Memorial Torpedo Boat H.M.T.B 4

"Based at Ramsgate during the War were two of H.M. Torpedo boats used for assisting merchant craft. No.4 was lying alongside the cross-wall in the inner harbour at 8.15 on the morning of Saturday, May 26th 1917, when a terrific explosion occurred aboard, as a result of which fourteen ratings lost their lives in a most shocking manner. It transpired that a number of bluejackets were cleaning a live torpedo on the forward part of the ship, when the projectile exploded. The concussion was terrific and immediately there was a huge burst of flame which seemed to envelope the ship. Men who were on the forward part of the decks were simply blown to atoms, but marvellous to relate, three who were standing on the raised gun platform in the immediate vicinity were uninjured. For a moment or two they stood as though petrified, and then, to the amazement of those in the vicinity, walked off onto the harbour wall. The deck plating of the ship was torn and twisted as though made of tin, and huge pieces of brass and iron, woodwork and splinters of torpedo casing, were hurled, with fragments of human beings, hundreds of feet into the air. The few men who were below at breakfast must have been simply burned alive, so intense was the heat from the flames."

Ramsgate Historical Society.

"In memory of
those
of His Majesty's Naval
Forces
at Ramsgate who have
given their lives in the
service of their Country
during the war"

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Source

• Text: IWM
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward