General view of "A", "B", "C" & "D" silos, Royal Victoria Dock, following Silvertown explosion

Photograph of general view of "A", "B", "C" & "D" silos, Royal Victoria Dock, showing their damage following the Silvertown explosion. Photograph taken by John H Avery on 25 January 1917.

D silo was completely destroyed by fire caused by the Silvertown Explosion. It was still burning when this photograph was taken - despite having had hundreds of firefighters in attendance, the PLA Chief Police Officer reported on 8th Februrary that D silo was "still burning", along with Vernon's Mills.

The other silos were saved by the quick action of PLA staff. Lighterman F Williams was particularly commended for his assistance in helping "to cut away the gantry and so prevented the fire from spreading to 'C' silo". The staff of tug "Scott" was instrumental in saving "B" silo, and its tug master George White, and deck hands A Lipman and A Hardy were all paid rewards. On 27 January it was reported that B silo "is stated to be not damaged as badly as the others. The repair has already been commenced and it is hoped to have it at work in about a month's time."

Somewhat surprisingly, on the 29 January it was recorded that "a small quanity of grain was burnt and damaged in the weighhouse of A silo, in addition to this it is expected that a small amount in the weighhouses of B & C silo has been damaged".