THE tragic loss of pre-dreadnought HMS Bulwark will be honoured by sailors of subsequent ships to bear the name at a service to honour the 90th anniversary of the disaster next month.

The battleship blew up at anchor in the River Medway at breakfast on November 26 1914.

It is thought faulty cordite caused the series of explosions which tore through the ship, raining debris down up to four miles away.

Only 14 men survived the catastrophe; five subsequently died of their injuries, beyond the 700-plus men, including CO Capt Guy Sclater, killed instantly.

Although officially a Chatham ship, most of Bulwark’s crew were drawn from the Portsmouth area.

Among Bulwark’s previous commanding officers was Polar explorer Capt Robert Falcon Scott.

Nine decades on, the HMS Bulwark, Albion and Centaur Association will be laying a wreath over the wreck site, aided by the great grand-daughter of one of the men lost who is coming from Brisbane in Australia to attend the ceremony on Saturday November 27.

Commemorations continue on the Sunday with a parade and service at Woodlands Cemetery in Gillingham where there are mass and individual graves for Bulwark’s dead.

More information from Mike Bridges, vice chairman of the BAC Association on 023 9238 6866.