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The ICCM Journal | Summer 2020 | V88 No. 2
pulpit: the mystery of sailors' war graves Burton Bradstock villages connection to the sinking of HMS Formidable Having a strong connection to Burton Bradstock through the fact that my wife Marion and I were married in the village church there in 1968, I am always pleased to visit Dorset and Burton Bradstock in particular. I am always pleased to visit Dorset and Burton Bradstock in particular. It is set apart from Bridport, but somehow feels a part of the whole sea-side, harbour and river environment of the Bride Valley. The Beach, part of the lengthy Chesil Bank which stretches from Portland Bill to Bridport harbour, is just a few hundred yards away from the church, and mainly stony but beware of the cliffs! Beautiful though they are, they are also dangerous because of being subject to sudden collapse. Stay clear!
HMS Formidable © IWM (Q 38891)
Whilst researching who was buried in the village Cemetery in Burton Bradstock, Dorset, recently, I came across the following information from Ray West, of the Bride Valley Royal British Legion.
“For the past six years I have had the privilege on behalf of the Bride Valley Branch of The Royal British Legion of placing the memorial crosses on the War Graves in the Cemetery in Shipton Lane. What has puzzled me is the fact that two of the graves were members of the same ship "HMS Formidable" but the men's names do not appear on any Roll of Honour memorials in the Bride Valley. Their graves stand next to each other they are: -
GH/16398 Pvte R.M.L.I. A.J. Clapham H.M.S. Formidable 1.1.1915
298357 F. Mead Stoker 1st Class R.N. H.M.S. Formidable 1.1.1915
Continuing his article, the author writes: “Whilst browsing a Dorset Life magazine in a dentist's waiting room recently all was revealed. H.M.S. Formidable, a preDreadnought battleship launched in 1898 and commissioned in 1901, was out in the channel off Start Point when the New Year of 1915 was welcomed in. She was heading towards Portland Harbour awaiting the raising of the boom at first light when a torpedo struck at about 2.20am hitting No. 1 boiler room on the port side. Then at 3.05am the second torpedo hit her. Then came the third bang caused by the magazines blowing up. 71 survivors took to the boats and despite the high seas and intense cold 48 managed to reach Lyme Regis. Many of the casualties were washed up on the beaches and presumably the two in the Burton Bradstock cemetery were washed up on Burton Beach. We are told that many are buried in Lyme Regis churchyard.” The Imperial War Museum offers further information: “During the early stages of the war HMS Formidable served with the 5th Battle Squadron. The squadron was based in the
