Memorial

Chilwell National Shell Filling Factory No.6 Explosion (Obelisk at C.O.D. site)

National Shell Filling Factory Explosion, from the archive of Major-General Sir Leslie Williams KBE, CB, MC

Source: Copyright Phil Hamlyn Williams

1/1

Current Location

Inside the C.O.D. site, Central Ordnance Depot, 62 Chetwynd Road, Chilwell, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire, NG9 5GD, England

SK 50866 35201

Send us details and photographs of your local war memorials, to help enhance the information about the people, places and events they commemorate.

This record shows everything IWM currently knows about this memorial. We are continually updating our records.

To share information or photographs, contact us.

Type of Memorial: Obelisk
WMR Reference Number: 26873
Description: Small obelisk on a large pyramid base. A dedicatory plaque and tablet surmounted on the pyramid base. carved inscription on tablet and raised lettering on plaque. Artillery shells and chains form a perimeter fence.
Inscription: (Inscribed stone) ERECTED/ TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE/ MEN AND WOMEN/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES BY EXPLOSIONS/ AT THE NATIONAL SHELL FILLING FACTORY/ CHILWELL/ 1916 - 1918/ PRINCIPAL HISTORICAL FACTS/ OF THE FACTORY/ FIRST SOD TURNED 13TH SEPTEMBER 1915/ FIRST SHELL FILLED 8TH JANUARY 1916/ NUMBER OF SHELLS FILLED/ WITHIN ONE YEAR OF/ CUTTING THE FIRST SOD/ 1,260,000/ TOTAL SHELLS FILLED/ 19,359,000/ REPRESENTING 50.8% OF THE TOTAL/ OUTPUT OF HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELL/ BOTH LYDDITE AND AMATOL 60PD TO 15INCH/ PRODUCED IN GREAT BRITAIN DURING THE WAR/ TOTAL TONNAGE OF EXPLOSIVE USED/ 121,360 TONS/ TOTAL WEIGHT OF FILLED SHELL/ 1,100,000 TONS (Plaques) TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND/ IN MEMRY OF THOSE WHO GAVE/ THEIR LIVES IN TWO WORLD WARS/ AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN/ AND IN THE MORNING/ WE WILL REMEMBER THEM/ THEIR NAME LIVETH/ FOR EVERMORE UNVEILED ON 30TH OF JUNE 1968 BY MT JAMES BOYDEN MP/ PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ARMY/ ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EXPLOSION AT CHILWELL/ THE V.C. FACTORY/ IN RECOGNITION OF THE BRAVERY AND FORTITUDE OF THE EMPLOYEES/ (Names)

Sponsored By: Memorial was instituted by Major-General Sir Leslie Williams KBE, CB, MC.
Additional Cost/Sponsorship Information: Two men were killed in a small explosion on 5th October 1917, the other 139 in a huge explosion on 1st July 1918 when 25 women and 114 men died. Most were killed instantly, but a few of those listed were injured and survived for a short time.

Unveiled

13 March 1919

Duke of Portland