Old ordnance still dangerous

The cheese wedges were lumps of phosphorous which burns when exposed to air!!!Leave well alone anything you don’t recognize!!!

How true. Some yrs ago, a farmer found some bombs whilst ploughing his field. I was sent to have a look see, and decided to call out the UXB Team. They recognised the bombs as phosphorous. They dug a hole at an angle in the ground, and placed the bombs in the hole. A fuze was lit, and I started to run for safety, thats when I got yelled at by the O.I.C. who told me to walk away. the reason was, that if I had fallen, twisted an ankle, then I may well have gone up with the bombs. These were phosphorous, and after being blown up, were still burning the next day. I agree, anything of an unusual shape you do not recognise, leave well alone.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Sue Dairylea…

What has she got to do with anything – – – – 🙂
I see the news this morning shows another side of left over weaponry.
The Belgian pre school groups are using bottled water because of the poisoning of the water table,where arsenic weapons were burnt after the war the plants are dead and the soil contaminated.It was shown on the BBC news this morning so may be on the BBC website later.

This was another report from the Belgium bomb disposal group.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26663643

Sue Dairylea…

Diving around Plymouth sound I came into contact with a couple of bombs and several misfire HE rounds near where there had been anti aircraft guns.On one occasion on a sand bottom we came across a 12 inch across circular object with a brass middle ,we thought some kind of mine so left well alone!!Lots of stuff still down there .Just offshore there are dumping grounds(nicely marked on the charts!)where all sorts of wartime “stuff”was jettisoned into the sea.A well known dive story of a group diving a WW1 wreck ,one chap saw some objects resembling cheese wedges so he put one in his buoyancy jacket,on coming back on the dive boat all gear is usually left in a pile while hot drinks are consumed!This was taking place when a fire started amongst the dive gear!The cheese wedges were lumps of phosphorous which burns when exposed to air!!!Leave well alone anything you don’t recognize!!!

S Fox As you may or may not be aware, I live not far away from RAF Holbeach, a bombing range. When I was a Copper, I regularly met up with the BD Group guys from down South, as and when a Fishing boat skipper reported seeing a UXB on a sandbar. I know the Marshes well, and used to guide the chaps in their Zodiac. 9 times out of ten, the explosives had been washed out, but I do remember two, that when the charges laid by the UXB team were set off, proved the bombs were still live.And they were from WW2 era.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Possibly rather macabre, but the fact that so many of these shells are still very much live, it says plenty about the quality of manufacturing in those days.

Sad really Frank, when we are reminded seemingly daily, about the Great War, and then have a Rememberance Day also. In a way, it does bring it home, just what those who died, had to go through.I often wonder what they would think of the world today, having given their lives for King and Country……Was it all worth it at the end of the day?.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

National news here reported that, because one was a Turkish national and the other Bulgarian, their relatives will be paid a compensation as if it was a “simple” occupational hazard, and not from a fund that is meant for the purpose. Apparently, you have to be a Belgian national for it to intervene.

And yes, they nearly find shells on a daily basis.

I would have thought that when digging or building in such areas, the area would at least be swept with metal detectors.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

Probably so much metal in the ground that they wouldn’t be very effective. GPR might work better, but it’s all down to cost, and time.

I would have thought that when digging or building in such areas, the area would at least be swept with metal detectors.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

A regular occurrence out there unfortunately.