Spotted this headstone at Liverpool (West Derby) Cemetery today: Cadet Sergeant John Richard Roberts, 1st Bn. King's Regiment (Liverpool), son of John Owen and Freda Alice Roberts, died 22 July 1947 age 18. Buried at plot RC.6.763. He was shot in the head with a sten gun during a mock battle exercise at Gateacre, on 30 March 1947. The incident left him paralysed in both legs and left arm. He later died from his injuries. Daily Mirror, 16 Sep 1947: I expect that as a cadet he wouldn't be eligible for commemoration, but will try and get clarification.
Paul would he not be commemorated due to the fact the Army Cadets were not directly aligned to the British Army. But worth checking out with CWGC The BNCA became the Army Cadet Force Association (ACFA) in 1945 and continues to be responsible for those aspects of cadet training and activities, which are not the direct concern of the MOD. In addition, the ACFA are advisers to the MOD and other Government bodies on all matters connected to the ACF.ACF History | Army Cadets UK.
Terry Denham thinks he might qualify as the fatal injury was sustained whist on duty. He's going to look into it.
IFCP turned this down in the end, but I eventually submitted him myself as a possible civilian casualty. He has now been rejected with the following explanation: The submitted evidence illustrated that John Richard Roberts died as a result of a shooting accident whilst on a cadet training exercise. This incident was the subject of a manslaughter trial, in which the perpetrator admitted personal responsibility for the crime. Furthermore, he revealed that he used his own personal ammunition to carry out the shooting. The casualty’s death therefore cannot be considered a result of allied munitions and does not meet the criteria for commemoration as Civilian War Dead.
