http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ns-garden.html

The dirty (2) dozen: How a bit of weekend DIY unearthed 24 WW2 grenades in a
quiet back garden

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:57 PM on 9th May 2010

A man has unearthed a hoard of Second World War phosphorus grenades in his
back garden.

Ian Cooke, 28, a financial advisor, discovered 24 of the dangerous glass
bombs when digging holes for new decking at his home yesterday afternoon.

Around 3.3pm, Mr Cooke uncovered a broken glass vial two feet under his lawn
that had been filled with a diesel-smelling liquid.

He dipped his spade into the chemical but was stunned when smoke started
pluming from the blade.

Smoke continued to billow from the hole so he immediately ran inside and
called 999.

Emergency services were rushed to the house on Belbroughton Road, Halesowen,
West Mids, and when a Royal Logistic Bomb Disposal Team arrived they
discovered a further 23 grenades.

Today the team attempted to make the grenades safe by filling a skip with
water and opening them while submerged, diluting the chemicals inside making
sure they cannot be ignited.

Mr Cooke said he had been told by bomb disposal experts that they had
discovered a large hoard of No 76 phosphorous grenades used by the Home
Guard in the Second World War.

He said: 'When they got here the street was cordoned off and people were
asked to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

'The bomb disposal team told me that 24 No 76 phosphorous grenades had been
found - I was gobsmacked.

'When I found the vial I was not going to take any chances - I know nothing
about weapons and grenades but knew this could be dangerous.

'When smoke started pluming out of the hole I just ran inside and called
999.

'The bomb experts said that they were going to open the rest of the grenades
submerged in water - it makes the phosphorous safe by diluting it.

'I was supposed to be going to my friend's wedding today but it looks like I
am going to miss the ceremony.

'It's okay though - as long as I don't miss the buffet.

'I will certainly have a tale to tell when I get there - it is just mind
blowing to think these bombs have been here since I moved here a few months
ago.'

The No 76 was an incendiary grenade filled with white phosphorus used during
the war and was issued to the Home Guard at a time when the UK faced a
possible Nazi invasion.

The grenade is a pint-sized glass bottle

Over time the rubber dissolved to create a sticky fluid which would self
ignite when the bottle was broked.

Worried neighbour Trevor Neale, 78, a retired firefighter, said he was
astounded that these potentially dangerous grenades had been found so close.

'It is such a shock that something like this could be discovered in the
area.

'I was a fireman for more than 50 years and never had to deal with anything
like this - I still can't believe it.

'I saw emergency services arrive here at around 4pm on Saturday and they
have been here ever since - I think they know they need to be extra careful
with chemicals like these.'

According to neighbour William Ashfield, 78, the three-bedroomed
semi-detached houses along Belbroughton road had been built in the Sixties.

He said: 'I moved into my house on the road in 1966, three years after the
houses had been built.

'Before the area was developed this was all farm land - grazing land for
cows and sheep.

'The bombs must have been buried during the war and have laid hidden since -
it is extraordinary to know we have been so close to disaster all these
years.'

DGDevin wrote:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ns-garden.html

The dirty (2) dozen: How a bit of weekend DIY unearthed 24 WW2 grenades in a
quiet back garden

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:57 PM on 9th May 2010

A man has unearthed a hoard of Second World War phosphorus grenades in his
back garden.

Ian Cooke, 28, a financial advisor, discovered 24 of the dangerous glass
bombs when digging holes for new decking at his home yesterday afternoon.

Around 3.3pm, Mr Cooke uncovered a broken glass vial two feet under his lawn
that had been filled with a diesel-smelling liquid.

He dipped his spade into the chemical but was stunned when smoke started
pluming from the blade.

Smoke continued to billow from the hole so he immediately ran inside and
called 999.

Emergency services were rushed to the house on Belbroughton Road, Halesowen,
West Mids, and when a Royal Logistic Bomb Disposal Team arrived they
discovered a further 23 grenades.

Today the team attempted to make the grenades safe by filling a skip with
water and opening them while submerged, diluting the chemicals inside making
sure they cannot be ignited.

Mr Cooke said he had been told by bomb disposal experts that they had
discovered a large hoard of No 76 phosphorous grenades used by the Home
Guard in the Second World War.

He said: 'When they got here the street was cordoned off and people were
asked to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

'The bomb disposal team told me that 24 No 76 phosphorous grenades had been
found - I was gobsmacked.

'When I found the vial I was not going to take any chances - I know nothing
about weapons and grenades but knew this could be dangerous.

'When smoke started pluming out of the hole I just ran inside and called
999.

'The bomb experts said that they were going to open the rest of the grenades
submerged in water - it makes the phosphorous safe by diluting it.

'I was supposed to be going to my friend's wedding today but it looks like I
am going to miss the ceremony.

'It's okay though - as long as I don't miss the buffet.

'I will certainly have a tale to tell when I get there - it is just mind
blowing to think these bombs have been here since I moved here a few months
ago.'

The No 76 was an incendiary grenade filled with white phosphorus used during
the war and was issued to the Home Guard at a time when the UK faced a
possible Nazi invasion.

The grenade is a pint-sized glass bottle

Over time the rubber dissolved to create a sticky fluid which would self
ignite when the bottle was broked.

Worried neighbour Trevor Neale, 78, a retired firefighter, said he was
astounded that these potentially dangerous grenades had been found so close.

'It is such a shock that something like this could be discovered in the
area.

'I was a fireman for more than 50 years and never had to deal with anything
like this - I still can't believe it.

'I saw emergency services arrive here at around 4pm on Saturday and they
have been here ever since - I think they know they need to be extra careful
with chemicals like these.'

According to neighbour William Ashfield, 78, the three-bedroomed
semi-detached houses along Belbroughton road had been built in the Sixties.

He said: 'I moved into my house on the road in 1966, three years after the
houses had been built.

'Before the area was developed this was all farm land - grazing land for
cows and sheep.

'The bombs must have been buried during the war and have laid hidden since -
it is extraordinary to know we have been so close to disaster all these
years.'


Scary, but far from uncommon. Both old caches like this, and
dropped-but-did-not-detonate aerial bombs and munitions turn up on a
regular basis anywhere armed conflict has occurred. Not uncommon in UK,
and still a regular occurrence in Germany. Not to mention of course, old
minefields.

And yes, even 60-80 years later, sometimes they can still go off,
especially when exposed to all the nice fresh o2 during a construction
dig, plus vibration or compacting from the machines.

--
aem sends...

DGDevin wrote:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ns-garden.html

The dirty (2) dozen: How a bit of weekend DIY unearthed 24 WW2 grenades in a
quiet back garden

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:57 PM on 9th May 2010

A man has unearthed a hoard of Second World War phosphorus grenades in his
back garden.

Ian Cooke, 28, a financial advisor, discovered 24 of the dangerous glass
bombs when digging holes for new decking at his home yesterday afternoon.

Around 3.3pm, Mr Cooke uncovered a broken glass vial two feet under his lawn
that had been filled with a diesel-smelling liquid.

He dipped his spade into the chemical but was stunned when smoke started
pluming from the blade.

Smoke continued to billow from the hole so he immediately ran inside and
called 999.

Emergency services were rushed to the house on Belbroughton Road, Halesowen,
West Mids, and when a Royal Logistic Bomb Disposal Team arrived they
discovered a further 23 grenades.

Today the team attempted to make the grenades safe by filling a skip with
water and opening them while submerged, diluting the chemicals inside making
sure they cannot be ignited.

Mr Cooke said he had been told by bomb disposal experts that they had
discovered a large hoard of No 76 phosphorous grenades used by the Home
Guard in the Second World War.

He said: 'When they got here the street was cordoned off and people were
asked to stay inside and keep their windows closed.

'The bomb disposal team told me that 24 No 76 phosphorous grenades had been
found - I was gobsmacked.

'When I found the vial I was not going to take any chances - I know nothing
about weapons and grenades but knew this could be dangerous.

'When smoke started pluming out of the hole I just ran inside and called
999.

'The bomb experts said that they were going to open the rest of the grenades
submerged in water - it makes the phosphorous safe by diluting it.

'I was supposed to be going to my friend's wedding today but it looks like I
am going to miss the ceremony.

'It's okay though - as long as I don't miss the buffet.

'I will certainly have a tale to tell when I get there - it is just mind
blowing to think these bombs have been here since I moved here a few months
ago.'

The No 76 was an incendiary grenade filled with white phosphorus used during
the war and was issued to the Home Guard at a time when the UK faced a
possible Nazi invasion.

The grenade is a pint-sized glass bottle

Over time the rubber dissolved to create a sticky fluid which would self
ignite when the bottle was broked.

Worried neighbour Trevor Neale, 78, a retired firefighter, said he was
astounded that these potentially dangerous grenades had been found so close.

'It is such a shock that something like this could be discovered in the
area.

'I was a fireman for more than 50 years and never had to deal with anything
like this - I still can't believe it.

'I saw emergency services arrive here at around 4pm on Saturday and they
have been here ever since - I think they know they need to be extra careful
with chemicals like these.'

According to neighbour William Ashfield, 78, the three-bedroomed
semi-detached houses along Belbroughton road had been built in the Sixties.

He said: 'I moved into my house on the road in 1966, three years after the
houses had been built.

'Before the area was developed this was all farm land - grazing land for
cows and sheep.

'The bombs must have been buried during the war and have laid hidden since -
it is extraordinary to know we have been so close to disaster all these
years.'



It's a good thing it wasn't hit by a backhoe during construction.

TDD

DGDevin wrote:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ns-garden.html

The dirty (2) dozen: How a bit of weekend DIY unearthed 24 WW2
grenades in a quiet back garden

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:57 PM on 9th May 2010

A man has unearthed a hoard of Second World War phosphorus grenades
in his back garden.

[...]

And now the UK is contemplating a ban on garden digging.

It's for the children!

HeyBub wrote:
DGDevin wrote:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ns-garden.html

The dirty (2) dozen: How a bit of weekend DIY unearthed 24 WW2
grenades in a quiet back garden

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:57 PM on 9th May 2010

A man has unearthed a hoard of Second World War phosphorus grenades
in his back garden.

[...]

And now the UK is contemplating a ban on garden digging.

It's for the children!

Didn't they already ban shovels?

Jon

I'm sure he'll be jailed or fined for digging a hole without a permit,
and for possessing a sharp-edged weapon.