UXO News Roundup, 18/07/2024
On the weekend of 15-16/06/2024, Barnard Castle Police were called to reports of an ‘unexploded bomb’ on Newbiggin Common, near Middleton-in-Teesdale, Co. Durham. The device was inspected by a Royal Logistics Corps (RLC) Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team and identified as a 40mm rifled projectile, reportedly of WWI origin. It was found not to be live and safely removed.
Image Credits: The Northern Echo, courtesy of Durham Police
See: Report of unexploded First World War bomb in County Durham | The Northern Echo
On 20th June, South Wales Police were called the discovery of a ‘WWII unexploded bomb’ in Manor Park, Llantwit Major. An EOD team attended the scene and the device was made safe, but no further details have been released and the exact nature of the device remains unconfirmed.
See: Homes evacuated in Llantwit Major after unexploded bomb discovery | ITV News Wales
On 21st June Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police attended reports of an item of ‘suspected unexploded ordnance’ being discovered on a housing development at Whiteley Meadows, Curbridge, near the tracks of the West Coastway Line between Eastleigh and Fareham. The item was examined by an EOD team and found to be a ‘training device’, which was safely removed. Its origins and exact nature have not yet been confirmed.
See: Trains between Eastleigh and Fareham stop as suspected bomb found – BBC News
Sussex Police were called on 23rd June to the discovery of an item of ‘unexploded ordnance’ in a garden on Basin Road, Chichester, in West Sussex. An EOD team attended the scene and removed the item to a nearby field for controlled disposal. The exact nature of the device has yet to be confirmed.
See: Chichester garden cordoned off after explosive found | The Argus
On 1st July, a secondary school in Birmingham was evacuated following the discovery of a suspected unexploded hand grenade in a nearby garden on Bordesley Green Road. The device – identified as a No. 36 Hand Grenade (Mills Bomb) – was found to be inert and removed for safe disposal.
Image Credits: BBC News
See: Birmingham school evacuated as suspected grenade found nearby – BBC News
On 2nd July, emergency services were called to Comely Bank Road in the Stockbridge area of Edinburgh following the discovery of an ‘historic unexploded bomb’. An EOD team attended the scene and the device was removed for safe disposal. The exact nature of the device has yet to be confirmed.
See: Historic unexploded bomb discovered in Edinburgh as police lock down street – Daily Record
Dorset Police were called on 6th July to reports of an ‘unexploded shell’ being discovered in a garden on Charminster Avenue, Bournemouth. The device, a suspected WWI shell, was removed by an EOD team for safe disposal.
Image Credits: Bournemouth Echo, courtesy of Alysson Marinho
See: Bournemouth: Bomb squad called to man’s back garden | Bournemouth Echo
On 11th July, a stretch of the A27 near Polegate, East Sussex, was closed following discovery of an item of ‘suspected unexploded ordnance’ in an area of nearby water. An EOD team attended the scene and the device was destroyed in a controlled explosion. The exact nature of the device has not been confirmed.
See: Sussex A27 alert after suspected unexploded bomb found – BBC News
