The 1918 explosion National Shell Filling Factory, Chilwell

mass grave in st. mary s church, attenborough

a substantial part of national shell filling factory destroyed in explosion of 8 tons of tnt on 1 july 1918. in 134 people killed, of whom 32 positively identified, , further 250 injured. unidentified bodies in mass grave in st. mary s church, attenborough. blast reportedly heard twenty miles away.

the factory returned work war effort next day, , within 1 month of disaster reportedly achieved highest weekly production. winston churchill, minister of munitions, sent telegram:

please accept sincere sympathy in misfortune has overtaken fine factory , in loss of valuable lives, have perished have died @ stations on field of duty , have lost dear ones should fortify thought, courage , spirit shown concerned both men , women command our admiration, , decision have come carry on without break worthy of spirit animates our soldiers in field. i trust injured receiving every care.

a telegram sent buckingham palace, on behalf of king.

in speech reported in times, on 9 july 1918, mr f. g. kellaway, mp, parliamentary secretary ministry of munitions speculated that, french had apparently given honour citadel of verdun, perhaps factory should awarded victoria cross. whilst award not appear have been made, site subsequently known v.c. factory . works manager, lieutenant arthur hilary bristowe, subsequently awarded edward medal on 21 january 1919 heroism following explosion. (when edward medal discontinued in 1971, living recipients of award invited return medal, , issued george cross in exchange.)

scotland yard called in investigate. lord chetwynd alleged have told them convinced sabotage , have gone far naming culprit. however, more explanation lax safety standards workforce competed meet increasingly challenging production targets, coupled instability of tnt compound on unseasonably warm day.

at time reported in wartime newspapers - 60 feared dead in midlands factory explosion.

on 16 november 1918 works band, founded lord chetwynd, himself playing cornet, played in quadrangle of buckingham palace. marched downing street , played outside no 10 , congratulated david lloyd george, prime minister, , played further selection of items outside ministry of munitions.

memorial obelisk

a memorial had died in explosions @ site unveiled duke of portland on 13 march 1919. takes form of small obelisk above massive pyramidal base. there inscribed stone, curiously statistical approach commemorating factory s achievements dead:

erected memory of men , women lost lives explosions @ national shell filling factory chilwell 1916 - 1918

principal historical facts of factory

first sod turned 13th september 1915

first shell filled 8th january 1916

number of shells filled within 1 year of cutting first sod 1,260,000

total shells filled 19,359,000 representing 50.8% of total output of high-explosive shell both lyddite , amatol 60pd 15inch produced in great britain during war

total tonnage of explosive used 121,360 tons

total weight of filled shell 1,100,000 tons

on fiftieth anniversary of explosion, memorial restored , plaques added following text:

to glory of god , in memory of gave lives in 2 world wars

at going down of sun , in morning remember them name liveth evermore

unveiled on 30th of june 1968 mt james boyden mp parliamentary undersecretary of state army on occasion of 50th anniversary of explosion @ chilwell v.c. factory in recognition of bravery , fortitude of employees

at end of war, in 1919, site became royal army ordnance corps (raoc) storage depot. location of chetwynd barracks. memorial became listed building in 1988.