1922 explosion in Tipton

[mbriscoe]

We have been discussing this on another site after someone posted images of the memorial.

 

!9 teenage girls killed in 1922 explosion at Dudley Port.

 

In 1922 John Knowles for a contract to extract the metal from ammunition.  He had visited another factory where women did the work with a couple of people only in each room, rubber shoes on wooden floors, asbestos aprons.

 

He decided to maximise his profits so used 14 year old girls mainly, a few 15 and at least one 13 year old.  They were all working in one room with a concrete floor that had iron strips, the gunpowder was only swept up once a day.  And there was a stove with no protection.

 

The inevitable happened and 19 girls were killed.

 

This newspaper article explains the story.

 

Knowles got 5 years in prison, he appealed the sentence but I don't think he got it reduced.

 

The Explosives Bill of 1923 was prompted by the case but eleven girls were killed in 1924 whilst dismantling Verey pistol ammunition.

 

 

[Chris_Baker]

Some previous discussion about this:

 

[mbriscoe]

Thanks, I did a quick search but missed that.