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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Essex => Topic started by: Arranroots on Thursday 09 March 06 17:45 GMT (UK)
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Hello All
A friend would like to know more about the Silvertown Explosion in which several of her relatives were injured and one killed.
The incident, on 19th Jan 1917 killed 73 people in total and devastated a large area near Crescents Wharf where the factory of Brunner Mond was located.
She has had some success looking on the internet, but would like to know whether more information is available about civilian casualties?
Apparently there is a book called The Silvertown Explosion and the Stratford Express is believed to have reported some names.
Would anyone have access to the book or any articles about the explosion that might name the civilians, please? The family name we are after is GARDENER.
Many thanks for any help
kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Just wondering if your friend has tried the Newham local history bulletin board frequented by local residents past and present? I have seen a number of posts about the Silvertown Explosion http://www.newham.gov.uk/content/Environment/local_history.jsp
Casalguidi
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Thanks for that - I have passed the information on.
If anyone else has ideas, please feel free to add them!
:D
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These are a few links I found from Google:
http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/UEL/NE071.htm
http://www.psbooks.co.uk/BookDetails.asp?Code=33513&pg=British+Isles&ur=BritishIsles%5FRec%2Easp?pgn=8%23Nav33513
http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.60/Londons-biggest-explosion.html
http://www.lalamy.demon.co.uk/sivex.htm
Douglas.
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With regard to the Silvertown explosion, the sites referred to a good but I have a connection with that in that my Gt Aunt lived at the Tate Institute down the road from the factory. I have a newspaper cutting from 1977 in which her daughter recalled the events of the day.
I am happy to scan a copy if you want. There are none of your names mentioned but the story may be of interest .
2shea
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Douglas,
thanks for the links. I will pass them on in case my friend hasn't seen them. Did you find any GARDENERs? (She says hopefully!)
2Shea,
I will pass on your message also - that is exactly the sort of thing she is looking for, thank you. Will get her to pass on her e-mail idc. Do you know whether any of the booklets on the subject are still available? (as opposed to the book).
Many thanks again
Arranroots ;)
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Arranroots, try this link also:
http://www.hidden-histories.org/projects/silv/silv_learning_resources/history.html#explosion
:)
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Thanks Kimi :)
It seems that we learned nothing from this tragedy - recent years have seen all too many industrial incidents in areas that are densely populated.
There are presumably still people struggling to come to terms with the one only months ago in England.
A ;)
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I remember that there were a couple more explsoions in Silvertown in the 70's. One was a Paint facory and the other was a Lard factory. Not sure of the detail though, I was very young at the time.
Kimi
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:)Hello Everyone this is my first post. Thank you to my friend Arranroots for showing me this site and for everyone who has replied. I have been able to post a question on another site which may help me. I'll just keep trying.
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Well, I wonder who "Cotswoldhills" might be? ::) ;D
A BIG welcome to Rootschat!! - and not just cos you are my friend.
I told you Rootschatters would do their best for you.
:D :D
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Just wondering if your friend has tried the Newham local history bulletin board frequented by local residents past and present? I have seen a number of posts about the Silvertown Explosion http://www.newham.gov.uk/content/Environment/local_history.jsp
Casalguidi
Wow! Thanks for this site reference. I put up a post and got loads of replies. I now know where he is buried and someone sent me extracts from a book with three bits about him in it. He was only 5 years old. So thank you so much.
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Glad you got what you were looking for. The other site is very helpful and they have so much information. I use it myself occassionally.
Kimi
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Hi
A colleague of mine has written a book for his grandchildren and it is on line..... google West Silvertownfoundation .org or Stan dyson you will enjoy these i am sure He has a copy of the book which lists the casualties I did have a copy as msome of my family were amongst the casualties
Ronnie
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Hi
If you still are interested in this subject go onto Google and enter " stan dyson " he lived there and has a couple of sites listed about the area and a book he has written I am sure you will all find them interesting Give them a look anyway
Ronnie
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All,
Not necessarily about the explosion, but a newish site lists quite a bit of info about Silvertown and the area.
http://historyofstratford.co.uk/Silvertown/Silvertown-index.shtml
And Canning Town, Stratford, West Ham etc.
Best
Kevan
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Dear Arranroots,
Re the Silvertown explosion, dreadful as it obviously was, it should perhaps be remembered that the factory was Brunner Mondes, making shells, bombs etc., Silvertown as has quite rightly already been noted, was a densely populated area, full of housing, docks, paint factories, soap factories etc, so what might have been a relatively small incident, couldn't have happened in a worse place, and I suppose 73 dead could have so easily been 173 dead.
Bob Lovett
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Hi Bob
Yes, fair comment.
My friend, on whose behalf I originally posted this request, has now joined Rootschat too, so hopefully she will come across your reply.
Kind regards, Arranroots ;)
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Hi,
The book you need to read is called "With Disastrous Consequences... London Disasters 1830-1917" by Wendy Neal. It has 27 pages on the Silvertown Blast, and a list of the casualties, including Norman gardener age 5.
Elmo
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try the link for Stan Dyson He has written a book etc it makes good reading
www.westsilvertownfoundation.org.uk/stansgallery.htm
regards
ronnie
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http://www.newhamstory.com/files/Silvertown-Casualties.pdf
may help
sylvia
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We are about a third of the way through now adding the civilian casualties to the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War site. They are in a community (https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/7663908#communities)
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Tonight I posted another angle [with further interesting links] to the vast explosion and the loss of 73 lives. Most of the links here fail me as they are 20 years old.
Sadly the RC machinery is too stressed out and I can't even search for my post again! Yes I know it is that time of year when everything just gets TOO MUCH.
Will try again tomorrow.
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Hello All
A friend would like to know more about the Silvertown Explosion in which several of her relatives were injured and one killed.
The incident, on 19th Jan 1917 killed 73 people in total and devastated a large area near Crescents Wharf where the factory of Brunner Mond was located.
She has had some success looking on the internet, but would like to know whether more information is available about civilian casualties?
Apparently there is a book called The Silvertown Explosion and the Stratford Express is believed to have reported some names.
Would anyone have access to the book or any articles about the explosion that might name the civilians, please? The family name we are after is GARDENER.
Many thanks for any help
kind regards, Arranroots ;)
I see that some kind person has left a note [a postem] for many of the children killed by the explosion at FREEBMD, 1917 March quarter at WEST HAM district.
Gardner Norman W [aged 5] W.Ham 4a 222
Gardner Sidney A 56 W.Ham 4a 432
"Victim of the TNT explosion at the Brunner Mond works, in Crescent Wharf, Silvertown at 6.52pm on January 19, 1917."