Lives of the First World War

This community gathers munitions workers and others connected to the Ajax Chemical Company in Barking, Essex, where a fire killed 13 women in 1917. A newspaper account of the event reads: "Thirteen women lost their lives and three were injured, as the result of an explosion which occurred at ... 6 p.m. Thursday. A small fire broke out in a two-storeyed building, fifty yards away from the main premises, and was followed by an explosion on the top floor. Sixteen women were working at benches in this building, and 13 were immediately overcome by smoke, and their bodies were burned before any rescue could be attempted. The fire was soon put out by brigades, and it was confined to the building in which it had started, the main buildings being undamaged. The names of the victims are:—Mrs. Maskell, Caulfield Road, East Ham; Mrs Abbott, her sister; Mrs. England, Washington Road, Upton Park; Mrs. E. Smith, Bartle Avenue, East Ham; Mrs. Foley, Hockley Avenue, Barking Road; Mrs. Gurry, Talbot Road, East Ham; Mrs. Stevens, Napier Road, East Ham; Mrs. King, Arthur Road, East Ham; Miss Knight, Walton Road, Manor Park; Miss Clark, Parkhurst Road, Manor Park; Miss Alice Cole, Howard's Road, Barking; Mrs. Webb, Talbot Road, East Ham; and Miss Rainbow, Hardwick Street, Barking."

Created by: , Kristen1288