Jonathan,

One of the gentlemen on my local war memorial was on the Vanguard.

My understanding is that she was destroyed by an onboard explosion caused by the ignition of either cordite or coal dust. Are there any in depth reports in the ADM Files at the PRO that may throw more light on what may have happened?

Thank You

PAUL JOHNSON

Jonathan,

One of the gentlemen on my local war memorial was on the Vanguard.

My understanding is that she was destroyed by an onboard explosion caused by the ignition of either cordite or coal dust. Are there any in depth reports in the ADM Files at the PRO that may throw more light on what may have happened?

Thank You

PAUL JOHNSON

Paul - there is a Court of Enquiry report that from memory comes to no specific conclusion but does put forward probables around a nefarious act or ignition of cordite through an avoidable accident.

In fact I have just remembered you can view the C. of E. here:

http://www.gwpda.org/naval/a1373681.htm

Although this was a white wash on Naval procedures it did prove that each ship had its own cobbled together set of procedures regarding the montoring of temperatures and storing cordite.

Thus the Enquiry put forward a lot of recommendations that were implemented and as a result of VANGUARD blowing up by internal explosion, I understand magazine/ammunition storage procedures were formalised and tightened specifically with cordite storage improved and cordite also replaced at a much earlier stage - some of the cordite on VANGUARD was extremely aged, (older than the ship itself if I remember rightly). Much more stringent temperature recording and more thermometres were made available for each ship.

Unfortunately this was all to late for the VANGUARD and approvimately 850 souls - whilst we can never be completely sure what did happen the weight of evidence suggests a small fire in a coal bunker was not detected and generated enough heat to travel through the bulkhead and ignite the cordite on the adjacent hold.

Paul - sorry I meant to ask, who is the individual and do you have any photos or information on him?

Jonathan,

Sorry for the late reply.

Thank you for the information, which was very informative.

The man in question was J/39013 Ordinary Seaman FREDERICK JOHN ALDRIDGE.

Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Aldridge, of 23, Fisher's Green Rd., Stevenage, Herts.

He was aged 18 .

If you let me have your email address I will send you a copy of his photo.

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON

Paul - I have sent you a PM.

Thanks in advance for the photo.

Jon