The AIF Project

Recommendation date: 15 April 1917

'On the afternoon of 6th April, 1917 Private FAHY, who was one of the party engaged on salvage operations at Quarry was seen by the others to throw up his arms and disappear in the ground. On running over, Privates Catherwood and Guyatt found that FAHY had broken through a thin crust of ground into a hole about 12 feet deep. He called out to them that he was being gassed. A rope was hastily brought but by this time FAHY was unconscious not having been able to put on the respirator that was thrown down to him. Private CATHERWOOD, fastening a wire around his chest, went down, but before he could get the rope fastened around FAHY he himself was overcome and had to be hauled up. Private FAHY died with recovering consciousness, although he was taken at once to the Field Ambulance close by and oxygen administered. The Doctor's certificate put death down as due to mine gas poisoning. Private CATHERWOOD was off duty for two days from the effects of the gas and Private GUYATT was also affected and was unfit for duty the following day. The gas helmets and box respirators afford no protection against mine gas. The danger of the rescue work was made greater owing to the peculiar shape of the hole, the top and sides of which were liable to fall in at any time and bury those in the bottom.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 174
Date: 11 October 1917