The Great Explosion

The Great Explosion. . On Sunday 2nd April 1916 a series of explosions took place at the Explosives Loading Company works at Uplees, just north of Faversham., The mass grave near this board is where the remains of 73 of the victims of the explosions are buried. Their names are recorded adjacent to their resting places. Inscribed on a stone in front of the grave are the names of 85 others who are buried elsewhere. This total of 108 does not represent all those who perished; the bodies of some of those missing were never found., All the victims were men; women were not allowed to work on Sundays., The explosions resulted in a crater 150 feet in diameter and 10-15 feet deep. Many of the factory buildings-were destroyed or severely damaged. The effect of the explosions was felt as far away as Norfolk, where windows rattled for several minutes., Burial in the mass grave took place on 6th April 1916. The memorial and cross erected over it was dedicated in September 1917. The memorial itself bears no details of the incident. Official prohibition prevented the details from being released to the public until 70 years after the event.