The explosion on the Esso Portsmouth

[Doc Vernon]

May be of some interest !
Cheers

The explosion on the Esso Portsmouth

The explosion on the Esso Portsmouth

[Colin Pook]

Hi Doc, Whilst on the Esso Southampton we had a change of orders with the Portsmouth, we were to go to Milford Haven, and the Portsmouth to Fawley, but orders were changed at GIBFO. Next morning we heard onthe news that the Portsmouth had exploded at Milford. But for the grace of God etc.!! A few weeks later I had a letter from my fiancee whrn we docked in Mina saying that her sister-in-law in Haverfordwest had said to her husband he should put his coat on going to work as she had just heard thunder. That 'thunder' was the Portsmouth blowing up in Milford 8 miles away. Many years later working on the tugs at Milford I saw loads of photos that different people had taken of the disaster. Very distressing!!
Regards
Colin.