RootsChat.Com
England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Nottinghamshire => Topic started by: Burto on Friday 01 April 05 22:21 BST (UK)
-
Hi, Just wondering if anyone know's anything about the Chilwell munitions factory explosion in 1918?
My GGrandfather rescued people from there and earnt a medal, and went blind from the blast. Are there any websites of lists of survivors...or does anyone know what medal he may have been awarded?
Thanks
-
Hi Burto
Below are a couple of websites giving the general facts. If you live in the Nottingham area the local papers are available on microfilm from that time at the libraries and may have more info. If not get in touch again.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/eastmidlands/series2/blast_chilwell_somme.shtml
http://www.nottsfhs.org.uk/society/journals/apr01.htm
It certainly was devastating as I know several local people that remember it well. Windows were broken in buildings several miles away. I will ask around to try get the info you want.
Jane
-
Would anybody know if they kept records of the personnel ?
And where could I find them?
My Great-Grandfather Albert Edward Knight worked there. On the day of the blast, he was off work & ill. Lucky for him !
Regards,
Claire
-
Hi Burto,
Mrs Nellie Hall of Langley Mill was killed in the blast. She was remembered in the Langley Mill book of the fallen printed shortly after WW1. They mention that she was the only one of the canteen workers killed and that many were rescued.
Perhaps your GGrandfather was that man?
Mog.
-
I worked in Chilwell depot for awhile,there is a memorial in there,but not sure if it has the names of those killed,i was told that no building was allowed on the piece of land where the explosion took place,as it was considered a burial site,as several of the victims were never found
-
134 people died and 250 were injured in the explosion on july 1st 1918. four women and eight men were awarded the obe my grandfather being one of them. 10,000 people worked there at the time.
-
Hi Ilson
Welcome to rootschat
What an amazing connection - you must be so proud of your grandfather
I wonder what award Burto's relative was awarded?
Mog
-
Thanks for the welcome cheshire.
I remember my father telling me when i was a young lad that his father who worked at chilwell was awarded the obe after the explosion and i never forgot.
I have just read a very good book called "1918 year of victory" by malcolm brown who worked at the imperial war museum and the chilwell munitions explosion is mentioned. It tells you the names of the four women who won the award but not the names of the eight men.
It also states that the iwm have some hand written documents relating to the disaster, so i have contacted them and am just waiting for a reply. I might have to go to the iwm to read them if its possible.
I saw an old film of the chilwell munitions factory on a website last year but i cannot remember the address.It was really good. The obe stands for the honour of Officer of the Order of the british Empire
and was only formed in january 1918, so these were some of the first to be awarded.
If i receive any more information i will post it.
-
Can remember my Gandma telling me about that terrible disaster, she said she heard the bang at Curzon Street, Long Eaton where she lived. She was told by a neighbour who was working at the depot and helped in the rescue of survivors that some of the victims were found embedded in the walls of the building the blast was that big, makes you think doesn't it.
-
My grandfather Samuel Watson was killed in this explosion. There is a memorial with all the names on it, but it inside the barracks. I wrote to the barracks a few years ago and I was invited to go and see it. I was treated extremely well, details of the explosion were explained to me and I was able to photograph the monument. There is a service at the memorial on remembrance Sunday and it is possible for civilians to attend on request. The major book on the explosion is a book by MJ Haslam called the “Chilwell story”. Only a few intact bodies were recovered the rest of the remains were buried in a mass grave in the church in Attenborough.
-
I downloaded this here from this page, Nellie is my great grandmother! many thanks.
Her son was my grandfather Robert Hall, raised by an Aunt i believe, and finally settling in Fife, Scotland. He was born in 1916, so was still very young when she died. He had a sister, Kathleen, 3yrs older than him. Nellie and Robert senior were married in 1913, my sister found Robert seniors grave at Ypres.
-
This is a link to a website i found which shows a short film of the chilwell munitions factory and what it was like to work there in 1917.
If you look in the photograph section you will find some pictures of the inside and one after the explosion showing the devastation it caused. Hope the link works.
http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/collections/item/5522
-
134 people died and 250 were injured in the explosion on july 1st 1918. four women and eight men were awarded the obe my grandfather being one of them. 10,000 people worked there at the time.
Hi all,
Thanks for all the responses...I have no idea what if anything my GGranddad was awarded...is there any way of finding out if he was awarded an OBE too?
-
I have a copy of the "Chilwell story which names some of those who won the OBE but they seem to be scattered through the book. What was your GG grandad's name Burto?. I will have a look to see if I can find it.
Dave
-
Hi Burto
Following your PM have had a look and there is no mention of your relative in the book, either as a recipient of an OBE or any other medal. I can not find any other reference to him although there are a few statements from witnesses etc. There was an enquiry into the explosion I don't know if this is now in the public domain
Regards
Dave
-
Hi Retired Traveller,
Many thanks for taking the time to look up his name for me, I really appreciate it.
-
I worked in Chilwell depot for awhile,there is a memorial in there,but not sure if it has the names of those killed,i was told that no building was allowed on the piece of land where the explosion took place,as it was considered a burial site,as several of the victims were never found
Chilwell was my Father's first posting after he was called up in 1939 and one of my maternal Great Grandfathers was in the Chilwell explosion during the Great War but survived. Father met Mother at Nottingham Palais which is where I come in.
I was interested to read your post about the memorial and the plot of land with a building ban. I live in Cheshire and haven't visited the area for a long time but I understand that the army base is now closed nd has been re developed. Is this the case?
If so, is the plot of land still sacrosanct and what has happened to the memorial plaque? If it has been relocated on site is the Remembrance Day service still held at it?
-
Much of the area has been developed with housing and retail units. There is still an army base there now known as Chetwynd Barracks named after Lord Chetwynd who set the shell filling factory up. I now live 200 miles away but last visited in 2004 and went to the memorial service. I have no doubt this is still held
Dave
-
I spent my teenage years (1960s) in Carrfield Avenue, Long Eaton and my mother (b 1916) was brought up next door. In our house, the front bedroom door and jamb had been warped by the blast and never repaired. The door could not be shut.
-
google search images
Chilwell munitions factory explosion
info and photos
sylvia
-
My G Grandfather worked at the depot in the war. He had according to family legend, just arrived home in Beeston when they heard the explosion.
My question is was his trade as a carpenter and joiner enough to keep him from service, and into building munitions boxes and teaching others to do it. He did not work at the depot before the war.
Skewy
-
Skewbald:
I should imagine that in specific localities. where munitions and other essential military items were produced, a certain number of tradesmen who would normally choose to join up, were prevented, in order to carry out important war work.
Your G Grandfather would, most likely, be a time-served, Master craftsman and, as such, would be able to make the type of packaging suitable for the transport of munitions. He would also be experienced and skilled enough to train women and also, men who were unsuitable for the military, to produce this packaging.
Although, no doubt, he would have made some of the wooden cases himself, he would probably have been involved in a more supervisory/inspection/training capacity.
Since munitions had to be transported overseas, it was particularly important that they arrived in the best condition. Every case that was damaged in transit would be a local danger because of their explosive contents, and every case lost this way hampered the war effort.
So, your G Grandfather was playing a very important, and probably unsung, role in winning the war.
-
Thanks Mizelar, as neither grandad spoke much of things I'll never know the full story perhaps. My other grandad lost toes in the trenches is all I know for sure, and now not only that generation are dead, but all the next generation in my family have past on.
Skewy.
-
Skewy:
I know the feeling: I'm top of my tree in age-wise! Don't you kick yourself for not asking all those questions we have no answers to? ???
Have you tried to find out about your G Grandfather's work at Chilwell? Maybe there are still some records.
Also, your trenches grandad should have a military record, which may list the actions he was involved in. You could then read contemporary biographies and other Gt War books that describe the events, to get a good idea of the conditions and what he went through.
If you haven't done so already, it may be fruitful to Google their names with 'genealogy' - you never know what may come up.
-
Hi Mizelar, my grandad working at Chilwell Depot never crossed my mind in the past. It was only sitting reading this thread that the memory came back about him just arrived home from the depot, and realising that was not his main job.
I suppose it is something I try and look into now.
As for my other grandad, having the most uneusual name of Frank smith really helps me there. yes, i've searched a lot, but no answers. From the marriage certificate 27th may 1916 he was a soldier with 3/7 West Riding Regt. at Clipstone camp. It was half way through the war, so was he coming home injured, or yet to go out? ???
Skewy
-
Try searching for Frank's army records here:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
No need to suspect the worst - soldiers did get leave... if it was convenient!
His record will tell you when he joined up, where he was sent etc., when he was demobilised.
-
My great grandmother was a survivor of this blast , my granma is now 85 and just recently told me the story of how her mother was involved. I don't know alot all I know is she worked there when the blast went off in 1918 x
-
Hello,
i wondered if anyone knew whether any of the factory still remains today and what it might be now? I'm not from the area so it's difficult to check but doing some research into WW1 munitions factories.
I would also be interested to speak to anyone with any female relatives that worked in munitions during WW1 as part of a BBC2 history series. (Particularly any that may have been domestic servants before or after).
Thanks,
Lauren
-
Hi,
'The factory' was destroyed in the explosion but the site still houses workshops and stores. The greater site used to be half REME and half Ordnance stores but much has been sold off. The site though is still substantial and used by the regular army as well as territorials.
My GGdad was said to be the last victim of the explosion, I have been told that he was blown off a haystack and died of his injuries 5 months later. Fact or not, I do not know.
There is a memorial in the barracks and if you are doing a serious piece about the history you should contact the commandant and you may get a visit if this will help you.
-
I downloaded this here from this page, Nellie is my great grandmother! many thanks.
Her son was my grandfather Robert Hall, raised by an Aunt i believe, and finally settling in Fife, Scotland. He was born in 1916, so was still very young when she died. He had a sister, Kathleen, 3yrs older than him. Nellie and Robert senior were married in 1913, my sister found Robert seniors grave at Ypres.
Hi tcherry, I'm doing some research on the Chilwell explosion for a WW1 project. I'd be really interested in speaking to you about it. Many thanks, Emily
-
I do not have a family connection to this site. My great grandfather was a munitions worker in Newcastle in 1916 & a civilian. There is a photo of him in a military hospital uniform. If he had been injured at work could he have been treated in a military hospital? His entire life is one big mystery.
Thank you
-
My great grandmother was a survivor of this blast , my granma is now 85 and just recently told me the story of how her mother was involved. I don't know alot all I know is she worked there when the blast went off in 1918 x
Hi Ashlolchris,
I'd be interested to hear your story. Do get in touch. thanks, Emily
-
Hi Silaswall, I can't answer that, but would like to hope so as they were also risking their lives as the explosion at chilwell proved.
Skewy
-
Thank you skewbald. I think that may be the case.
-
I worked in Chilwell depot for awhile,there is a memorial in there,but not sure if it has the names of those killed,i was told that no building was allowed on the piece of land where the explosion took place,as it was considered a burial site,as several of the victims were never found
Try scrolling down on this site:
http://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/rollofhonour/WarMemorials/Details/215
Regards.
The Professor.
-
Can remember my Gandma telling me about that terrible disaster, she said she heard the bang at Curzon Street, Long Eaton where she lived. She was told by a neighbour who was working at the depot and helped in the rescue of survivors that some of the victims were found embedded in the walls of the building the blast was that big, makes you think doesn't it.
My Grandmother, Linda Walker, work at Chilwell and lived just around the corner from your Grandmother in College St. I wonder if they knew each other?
-
To Dave, "Retired Traveller" Would you please check your book on the Chilwell explosion for me? I have a great uncle who I was told also won an OBE at this time. His name is Quinn. Many thanks
Diana
-
Hi
Just wondered if there may be employee records kept somewhere. I was given a factory disc which belonged to a family member, but unfortunately no one knew who it was owned by !!!
My Great Grandad Albert Pearce was born in Beeston, Notts, but I believe he was in the RAF during WW1, but his wife Laura May Pearce, then Cox, was apparently in the Land Army, so I'm presuming it may have been hers. I know both families lived at Long Eaton at some point in time too. My Great Grandma was actually born in Albert Village in 1900. Not entirely sure where the families lived during the War.
Either way, if there was a list of employees somewhere, I could search for any Cox or Pearce that may have been at the Shell Filling Factory, to see if any appear on my family tree.
Kind Regards
Nige