Lives of the First World War

known 20th February 1916

Private Benjamin Goodwin b. 1881 'accidentally killed' 20 Feb 1916 Benjamin Goodwin's story It was 20 February 1916 and 2/Lieut Stanley Gummer was teaching a class of soldiers on the use of the Lewis Gun. In a nutshell he allowed the class to stand in front of the gun. He 'accidently' picked up a live round instead of the dummy round he had previously made. His fingers slipped off the rocking handle and the round was fired hitting our Uncle Benjamin Goodwin in the stomach and chest. Benjamin died 15 mins approx later. Benjamin is buried in Authille Military Cemetery. 2/Lt Gummer was in breach of many rules here. The court of inquiry report doesn't make sense on a couple of counts. However our Benjamin was not found at fault at this enquiry and it states he was accidentally killed. (That was nice of them). Also as 2/Lt's were in short supply the court found that Stanley Gummer was to blame in not exercising care in keeping the live and dummy rounds separate and they felt he was a keen soldier and had suffered enough and there was no trial by Court Martial. Stanley Gummer was however killed on 9 Oct 1917 in action. He has no known grave and his name is on the wall at Tyne Cot.

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