During WWII, hotels and guest houses were requisitioned to cope with the expansion in the numbers of personnel. Located within walking distance of the Naval Air Station HMS Daedalus, the Mansfield Hotel in Lee on the Solent was one of those properties, it was renamed as the Mansfield Hostel and it became the home to a number of WRNS (Wrens) based at the airfield. 

At approximately 1900 on 23 November 1940 24 Wrens were in the dining room of the Hostel having their evening meal when what it was struck by what is believed to be an anti-aircraft shell from a local battery which fell through the roof and crashed into the room.

The explosion killed 10 of the WRNS instantly, with another 13 seriously injured. One Wren escaped unscathed physically.

The building was rebuilt and is still standing, during it's life it has spent a time as a rest home. A memorial plaque dedicated to the WRNS is located on the building and was unveiled in 1996. An annual memorial service is held by the Association of WRNS which the Lee on the Solent RBL also supports