WOOLWICH EXPLOSION
EVIDENCE AT INQUEST SHELL-FILLING EXPERIMENT LONDON, .1 nl.v in "These lives were not wonted. Research workers nre hound to take risks, by which the industry profits," said Lieutenant - Colonel Thomas. Inspector of Explosives, when givinp evidonco at an inquest into the deaths of five men in an explosion at Woolwich arsenal on Wednesday. An official explained that the men were testing the safest methods of filling shells, which varied slightly with different explosives. They had already filled 100 shells with the explosive used, including six naval 15in. shells, which contained .5011).' It was one of this type which exploded. The method of filling consisted of automatically filtering in tho explosivo through a long screw at a temperature of 90 degrees contigrade. The deceased men started tho machinery and then retired behind a mound to observe the process through mirrors rhoy re-entered five minutes later, and the explosion took place at once. It was possibly due to an obstruction which prevented tho explosive from entering and caused the heat to detonate it. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 10
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180WOOLWICH EXPLOSION New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 10
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