BORN HULL 26/02/1897. SON OF JOHN BURNS ABOVE. COMMEMORATED ON THE CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL, KENT, UK.
HMS Natal, British, Warrior class Armoured Cruiser, blew up and sank at her moorings in the Cromarty Firth, Scotland. Over 400 lives lost. The cause was speculated about at the time and there were conspiracy theories; sabotage was feared by some but the official enquiry put it down to a cordite explosion. This material becomes unstable when overheated. Other ships had suffered a similar fate, and this is the most likely explanation. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?432
The steel from HMS Natal sunk 1915 was salvaged over the years. Firstly the Navy blew up the Hull as it was regarded a hazard to shipping. The steel/salvage was brought to the woody pier next to the West Harbour in barges from the main salvage vessel. There were large guns and small arms amongst the haul. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?432
