KAPOOKA ARMY BASE EXPLOSION
KAPOOKA, NSW
ON 21 MAY 1945
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

24 Australian Army soldiers were killed outright in a tragic explosion inside a semi-underground training bunker at 1 RAE Training Centre at the Kapooka Army Base near Wagga Wagga in New South Wales on 21 May 1945. Sapper Ivan Walter Thomas Merritt SX34069 and Sapper William Reid S115574 were severely injured and subsequently died. The two sole survivors were Sapper Allan Raymond Bartlett SX34062, who lost his hearing and was severely injured and L/Sgt Colin James Kendall NX143571.

22 trainee sappers were being taught how to make small handheld explosives in a semi-underground bunker / dugout by 1 Royal Australian Engineers Training Centre staff comprising a sergeant instructor and a corporal assistant instructor. A smaller squad of three men under an assistant instructor were also in the dugout preparing detonators for a night exercise.  

A large explosion occurred in the bunker just before 3:00pm. There was approximately 110 pounds of explosives in the bunker at the time of the explosion. Those killed were as follows:-

Cpl. Alfred Edward Woods WX27166
Spr. Denby Eric Grasby SX34059
Spr. Terence Ronald Moore NX205652
Spr. Frank Wilfred Platt QX63309
Spr. Leslie John Mather NX180219
Spr. Ernest Frederick Poschalke Q273551
Spr. Kevin Francis Pierce VX96197
Spr. Colin Leslie Hurley NX180545
Spr. Stanley Robert Morphy Q273563
Spr. Thomas Woods N480870
Spr. Allan Flood NX205969
Spr. Joseph William Faull NX205863
Spr. Joseph John Collins NX205981
Spr. Geoffrey Wilton Partridge NX180218
Spr. Norman Rourke John Dilley N481536
Spr. Jack Clinton Nixon NX205833
Spr. Alfred George Witt WX23101
Sgt. Ronald Irwin Linthorne WX25792
Spr. Stanley Ernest Ross NX81964
Spr. Kevin Alexander Hurst NX205951
Sgt. Herbert John Pomeroy VX 57880
Spr. Colin Francis Boyd NX204475
Cpl. William Barclay Cousins VX141715
Spr. Edward Charles Robson NX205938

A formal inquiry was held, however the cause of the explosion is still unknown.

Photo:- NAA

The semi-underground "bunker" or dugout in which the explosion occurred

The twenty six men were buried two days after the accident. Four semi trailers carried the coffins through the city's packed streets. The schools were shut along with many local businesses.

Note:- The ABC article referenced below suggests that a Geoffery (sic) Pritchard was killed in the explosion. The official records in the National Archives of Australia (see link below) do not include him in the list of the 26 men killed. There are only three called Geoffrey Pritchard listed in the WWII Nominal Roll and they all survived the war. There is no one called Pritchard listed in the Roll of Honour for 21 May 1945. I wonder if they are actually referring to Spr. Geoffrey Wilton Partridge NX180218 and not Pritchard.

REFERENCES

"Explosion - 1 RAE Training Centre, Kapooka, 21 May 1945", National Archives of Australia

"Today marks 75 years since the deadly Kapooka Army Base explosion, yet many have never heard of it"
ABC Riverina by Rosie King and Mollie Gorman

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 23 May 2020

This page last updated 20 April 2024