Beukman , William George (W G)

Died of wounds sustained on the gun position in action near the Lomba River due to catastrophic failure on the gun during high fire tempo engagements on 20 th September 1987 during Ops Modular. 6 other Battery members were also injured in the incident. Gunners' Memorial Trust jhbgunners.co.za

20 Sep 1987: 85212520BG Rifleman William George Beukman from 4 SAI, attached to 62 Mechanised Battalion Group was Killed in Action near the Lomba River during Ops Modular when a 155mm G-5 High Explosive shell exploded in the breach of the gun, blowing out the breach block and killing him instantly. It appears that the gun barrel was left with half burnt charge in it and another projectile was rammed in that did not seat properly because of the debris in the barrel. Another four members of the gun team were severely injured, losing limbs and being grievously burned when the shell exploded. He was 19.

Gentlemen, this is the offical position of the Gunners' Memorial Trust.
South African Gunners’ Memorial Trust

Death of Gunner W.G. Beukman – 20 September 1987

During March 2012 it was brought to my attention that the description posted on the www.southafricawargraves.org website of the death of Gnr Beukman (20 September 1987) was derogatory.

The description read as follows (author unknown):

“Died of injuries, Ops Modular near the Lomba river, Beukman was a number 2 on a G5 gun. The incident was caused by a the stupidity of the number 1 Bdr Du Plessis, Du Plessis was obsessed with being the fastest gun in the battery, on that day he loaded a charge without a projectile and fired the gun. The barrel was left with half burnt charge in it, instead of stopping and cleaning the barrel out he proceeded to ram another projectile which did not seat properly because of the debris in the barrel. The shot was fired and the projectile detonated blowing the breach block out of the gun, killing Beukman. Another 4 people were injured during this incident, losing limbs and getting seriously burnt unfortunately Beukman paid the ultimate price for someone else's stupidity”

I reviewed the description and discussed the matter with fellow Trustees of Gunners’Memorial Gnrs
(Maj Gen) Andersen, Gnr Prevost and Gnr Wiid.

I contacted the web site and requested that they suspend the remarks pending a considered report at a later stage. They agreed to do so and have subsequently amended the web site as follows:

“Died of injuries, Ops Modular near the Lomba river. Son of Mrs. E. S. Van Staden”

It was agreed that I would investigate the incident and prepare a more considered description for review and approval of the Memorial Trust and then submission to the web site for inclusion on their site and as the Trust’s official considered record of the death of Gnr Beukman.

I was able to contact the following persons that were directly involved with the incident and they kindly offered to assist. Elements of each of their submission are included here and referenced accordingly:

Maj Gen (Ret) J Laubscher Then Col, who conducted the initial investigation into the incident.
Lt Col (Ret) C van der Merwe Then Major, Battery Commander, Q Battery
Major (Ret) R McGimpsey Then Lieutenant, BPO, Q Battery
L/Bdr (Ret) M Stopforth Then L/Bdr, Gun No1, Gun No 8, Q Battery

Between 12:00 and 13:00 [1] on the 20 September 1987, Gun No 1 of Q Battery suffered catastrophic failure of the Gun during a Fire Mission. Gnr Buekman was killed and 6 other members of the Battery were injured [2],[3]. At the time of the incident, the gun fired the 10th rounds of HE [4],[5] during the 15 round fire mission. A charge only shot was erroneously fired by the gun crew that subsequently set fire to the bush in front of the gun. [6],[7].

There is now a little uncertainty as to whether a “Stop” command was issued immediately on the “blank” round being fired [8] or as a result of a Mig fly-by [9]. It was not unusual that a “Stop” command be in effect while enemy aircraft were in close proximity. This may have been further exasperated by the bush fire in front of the gun. It is also safe to assume that a “Stop” would have been in effect during the extinguishing of the fire for safety reasons. There is more than one source that indicates that a “Stop” command was in effect [10],[11],[12].

Not one of van der Merwe, Laubscher or Stopforth are certain that the “Stop” command was not in effect at the time. Stopforth agreed that a “Stop” had been in effect during the extinguishing of the fire only.

Laubscher reported “a fairly large number of partially-consumed (-burnt) as well as unconsumed propellant-charge sticks, strewn around over quite a large area in front of the stricken gun” [13]. This was obviously as a result of the charge only shot. It was confirmed [14] that the detonation took place at the instant of firing and not during the “stop”. This would rule out a cook-off and that Laubscher was able to recreate the failure at the QMG Ammunition Proof Range at Potchefstroom [15], it is clear that residue propellant within the rifling of the barrel caused the detonation.

The next issue would be to determine the following:
Was an individual to blame for the charge only shot that led to the failure and if so, would any action on part of the Gun Crew and/or the Crew Commander have been able to prevent the failure.

With respect to the first issue, this was the 10th round of a 15 rounds FFE. While the Gun Crew Commander (Bdr du Plessis) bears overall responsibility, the gun crew as a whole would be responsible for all actions of the gun and in particular, the Gun No 2 (Gnr Beukman in this case) would have responsible to ensure that the projectile was loaded.

This Battery had been active for over 2 weeks, moving mainly at night and firing all day. Exhaustion was prevalent and the men slept at every opportunity [16]. It is the therefore my opinion that no single individual could be blamed for the charge only shot.

As to the second point, it was a drill that the chamber is washed out between rounds. Laubscher [17], in his submission, specifically mentions “propellant sticks, whether partially-consumed or unconsumed, that remained in the barrel” and no amount of washing of the chamber would have been able to overcome this problem. It seems most likely that the propellant that remained became trapped between the projectile and the rifling causing the detonation.

The issue of Gun Crews being “obsessed” with speed is an obvious exaggeration. It is the duty of every gun crew to perform the tasks as speedily, accurately and safely possible and I believe it has little or no bearing on the resultant charge only shot.

The following paragraph is the official and final opinion of the Trust with respect to the death of Gnr Beukman.

Died of wounds sustained on the gun position in action near the Lomba River due to catastrophic failure on the gun during high fire tempo engagements on 20th September 1987 during Ops Modular. 6 other Battery members were also injured in the incident.

[1] E-Mail McGimpsey to Louw Saturday, April 14, 2012 18:28
[2] Sitrep As supplied by C Wilsworth E-Mail 05/04/2012 09:13
[3] First in Last out Page 279, Clive Wilsworth, 2010
[4] E-Mail McGimpsey to Louw Saturday, April 14, 2012 18:28
[5] First in Last out Page 279, Clive Wilsworth, 2010
[6], [8], [9] Written submission McGimpsey to Wilsworth (date unknown, for use in “Fire in, Last out”)
[7] E-Mail van der Merwe to Louw April 10, 2012 08:34
[10] E-Mail McGimpsey to Louw Saturday, April 14, 2012 18:28
[11] Interview Stopforth April 30, 2012
[12] Notes Stopforth September 20, 1987
[13] E-Mail Laubscher to Louw April 12, 2012 21:54
[14] Interview Stopforth April 30, 2012
[15] E-Mail Laubscher to Louw April 12, 2012 21:54
[16] Interview Stopforth April 30, 2012
[17] E-Mail Laubscher to Louw April 12, 2012 21:54

Rest in peace, gunner

What remained of the gun...