Women on WW1 War memorials-exclusion inclusion.

[Sparky53]

A distant rellie of my husband Engineer R N Lieutenant Frank Norman Bennett was blown up on 30/12/1915 on HMS Natal in the Cromarty Firth - he is remembered on the Chatham Naval memorial.

His wife Ada May Bennett ( nee Bevis) also died with him - she gets no mention.

From late father in law's notes:-

H.M.S. Natal was a cruiser built in 1905 which blew up whilst in Cromarty Firth by Invergordon on 30 December 1915. The explosion was attributed to faulty ammunition.

The ammunition was made in the U.S.A. and an unsuitable stabiliser was used in the cordite content. it was stored in the after magazine beneath the officers' quarters where several guests were being entertained. Similar explosions had occured

in American vessels.

Jane

[Jim Strawbridge]

A distant rellie of my husband Engineer R N Lieutenant Frank Norman Bennett was blown up on 30/12/1915 on HMS Natal in the Cromarty Firth - he is remembered on the Chatham Naval memorial.

His wife Ada May Bennett ( nee Bevis) also died with him - she gets no mention.

Jane

Ada May Bennett was not a member of the armed services so her name would not have made it to the Chatham Naval Memorial. Three visiting Naval nursing Sisters who were attending a function on the Natal are on the Chatham War Memorial, though.

[Sparky53]

Thanks for that Jim, there is supposedly a letter of condolence from the Admiral held be a family member but they aren't keen to share

Jane