Private Bernard Stenchion

Young Soldier Accidentally Shot.
KEENNESS LED TO DEATH.
How a young Paratrooper, keen to reach his objective during a practice, went
too far and was killed by covering lire from a Bren-gun, was the sad story told
to the Island Coroner (REA Webster, Esq) and a jury, of which Mr RG
Bristow was foreman, at an inquest at Totland Bay Military Hospital on
Saturday.
The soldier was Private Bernard Joseph Stenchion, aged 18, of the 1st
Parachute Regiment, whose home is at Batley, Yorks.
Lieut Robert Stanley Warren, of the 1st Parachute Regiment, explained the
procedure of a syndicate field-firing practice of which he had charge on a
range at Niton on Friday week, Private Stenchion was one of an advancing
section whose objective was under Bren-gun covering fire from another part of
the range. When the accident was reported to him he immediately arranged
for the injured man to be sent to hospital in an ambulance, after first-aid had
been given by RAMC orderlies.
Corpl. Charles Henry James Sale, who was in charge of the advancing
section, said they were going forward in rushes at an angle to the covering
fire. He saw that Stenchion, who was on a flank, had got a little ahead of the
line and immediately gave the order "Get down," but as he did so Stenchion
fell. "I at first thought that he was joking when he said he was hit," added the
witness.
Sergt, Harold Gough, who was firing the Bren gun, said he fired two bursts at
the target and during the second there was a shout “A man has been hit," and
he immediately ceased fire. He had kept the advancing section under
observation and did not see anyone in the line of fire while the gun was in
action.
Capt A Mills, RAMC, said that Stenchion had been wounded by two
bullets, one going through his chest and spine and the other fracturing his
right thigh. He was suffering severely from shock on admission to hospital and
died about an hour and a half later.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, adding that in their opinion no
blame could be attached to anyone, as the deceased in his keenness went too
far forward.
Isle of Wight County Press Saturday 23 June 1945