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Fauld explosion 70th anniversary: New memorial unveiled | Fauld explosion 70th anniversary: New memorial unveiled |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A memorial has been unveiled to mark the 70th anniversary of an explosion at an underground bomb storage depot that killed 70 people. | A memorial has been unveiled to mark the 70th anniversary of an explosion at an underground bomb storage depot that killed 70 people. |
On 27 November, 1944, around 4,000 tonnes of bombs stored at RAF Fauld in Staffordshire exploded. | On 27 November, 1944, around 4,000 tonnes of bombs stored at RAF Fauld in Staffordshire exploded. |
The force of the blast left a 400ft (120m)-deep crater in the Staffordshire countryside, which still exists. | The force of the blast left a 400ft (120m)-deep crater in the Staffordshire countryside, which still exists. |
About 100 people attended the unveiling of the new memorial, at the entrance of British Gypsum, near the blast site. | About 100 people attended the unveiling of the new memorial, at the entrance of British Gypsum, near the blast site. |
It is the second monument erected in honour of those killed. | It is the second monument erected in honour of those killed. |
The first, installed in 1990, stands on the edge of the crater, about half a mile from the village of Hanbury. | The first, installed in 1990, stands on the edge of the crater, about half a mile from the village of Hanbury. |
Witnesses and their relatives were also due to gather at the Cock Inn, Hanbury. | Witnesses and their relatives were also due to gather at the Cock Inn, Hanbury. |
The pub had to be rebuilt when a piece of debris was thrown around three-quarters of a mile from the site of the explosion, seriously damaging the building. | The pub had to be rebuilt when a piece of debris was thrown around three-quarters of a mile from the site of the explosion, seriously damaging the building. |
More than 100 people are due to meet there before walking to the so-called Hanbury Crater, where a memorial to the dead is situated. | More than 100 people are due to meet there before walking to the so-called Hanbury Crater, where a memorial to the dead is situated. |
A witness's story | |
Valerie Hardy was eight years old when the munitions dump at Fauld exploded. She recalled being at school on the day of the blast. | |
"We heard this enormous bang. People didn't know what was happening," she said. | |
"The teacher settled us down... the next thing I knew was my father had phoned the school to explain. | |
"He had been walking up the drive of our farm, about half a mile away from Fauld, and suddenly there was this enormous blast. | |
"He turned round to look and saw this great mushroom cloud, the sky was dark. | |
"What he didn't realise until later was all the glass in the house was absolutely shattered. | |
"Two of our friends who were also at school were living and farming over the dump. | |
"They had no home to come back to after the explosion." | |
A memorial service will also be held at St Werburgh's Church from 19:30 GMT. | A memorial service will also be held at St Werburgh's Church from 19:30 GMT. |
Journalist Mark Rowe has been researching the explosion for nearly 30 years, and published a book about his findings. | Journalist Mark Rowe has been researching the explosion for nearly 30 years, and published a book about his findings. |
He said the blast was thought to have been about one-fifth of the force of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. | He said the blast was thought to have been about one-fifth of the force of the nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. |
An RAF inquiry into the explosion, which was only published in 1974, found it was an avoidable accident, Mr Rowe said. | An RAF inquiry into the explosion, which was only published in 1974, found it was an avoidable accident, Mr Rowe said. |
"The most likely explanation, according to the report, was that someone tried to remove an exploder pocket (part of the detonation mechanism) with a brass chisel," he said. | "The most likely explanation, according to the report, was that someone tried to remove an exploder pocket (part of the detonation mechanism) with a brass chisel," he said. |
"That caused a spark which set off the reaction." | "That caused a spark which set off the reaction." |
Of the 70 people killed, he said, 18 were never found. The largest loss of life occurred not at the RAF base, but at a nearby plaster board factory. | Of the 70 people killed, he said, 18 were never found. The largest loss of life occurred not at the RAF base, but at a nearby plaster board factory. |
The Fordes and Sons site was swamped by a "tidal wave" of sludge which engulfed it when a reservoir burst its banks in the explosion. | The Fordes and Sons site was swamped by a "tidal wave" of sludge which engulfed it when a reservoir burst its banks in the explosion. |