Military History

Robert is listed as being killed on active service on 26th November 1914 when his ship, HMS Bulwark, was sunk during the accidental explosion of its ammunution. The following is a precis of the days events.

On Thursday 26 November 1914, HMS Bulwark was moored in the Medway Estuary taking on ammunition approximately between East Hoo Creek and Stoke Creek when, at 7.50am a massive explosion ripped through the vessel.  The Times later reported "The band was playing and some of the men were drilling on deck when the explosion occurred. A great sheet of flame and quantities of debris shot upwards, and the huge bulk of the vessel lifted and sank, shattered, torn, and twisted, with officers and men aboard..."

Picture Courtesy of Imperial War Museum (click to enlarge)

Boats of all kinds were launched from the nearby ships and shore to pick up survivors and the dead. Work was hampered by the amount of debris which included hammocks, furniture, boxes and hundreds of mutilated bodies. Fragments of personal items showered down in the streets of Sheerness. Initially 14 men survived the disaster, but some died later from their injuries. One of the survivors, an able seaman, had a miraculous escape. He said he was on the deck of the Bulwark when the explosion occurred. He was blown into the air, fell clear of the debris and managed to swim to wreckage and keep himself afloat until he was rescued. His injuries were slight. The CWGC database names 788 men from HMS Bulwark as having lost their lives in this explosion. Foregoing courtesy of the Western Front Association.