Munition Factory Disasters

[Ian C]

Hi

I am trying to find out more about an explosion at George Kent Ltd, (Luton), in March 1918, in which a local girl, (Fenny Stratford, now part of Milton Keynes), was killed. There is nothing in the local paper other than a report of her funeral, which gives minimal details and I couldn't find anything at Luton library.

After these explosions was there ever any Board of Inquiry etc, would there have been inquests into the deaths? any ideas anyone?

Regards

Ian C

[Roger Thompson]

Hello Ian,

I don't know anything about your area's explosions but I recently looked into the explosions at Barnbow in Leeds and the particular person I found the death notice,acknowledgement and funeral details at the local Wakefield reference library. In my case there was an inquest held although it was adjourned for over a week and the first part was reported but not the second part, so I suspect it was supressed for the sake of national security.

I also found her name on the local war memorial,so that might be another avenue for you to go down.

All the very best in your quest.

Cheers Roger.

[mpjbrennan]

If it was a small explosion with only 1 fatality I suspect that there would have been no more than a local inquest. This may have taken place some time afterwards.

A search of the National Archives electronic catalogue turns up several reports on explosions and claims for compensation but nothing referring to the company you mention. The only references I could find to George Kent are as follows:

MUN 4/5302 : CONTRACTS: Copies of Agreements with: George Kent, Limited ODE 15 (and several other companies)

MUN 4/1812 : George Kent Ltd.: claims under contracts

MUN 4/5311 : LIQUIDATION OF CONTRACTS, ETC.: (includes George Kent Ltd)

Patrick