On This Day
On This Day, 2 July 1918
On 02, Jul 2018 | In On This Day | By Nicola Gauld
Evening Dispatch
Tuesday 2 July 1918
MUNITION FACTORY EXPLOSION.
EXTENT OF CASUALTIES NOT YET FULLY KNOWN.
BETWEEN 60 AND 70 LIVES LOST.
WOMEN WORKERS BEHAVED SPLENDIDLY.
MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS, Tuesday afternoon.
A serious explosion occurred last night at a National shell filling factory in the Midlands.
The extent of the casualties cannot yet be ascertained, but it is feared that between 60 and 70 lives have been lost. The number of injured is at present unknown.
It is estimated that a considerable part of the productive capacity of the factory has been saved, and that work will be resumed within the next few days.
Reports received state that the women workers behaved splendidly, and are pressing to be allowed to return to work. Officers of the Ministry have already arrived, and a full inquiry is being held.
The reserve capacity, which is held available in this class of supply, is sufficient to prevent an appreciable limitation in output.
