Bulk grain office exterior, Royal Victoria Dock, following Silvertown explosion

Photograph showing the damage to the bulk grain office exterior, Royal Victoria Dock, following the Silvertown explosion. Photograph taken by John H Avery on 25 January 1917.

Henry George Ledbury, Cashier in the Bulk Grain Department, was killed outright in the Bulk Grain office and taken to the Seaman's Hospital Mortuary. He was one of the six Port of London Authority Staff killed.

The bulk grain department was particularly hit by the explosion - from the department four other men were killed, and nineteen were injured. The other men killed from the department were::

Harold Forster, 21, Fourth class clerk and assistant to Henry George Ledbury.
His body was recovered on the morning of the 20th January from the ruins of the shed in which he had taken refuge.

Thomas Crickmar, aged 67, Night watchman
"The body Thomas Crickmar (67), employed the Port of London Authority, was identified by his married daughter, Theresa [Thirza] Gilham, who said he worked on a floating vessel, and was not expected to be home till Saturday. He did not come, and enquiries were made on Sunday, when it was found he was dead in hospital. Dr. Dora Coleborough, London Hospital, said there was a small piece of iron in an abdominal wound, his skull was fractured, and the track of a piece of projectile was found." Taken from the Birmingham Daily Post, Tuesday 23 January 1917.

John Royal Howard, aged 20, Labourer/Machinery Attendant
John Royal Howard was wounded at Ypres on July 6, 1915, just a few months after he'd arrived on the Western Front. In May 1916, the Medical Board reported: "He states he was in charge when struck by shell in right and left legs and back. He was removed to Etaples and thence to Royal Infirmary Derby where he remained four months. He was then taken to 5th Northern General Hospital Leicester." Deemed permanently unfit for service and "incapable of marching," the Board also stated that: "He has two scars in his back cervical and dorsal regions, one on the left leg the whole length of his calf and three on his right leg and foot. His right foot is turned in and partly paralysed. He walks on the outside of his foot with the help of a stick. He can only walk for short distances." He is listed variably as a labourer or machinery attendant in the Bulk Grain Department. His injuries would have no doubt impeded his escape.

Edward Kidd, 50, who suffered severe injuries to his leg and died in hospital four days later.