268990 Lance Corporal Trevor Ronald Beach, (1915-5/10/1945). "left the road"

CRASH OVER BANK

20 MEN IN ARMY TRUCK

TWO KILLED IN 400FT FALL 

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 5. An army truck conveying a party of 20 men from the Trentham Army Ordnance Depot for daily duty at a post in the Belmont area, west of Hint Valley, crashed down a 400ft hillside this morning. One man was killed outright, and another died following his admission to the Hutt Hospital. 

The truck, with the driver and another man in the cab, was proceeding up the hill, and, when passing a taxi drawn up on the inner bank, left the road and crashed through thick undergrowth and bush to the bed of a stream 400 feet below. 

The soldiers who received only minor injuries had remarkable escapes. The canvas canopy over the rear portion of the truck was crushed and broken in the headlong descent, but the vehicle’s high sides largely protected the men in the rear. Ambulances, both civilian and army, were summoned immediately by the taxi driver, and rescue work was begun. The casualty list is: —

 Killed 

Private R. Cameron, Wellington. 

Died of Injuries

Lance-corporal T. R. Beach, Nelson,

Seriously Injured

Corporal N. A. Prier, driver of the truck, Shannon; back injuries. 

Injured

Sergeant T. A. B. Claridge, Levin; shock and head injuries. Corporal W. M. Hugh, Kilbirpie, Wellington; broken ribs.

Corporal J. R. Parker, Hawera. 

Private N. F. Bond, Dunedin. 

Private V. E. T. Nicholas, Hastings.

Private R. J. Willis, Patea. 

Private C. C. Rankin, address unknown.

The following were taken to the Trentham Military Hospital for observation: — Sergeant J. A. Pinkam, Christchurch: Sergeant E. C. S. Ellery, Wellington; Corporal H. W. Dillon, Hunterville; Corporal A. R. Mansfield, Wellington; Lance-corporal T. George, Ohau; Private F. A. Ellis, Lower Hutt; Private G. H. Clough, New Plymouth; Private J. A. Hockly. Ashhurst. It is expected that all of these men will be discharged by to-morrow.  -Evening Post, 5/10/1945.

FUNERAL AT RICHMOND

THE LATE L/CPL T. R. BEACH The funeral look place at Richmond yesterday of L/Cpl T. R. Beach, who was killed last Friday when an Army ordnance truck crashed down a 300-ft hillside in the Hutt Valley. L/Cpl Beach who was a son of Mr M. Beach, Salisbury road, Richmond, was given a semi-military funeral, at which the Army was represented by the Area Commander, Lt.-Col. A. J. Moore, and the Assistant Area Commander, Capt. F. Faulding' The services at the house and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. R. Patchett. The pallbearers were W. 0.11 W. R. H. McIndoe, Cpl. G. A. J. Thomas, Cpl. W. Harris, Cpl. J. M. St. John, Cpl. W. C. Grindle and A. Schwass. The “Last Post” was sounded by Bandsman B. Hewlett. 

The funeral was largely attended and there were present representatives of the Richmond Volunteer Fire Brigades and the St. John Ambulance Association.  -Nelson Evening Mail, 9/10/1945.

Richmond Cemetery.