of Shanklin (this is for Shanklin History Society). The newspaper report of the coroner’s inquest is light on detail for security reasons. Apparently a 'No 5 charge' was used which should have been satisfactory. However, the shortfall of 1000 yards was consistent with a 'No 4 charge' being used in error. Another detail is that they were observing the fall in the sea and had ‘shortened the range’. It seems there were four guns in the battery. That’s all I have. Could anyone hazard a guess as to what sort of gun was involved please? What were those types of charges used in? It appears this was not a coastal battery as it fired from behind town out to sea. Thanks, Mark.