HMS Bulwark - 26 November 1914

[Lord Bracknell]

HMS Bulwark was a Royal Navy battleship, built in 1902. At the start of WW1, she was attached to the Channel Fleet, conducting patrols in the English Channel. Exactly 100 years ago today, at 7.50am on 26 November 1914, while anchored near Sheerness in the Medway estuary, she was destroyed by an internal explosion with the loss of 736 men, out of the crew of 750. Two of the 14 survivors later died in hospital. The cause of the explosion, which completely destroyed the ship, was the overheating of cordite charges that had been placed next to a boiler room bulkhead.

Among the dead was Stoker 1st Class Alfred Harrison, aged 21. He was my grandmother's brother.

A lot is written about war heroes, laying down their lives for their country. This tragedy wasn't like that. It was a shocking waste of 738 lives, caused by what today is called human error.

RIP Alfred Harrison and his comrades.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Yes. RIP. I read about this at the Chatham Dockyard (or the Rochester museum). It is, as you say, a shocking story.

 

[Blues Rock DJ]

fast forward 50 years, the commando carrier Bulwark was my first ship in 1966.

 

[Hastings gull]

HMS Bulwark was a Royal Navy battleship, built in 1902. At the start of WW1, she was attached to the Channel Fleet, conducting patrols in the English Channel. Exactly 100 years ago today, at 7.50am on 26 November 1914, while anchored near Sheerness in the Medway estuary, she was destroyed by an internal explosion with the loss of 736 men, out of the crew of 750. Two of the 14 survivors later died in hospital. The cause of the explosion, which completely destroyed the ship, was the overheating of cordite charges that had been placed next to a boiler room bulkhead.

Among the dead was Stoker 1st Class Alfred Harrison, aged 21. He was my grandmother's brother.

A lot is written about war heroes, laying down their lives for their country. This tragedy wasn't like that. It was a shocking waste of 738 lives, caused by what today is called human error.

RIP Alfred Harrison and his comrades.

Many thanks for sharing this -quite a poignant day for you and your family. Makes us all think. As you say, RIP to them all

 

[explymouthnige]

Served on it 78-81 - still do Comms branch reunions from it - Agree that it was a terrible tragedy, we lost quite a few ships in the battle of Jutland because of mishandling like that, they used to stack the shells and cordite in the passageways near the gun to make their shooting faster, so one hit could take out the whole ship.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

fast forward 50 years, the commando carrier Bulwark was my first ship in 1966.

Go back 12 years and my Dad served on her from 54-56.

 

[Rogero]

Wow,a new fact for me.A real tragedy.

 

[Everest]

Tragic.

I was researching one of my relatives at the weekend.
Reginald George Everest (son of Edgar William if you know your BHA history).
Died in the raid at Zeebrugge on April 23, 1918 on HMS Vindictive.

 

[Norman Potting]

Makes me feel grateful that, as far as I am aware, none of my ancestors perished in the Great War.

However both Great Grandad and Grandad served and had close shaves. Great Grandad was on HMS Hythe and survived when it was rammed and sunk in fog off Gallipoli - died well before my time but apparently used to reminisce that "....I jumped and I jumped and I jumped all the way from here (Speldhurst) to bloody Langton Green to get off that boat!”. Grandad lied about his age to join at 17 toward the end of the conflict and copped a "blighty one" in the shoulder, allegedly from one his own comrades and whilst he was winning a V.C, "....but nobody saw me do it!"

Makes you think that if someones aim had been better I may not be here to inflict my postings on you all!

 

[smiler]

Makes me feel grateful that, as far as I am aware, none of my ancestors perished in the Great War.

However both Great Grandad and Grandad served and had close shaves. Great Grandad was on HMS Hythe and survived when it was rammed and sunk in fog off Gallipoli - died well before my time but apparently used to reminisce that "....I jumped and I jumped and I jumped all the way from here (Speldhurst) to bloody Langton Green to get off that boat!”. Grandad lied about his age to join at 17 toward the end of the conflict and copped a "blighty one" in the shoulder, allegedly from one his own comrades and whilst he was winning a V.C, "....but nobody saw me do it!"

My uncle was on the Hythe as well and survived but later died at Alexandria after being wounded at Gallipoli. I wonder if they knew each other? He was from Tunbridge Wells. Please email me if you have any information.

 

[Flumpyj]

We recently found out that my Great Uncle on my Mothers side of the family served and died on HMS Hood.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

We recently found out that my Great Uncle on my Mothers side of the family served and died on HMS Hood.

He will be named on the Roll of Honour listed alphabetically.
http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/index.htm

One of the crew who died was a 16 year old boy from Shoreham.

 

[Seagull on the wing]

fast forward 50 years, the commando carrier Bulwark was my first ship in 1966.

Albion,Bulwark,Centaur were 3 light carriers...I was on HMS Saintes (Battle Class Destroyer) serving as the Bulwarks picket ship at the Suez Canal trouble in 1956.