1903.06.18 explosion

accidents

Explosion in the shell filling rooms in the Lyddite Factory.

These rooms comprised large corrugated iron huts set on bricks. Inside the factory, workers had been involved in the process of turning picric acid into the highly explosive substance known as lyddite, which was used for filling shells of army and Navy ordnance. At the time of the explosion, a group of men was handling a shell for a 9.2 naval gun, weighing 435lb., and containing a bursting charge of 46lb. of lyddite.

As The Times recorded the next day, this charge of lyddite then "exploded with terrific report". A number of men were blown to pieces. Others were later identified by their limbs. Investigators were able to establish the exact time of the explosion from a watch, found on the body of the supervisor, Edwards, which had stopped at 8.10.

　

Those killed included labourers on 21-28 shillings per week and their supervisor. 　

ADAMS, Charles Denny 37 years, =()= Killed**4 Fenwick Street, Woolwich 
CASE, George 52 years, =()= Killed* stoker,
96 East Street, Charlton

CONNOR, Peter John Joseph 27 years, Killed* unidentified
130 Sandy Hill Road, Plumstead

CROFTS, G slightly injured
13 Paget Road, Plumstead

CURRAN, Francis 'Frank'  41 years, =()= Killed*
56 Higham Road, East Ham.
EDWARDS, William Henry Killed*
6 Greening-street, Woolwich (son of the principal foreman of the Lyddite factory. He was directing the work in that morning)

GAURD, D slightly injured11 Nyanza Road, Plumstead.

GOLDSMITH, A severely wounded{contused wounds
18 Siemans Road, Woolwich

GREENLEES, Alfred 42 years, =()= Killed*
54, Piedmont Road, Plumstead

HAMMOND, C slightly injured
3 Robert Street, North Woolwich

HERBERT, Walter 26 years, Killed* unidentified
123 High Street, Plumstead, or Wickham Lane, Plumstead
 HOWELL, E slightly injured
2 Barth Road, Plumstead

JOHNSON, Stanley 30 years, Killed* unidentified
58 Fenwick Street, Woolwich

LARKIN, James Patrick 31 years, =()= Killed** (died after admission to hospital)26 Palmerston Road, Plumstead

LNDSEY, slightly injured
144 Samuel Street, Woolwich

MARSHALL, Thomas 38 years, Killed** unidentified
164 Burrage Road, Plumstead
 
MORLEY, Frederick 35 years, Killed** unidentified
 4 School Lane, Welling {named as ORLEY not checked
 
NEWTON, Edmund Harry 30 years, =()= Killed*17 Kirkham Street, Plumstead

P[T]INHORN, Edward Felix 36 years, =()= Killed**68 Tourmont Road, Plumstead  {named as PINHORN not checked

REMINGTON, Alfred Philip Smith =()= Killed** 4, Miriam Road, Plumstead (died after admission to hospital)
 Buried in Brighton. Sussex.

SAUNDERS, A slightly injured
North Dean, Westheath, Woolwich Road, Abbeywood

SMEALY, A slightly injured
12 Ceres Road, Plumstead

SMITH, F slightly injured
Manthorpe Road, Plumstead

STEVANS, F severely wounded{fractured ribs
26 Prendell Street, Plumstead

STEVENS, A severely wounded{contused wounds
7 Tewson Road, Plumstead

STEVENSON, E slightly injured
14 Ceres Road, Plumstead

SWORDS, John Henry  28 years =()= Killed**96 East Street, Charlton

USHER, James Henry 39 years, =()= Killed** assistant overlooker,
33, Abbeywood Road, Abbeywood.

WEBB, slightly injured
1 Heavitree Road, Plumstead

WOOD, W slightly injured
2 Eton Street, Plumstead
  note address/names not checked. from newspaper reports and deceasedonline.

Royal Arsenal Memorial (Plumstead Cemetery)

Hoare & Sons of Woolwich and Shooter's Hill,
Monumental Masons, 83 Church Street, Woolwich
Four panels at the base ...
* side facing chapel
**right hand
***opposite chapel see 1903.02.16 explosion
****left hand
Erected/ to the memory of/the men who lost their/lives in the/gun cotton and lyddite/explosions at the/royal arsenal Woolwich/ in the midst of life we/are in death.
at the bottom of plinth right : Hoare & Sons/Woolwch &.......
at the bottom of plinth left  : This monument was/ erected by / the employees of the / danger buildings / royal arsenal


See ...
http://deceasedonlineblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/plumstead-cemetery-in-royal-borough-of.html
updated ...
2013.02.17