An army bomb disposal team was called to a suspicious device discovered at Guildford fire station, Ladymead today (June 24) at around 12.30pm.
Kevin Noble the fire station manager spoken to during the incident said: “We are excavating on site as we are planning to build a new fire station here. It looks like it’s an old World War 2 bomb that could well have been here for 60 years or so.”
Once the station had been evacuated, a 100m cordon was put in place and the road was closed while the army team, from the Royal Logistic Corps, detonated the device. It was believed to be a 2 inch mortar smoke bomb.
Archaeologist ‘Nick’, who did not wish to give his surname, had just made the exciting discovery of some Neolithic flints when he found the device.He said: “I encountered what I at first thought was a green bottle but when I looked more closely I realised it was actually a mortar shell.”
He had been using a machine on the soil and was naturally concerned. He continued: “It’s the first time I’ve come across something like this myself. I could see this fin sticking out. I thought if I am going to find anything like this then I am probably in the best place at a fire station. I just went and spoke to the guys who called the police and got the bomb squad out.”
Mark Eldon, who was driving the dumper at the time added: “We have found something and the fire brigade have evacuated the area. I have been doing this job for 41 years and I have dug up quite a few explosive devices. I dug up a large bomb in Guildford 35 years ago.”
See below a video clip from YouTube of a similar bomb found with a metal detector…
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Contact: Martin Giles mgilesdragon@gmail.com
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