Explosions Collection

Ww1 Cartoon / Better Hole
" Well, if you knows of a better ole, go to it!"

Monte Bello atomic test
First British atomic test, Monte Bello islands, Australia on the 3rd October 1952 Date: 3rd October 1952

1957 nuclear test: Fall-out
Fallout: The sinister and prolonged after-effect of nuclear explosions: a drawing illustrating some characteristics of this haunting phenomenon.An illustration by special Illustrated London News

WW1 - Western Front - Highlanders at Longueval, France, 1916
WW1 - Western Front - Battle of Bazentin Ridge (14th-17th July 1916) - A piper of the 7th Seaforth Highlanders leading the troops of the 26th Brigade from the trenches to attack at Longueval on 14th

Fireboat tackling fire at Colonial Wharf, East London
A fireboat tackles a fire at Colonial Wharf, Wapping High Street, East London, 27 September 1935. This was a typical big Thamesside fire of the sort which the London Fire Brigade has tackled for over

Atomic bomb explosion

Italians in Somalia
East Africa : the Italians rout the British in Somalia

Firestorm (colour litho)
2778617 Firestorm (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Firestorm. Teams of Axis airplanes swoop down on the English motorized columns that attack in)

Fleet with a ship on fire, 18th century (pen & ink drawing, grey wash)
7341813 Fleet with a ship on fire, 18th century (pen & ink drawing, grey wash) by Cleveley, Robert (1747-1809); 29x35.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Iron Steamship Nemesis, War Junks in Anson's Bay January 7th 1841, 1843 (aquatint)
7342215 Iron Steamship Nemesis, War Junks in Anson's Bay January 7th 1841, 1843 (aquatint) by Duncan, Edward (1803-82); 41.6x60.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The Moonlight Battle: the Battle off Cape St Vincent, 1780 (oil on canvas)
7337661 The Moonlight Battle: the Battle off Cape St Vincent, 1780 (oil on canvas) by Paton, Richard (1717-91); 101.6x147.3 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The capture and destruction of four frigates from the Spanish treasure, off the coast of Cadiz (Spain), on October 5
MMM5480715 The capture and destruction of four frigates from the Spanish treasure, off the coast of Cadiz (Spain), on October 5, 1804, by a British squadron by Pocock

'Southampton' at the Battle of Jutland, c.1916-18 (watercolour)
7341730 'Southampton' at the Battle of Jutland, c.1916-18 (watercolour) by Wyllie, William Lionel (1851-1931); 31.5x44.7 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Families worried waiting for news from their loved ones after an explosion in the coal mines of Staffordshire (England)
NWI4829159 Families worried waiting for news from their loved ones after an explosion in the coal mines of Staffordshire (England), circa 1880 - Colorised engraving

Grisou in a coal mine - chromo., deb. 20th century
LSE4093802 Grisou in a coal mine - chromo., deb. 20th century; Private Collection; (add.info.: Grisou in a coal mine - chromo., deb. 20th century); Photo © Leonard de Selva.

The explosion on board the Great Eastern liner off Hastings, England, on September 9, 1859
MMM5483481 The explosion on board the Great Eastern liner off Hastings, England, on September 9, 1859, due to the absence of a safety valve in the boiler; National Maritime Museum, London

Study of the former German battleship 'Baden', listing and under fire as a gunnery target in 1921
7341752 Study of the former German battleship 'Baden', listing and under fire as a gunnery target in 1921, 1921 (Watercolour) by Wyllie

HMS 'Audacious' sinking off Loch Swilly after striking a mine, 27 October 1914
7341751 HMS 'Audacious' sinking off Loch Swilly after striking a mine, 27 October 1914, early 20th century (watercolour) by Wyllie

HMS 'Cambridge' Gunnery ship at Devonport, firing a torpedo, late 19th century (lithograph)
7341857 HMS 'Cambridge' Gunnery ship at Devonport, firing a torpedo, late 19th century (lithograph) by British School, (19th century); 27x38.8 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

An action of the English succession, late 17th century (oil on canvas)
7337626 An action of the English succession, late 17th century (oil on canvas) by Diest, Adriaen van (1655-1704); 94x137.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Ship, blowing up, at the battle of the Nile (pen drawing, grey wash)
7341814 Ship, blowing up, at the battle of the Nile (pen drawing, grey wash) by Cleveley, Robert (1747-1809); 28.9x35.5 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The USS Commodore Jones ferryboat destroyed by an electrically-fired mine in 1864 on the James River
6867178 The USS Commodore Jones ferryboat destroyed by an electrically-fired mine in 1864 on the James River, during the American Civil War

Explosives in mines, c.1900 (chromo)
1790154 Explosives in mines, c.1900 (chromo); (add.info.: remote electrical explosives blast-off used in the mines, illustration from History of electricity in France)

Going It By Steam, 1829 (hand coloured etching on paper)
7483096 Going It By Steam, 1829 (hand coloured etching on paper) by Seymour, Robert (1798-1836); 22x33 cm; Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford, Shropshire

Maran Bay, in Martinique. Lithograph (56.6x43.4 cm), by Reverend Cooper Willyams (1762-1816), 1796
MMM5483376 Maran Bay, in Martinique. Lithograph (56.6x43.4 cm), by Reverend Cooper Willyams (1762-1816), 1796. by Willyams, Cooper (1762-1816) (after); National Maritime Museum, London

An attack in the India - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1913 (engraving)
ICA4950423 An attack in the India - Cover of "The Eye of the Police", 1913 (engraving); Private Collection; Photo © Caricadoc.

The loss of the iron steamer 'Elberfeld', 1850
3478496 The loss of the iron steamer 'Elberfeld', 1850; (add.info.: Illustration depicting the loss of the iron steamer 'Elberfeld')

The Jolly Bachelor beating off two Piratical Proas at Datto Point, 1845 (litho)
1579756 The Jolly Bachelor beating off two Piratical Proas at Datto Point, 1845 (litho); (add.info.: Lithograph of The Jolly Bachelor beating off two Piratical Proas at Datto Point, Borneo)

The Battle of the Nile: Destruction of 'L'Orient', 1 August 1798, 1825 (oil on canvas)
7337688 The Battle of the Nile: Destruction of 'L'Orient', 1 August 1798, 1825 (oil on canvas) by Brown, Mather (1761-1831); 103.4x123.2 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

The destruction of 'L'Orient' at the Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798, 1825-27 (oil on canvas)
7337687 The destruction of 'L'Orient' at the Battle of the Nile, 1 August 1798, 1825-27 (oil on canvas) by Arnald, George (1763-1841); 185.5x269 cm; National Maritime Museum, London

Siege of Toulon (France), 1793. Watercolor (34.1x46 cm), late 18th century
MMM5484532 Siege of Toulon (France), 1793. Watercolor (34.1x46 cm), late 18th century.; National Maritime Museum, London, UK; (add.info.: Siege of Toulon (France), 1793

The fight between the Alabama and the Kearsarge, 1864. Creator: Unknown
The fight between the Alabama and the Kearsarge, 1864. American Civil War - sea battle off Cherbourg on 19th June, from a sketch by Robert Lancaster, the owner of the yacht Deerhound

The War in America: Howlett's battery on the James River..., 1864. Creator: Mason Jackson
The War in America: Howlett's battery on the James River, engaging the Federal monitors - by our special artist, 1864

The War in New Zealand: the gun-boat Pioneer at anchor off Meremere, on the Waikato River..., 1864. Creator: Unknown
The War in New Zealand: the gun-boat Pioneer at anchor off Meremere, on the Waikato River, reconnoitring the native position, 1864. Engraving of a sketch by '...Mr

The battle of Usri [i.e. Ussuri], Siberia : Captain Konomi died in the...(between 1918 and 1922?)
The battle of Usri [i.e. Ussuri], Siberia : Captain Konomi died in the battle, fighting, (between 1918 and 1922?).

Ruins of the Late Fire at the London Docks, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Ruins of the Late Fire at the London Docks, 1858. The fire...originated in the South Stack Warehouse on the South Quay building, several floors high, each filled with gutta percha, saltpetre, sugar

Victorieuse Offensive Italienne; Le bombardement italien sur la chaine du Cucco et du Santo...1917 Creator: Unknown
Victorieuse Offensive Italienne; Le bombardement italien sur la chaine du Cucco et du Santo, le 12 mai: les eclatements couvrent la montagne d'une sorte de brouillard, 1917

L'offensive Francaise d'avril-mai 1917; L'attaque des positions allemandes au Nord de... 1917
L'offensive Francaise d'avril-mai 1917; L'attaque des positions allemandes au Nord de l'Aisne le 16 avril, 6 heures du matin, 1917

L'attaque navale de Zeebrugge et Ostende; A Zeebrugge: Schema de l'attaque, 1918. Creator: Unknown
L'attaque navale de Zeebrugge et Ostende; A Zeebrugge: Schema de l'attaque, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

Victoire Italienne; dans le secteur du Montello: vagues italiennes s'elancant... 1918. Creator: Unknown
Victoire Italienne; dans le secteur du Montello: vagues italiennes s'elancant pour la contre-attaque, 1918. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" [L'Illustration

Dans le secteur de l'offensive Britannique, au Nord de la Somme; La preparation... 1916. Creator: Unknown
Dans le secteur de l'offensive Britannique, au Nord de la Somme; La preparation d'artillerie: bombardement des lignes allemands de la Boisselle, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV

'Les combats au Nord de la Somme; Bombardement de Curlu, quelques instants avant l'attaque, 1916
Les combats au Nord de la Somme; Bombardement de Curlu, quelques instants avant l'attaque, 1916. From "Collection de la Guerre IV. L'Illustration Tome CXLVIII

La Bataille de la Somme; En terrain reconquis: une batterie francaise d'artillerie de... 1916. Creator: Unknown
La Bataille de la Somme; En terrain reconquis: une batterie francaise d'artillerie de campagne va prendre position pres de Dompierre, ou eclatent maintenant les projectiles de l'ennemi, 1916

The Defence of Spion Kop, January 1900, (c1900). Creator: Unknown
The Defence of Spion Kop, January 1900, (c1900). The Boers defeat the British in South Africa. From "Cassell's History of England, Vol. IX"

Destruction of the Docks, Sebastopol - from a sketch by J. A. Crowe, 1856. Creator: J. A. Crowe
Destruction of the Docks, Sebastopol - from a sketch by J. A. Crowe, 1856. Crimean War. It was the intention of our engineers to blow in a portion of the English half of the docks...the charges in

The Bombardment of Sveaborg - sketched by J. W. Carmichael, 1856. Creator: Unknown
The Bombardment of Sveaborg - sketched by J. W. Carmichael, 1856. Scene from the Aland War, part of the Crimean War, showing...Captain Caldwell, [commanding] H.M.S

The Bombardment of Sveaborg - Officers on the Island of Tona Miola - sketched by J. W. Carmichael, 1 Creator: Unknown
The Bombardment of Sveaborg - Officers on the Island of Tona Miola - sketched by J. W. Carmichael, 1856. Scene from the Aland War, part of the Crimean War. On Sunday afternoon, August 12, H.M

'La hauteur de Douaumont vue du la Chaume, 1916 (1924) Creator: Francois Flameng
'La hauteur de Douaumont vue du la Chaume, 1916. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume I" [L'Illustration, Paris, 1924]

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"From devastating wars to powerful tests, they have shaped history and left lasting impacts. In this captivating collection of images, we witness the chaos and destruction caused by explosions throughout different eras. A World War I cartoon takes us back in time, showcasing the explosive nature of warfare during that period. Meanwhile, a better hole is created through an explosion, demonstrating how controlled blasts can be used for construction purposes. The haunting aftermath of a 1957 nuclear test reminds us of the long-lasting effects of such detonations – fall-out that lingers for years to come. On a more heroic note, a fireboat fearlessly battles flames at Colonial Wharf in East London, highlighting the bravery required to combat destructive forces. The sheer power unleashed by an atomic bomb explosion is captured in another striking image. It serves as a chilling reminder of humanity's ability to create weapons capable of immense devastation. Moving on from war zones, Italians in Somalia are seen dealing with an explosion's aftermath – evidence that explosions transcend borders and affect lives worldwide. In WWI on the Western Front at Longueval, France in 1916, Highlanders face both enemy fire and exploding shells as they fight valiantly for their cause. The Monte Bello atomic test showcases yet another chapter in mankind's exploration into harnessing explosive energy for various purposes. A Royal Air Force display poster from Hendon captures the awe-inspiring spectacle of aircraft breaking through sound barriers with thunderous booms. However, not all they can intentional or celebratory; scenes depicting fatal incidents like the Birmingham explosion remind us of their tragic consequences. Even under cover darkness Handley Page Hampden Bombers take flight - silent but deadly - reminding us that danger can strike unexpectedly even when unseen. Lastly, Home Guard practice sessions demonstrate how they were utilized as part of training exercises during times when nations stood united against common threats. "