The evidence below have all been obtained from (1).
Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: SWD HMS BULWARK sunk on the 26th November 1914 after an explosion which occured as ammunition was being loaded - 738 lives lost.

20-APR-1938 Details of wreck survey and of buoyage marking wreck supplied.

05-JUL-1940 Dispersal not to be proceeded with.

20-JUN-1946 Latest survey shows silting.

19-APR-1974 Now charted as stranded wreck 2.2m.

11-MAR-1991 Shown as stranded wreck 2.2m in 51 25 21.2N, 000 39 16.0E.(1)

HMS Bulwark was commissioned at Devonport, Plymouth on 18th March 1907. She was intended to become the flagship for the Mediterranean Fleet but due to a long refit she became the flagship to the Home Fleet instead. In October 1907 she became grounded and received some damage requiring repairs. In August 1908, she joined the Channel Fleet and then Home Fleet, reduced to the Reserve in March 1910 but was recommissioned in 1912 to join the 5th Battle Squadron. From the outbreak of World War I she carried out Channel patrol duty and on the 26th November 1914 while loading ammunition at Sheerness, she was destroyed by a huge explosion, probably caused by black powder charges being mishandled, only 12 men survived



THIS IS A MILITARY WAR GRAVE AND A CONTROLLED SITE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF MILITARY REMAINS ACT 1986

Description from record TQ 76 NE 160:
A first class battleship of the 5th Battle Squadron, which formed part of the Channel Fleet during the First World War. She returned to Sheerness from patrol on 15 November 1914 where she had loaded stores. On the 26th ammunition lighters began to arrive alongside, as she replenished her armament stores. Whilst the ship's company were engaged in this operation, the entire ship blew up in a massive explosion, which killed almost her entire company (738 of 750). An Admiralty Court sat in an attempt to explain the accident, but with so few survivors, and none from that part of the ship in which the initial explosion took place, it was impossible to determine the cause, their findings stating that they could not account for the explosion. Year Built: 1902 Builder: Devonport Dockyard Engine HP: 1500 Propulsion: 2 x screw, triple expansion Armament: 4 x 12ins.; 12 x 6ins.; 16 x 12pdr.; 6 x 3pdr.;4TT Owner: Royal Navy Master: Capt. G L Sclater RN Crew: 750 Crew Lost: 738 Passengers: 0 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: DOD.1990 Ed. P109; They Called it Accident, Hampshire. C p11-77; SRN.Vol.1 p95; MOD(N).Hyd.Wk.No.012201182

The remains of the wreck, which are marked by two buoys at the east and west ends, lie in a general depth of 9m, with at least 2m clearance over the wreckage. (2)(5)

The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2002
Statutory Instrument: No.1761
Made: 9th July 2002
Came into force: 30th September 2002 (7)

The area within a distance of 100 metres of the point at latitude 51 25.392N Longitude 00 39.172E (WGS) is designated a Controlled Site by the Protection of Military Remains 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) revoking Order 2002:

Statutory Instrument: No.2616
Made: 21st September 2006
Came into force: 1st November 2006 (8)

On 1st May 2008 the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2008 (Statutory Instrument No. 950) cited an area situated within a distance of 100 metres of the point at Latitude 51 degrees 25.392 minutes North, Longitude 00 degress 39.172 minutes East (World Geodetic System 1984), which contains the remains of the vessel known as HMS Bulwark, as a controlled site. The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2006 (Statutory Instrument No. 2616 was revoked. (10)

Wreck Event:

HMS BULWARK sunk in 1914 after an explosion which occurred as ammunition was being loaded - 738 lives lost. (1)

A first class battleship of the 5th Battle Squadron, which formed part of the Channel Fleet during the First World War. Having returned to Sheerness from patrol on 15-NOV-1914, where she loaded stores, ammunition lighters began to arrive alongside on the 26th, and she commenced to replenish her armament stores. Whilst the ship's company were engaged in this operation, the entire ship blew up in a massive explosion, which killed almost her entire company. An Admiralty Court sat in an attempt to explain the accident, but with so few survivors, and none from the part of the ship in which the initial explosion took place, it was not possible to determine the cause, their findings stating that they could not account for the explosion. (2)(4)(5)

Internal explosion off Sheerness. (3)

Reported lost near Chatham. (5)

Blown up by accident in the Medway 26-NOV-1914. (6)

London Class Battleship. The enquiry concluded that the most likely cause of the explosion was careless handling of black powder charges on her upper deck. (9)

Launched: 18.10.1899 (3)(6)
Built: 18.10.1899 (9); 1902 (2)(4)(5)
Where built: Devonport Dockyard (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Propulsion: 2 screw driven, triple expansion engines (2)(5)
HP: 1500 (2)(4)(5)
Armament:: 4 x 12 in, 12 x 6in, 16 x 12pdr, 6 x 3pdr, 4 x TT (2)(5); as above + 2 machine guns (4); 4 x 12in, 12 x 6in and 18 x 6pdr (6)
Commanding Officer: G L Sclater (2)(4)(5)(9)
Crew: 750 (2)(5)
Crew lost: 738 (1); [12 survivors] (9)
Owner: Royal Navy [all sources]

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles:
They called it an Accident, C. Hampshire, p 11-77;
The Maritime History of the World Vol 2, Haws and Hirst, 1985, p115

Ministry of Defence, 1986, The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Unpublished document). SKE56314.

<1> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-JAN-1993, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<2> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.

<3> HMSO, 1988, British vessels lost at sea 1914-18 and 1939-45 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6346.

<4> Charles Hocking, 1990, Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam (Bibliographic reference). SKE6351.

<5> Larn, Richard and Bridget, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 2 : Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent (Mainland), Kent (Downs), Goodwin Sands, Thames (Bibliographic reference). SKE31910.

<6> J J Colledge, 1989, Ships of the Royal Navy, volume 2: navy-built trawlers, drifters, tugs and requisitioned ships from (Bibliographic reference). SKE6344.

<9> British Warship losses in the Age of Sail 1650-1859 (Monograph). SKE6713.