Military History

Horace was accidentally killed on 13th May 1919 at the Bovington tank training camp in Dorset when he was crushed between two tanks and died one minute later.

An article in the Warwick Advertiser on 24th May 1919 describes the evidence given at the Coroners Inquiry which is, in part, transcribed below. The full article can be found below.

"It was stated at the Coroners Inquiry by Lieutenant Gordon Chattey, the officer in charge of the moving tank, that whilst some distance away, with plenty of room for movement, he signalled his driver to swing to the left to avoid a stationary tank, but he was unable to do so owing to the tanks failure to answer the helm immediately, a very rare occurance, with the result that Clulee, who was standing talking to a companion in front of the stationary tank was pinned between both of the tanks. The formation of the ground was the only explanation witness could give for the mishap.

A signal was immediately given to the mobile tank to withdraw, which it did, but Pte Clulee collapsed almost at once and died in Captain Cleydon's arms. A verdict of accidental death was given".