Friends of Margravine Cemetery Commemorate 100 Year Old Tragedy


Honouring 13 who died in White City munitions factory 11 days before end of war

The Friends of Margravine Cemetery have paid their respects with a vigil at a memorial commemorating the deaths of 11 women and two men in a fire in White City just before the end of World War One.

They also planted 13 new white cyclamen and 13 red at the base of the memorial.

The tragedy happened on 31 October 1918 at the munitions factory where they worked, WE Blake Explosives Loading Company Ltd, in Wood Lane.

The Grade II-listed memorial made of Cornish granite was created in memory of those who died.

You can read a contemporary report about the fire and the installation of the memorial here.

Ruth Savery, Secretary of the Friends of Margravine Cemetery and long-time Hammersmith resident, said: "The blast occurred only 11 days before the end of the war. And those killed never received the recognition they deserved at the time."

For more details or to join the Friends of Margravine Cemetery, email info@margravinecemetery.org.uk or find them on Twitter: @MargravineCem.

November 9, 2018