Memorial Plaque 

LCdr Reginald James Blakeney Drew RN HMS Glatton

Killed on 16 Sept 1918 following the Accidental Explosion of the HMS Glatton in Dover Harbour

LCdr Drew was twice Mentioned in Despatches LG 12 Jan 1916 and 26 April 1918

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Memorial Plaque named to Reginald James Blakeney Drew. Woolwich Arsenal maker's mark on the reverse. Narrow "H" variant which was predominantly issued for Navy reciepents

LCdr Reginald James Blakeney Drew was the son of the late Inspector-General W.B. Drew and Mrs. Drew of Donnington, Fareham, Hants and was the husband of Norah M. Drew, of London House, Broadway, Dorchester. He was killed on 16 Sept 1918 when the HMS Glatton accidentially exploded in Dover Harbour. LCdr Drew was twice mentioned in despatches (LG 12 Jan 1916 and LG 26 April 1918 for "service in action"

The HMS Glatton was on of two coastal defence barttleships ordered from Armstrong Whitworth for the Norwegian Navy in 1913. At the outbreak of WW1 all work on the ships ceased but in 1915 they were taken over by the Admiralty and completed as monitors, their bean being increased by 20 feet. When commissioned in early 1918 the first ship, the Bjoergvin, was renamed the Glatton and her sister the Nidaros, was named the Gorgon. 

On 16 September 1918 the Glatton was one of the four monitors lying in Dover harbour ready to take part in operations on the Belgian coast in co-operation with land forces. At just before 6 pm there was a tremendous explosion which shook the whole town, followed at intervalsby explosions of less violence. The Glatton was seen buring furiously and a great crowd of onlookers began to gather on the sea front. All efforts of those on board the monitor to check the flames were without avail and the danger of further and more devastating explosion was enhanced by the presence at near anchorages of several merchantmen loaded with explosive cargoes. The situation was not only perilous for the ships, but for the huge crowd alongshore, and at about 7 pm Vice Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, senior naval officer, called in the help of the military forces and all people were cleared from the front. The fire on the Glatton was now threatening another magazine and orders were given for a destroyer to torpedo and sink her. This was done and the vessel turned on her side and sank. The loss of life was extremely heavy, one officer (LCdr Drew) and 19 men being killed by the first explosion and 57 killed later, making 77 all told.

GVF