WWI Shells Unearthed in Tooting Garden
Two 18-pounder shells dating from World War One were unearthed in a garden in Tooting, London on Saturday. Slightly disconcertingly, the builders who had excavated the shells decided to leave them in situ before going home for the day.
The builders later rang the owners of the property describing their find and the owners phoned the Police who put a security cordon in place before seeking the input of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.
The EOD team confirmed that the shells had had their contents and firing mechanism removed and were therefore completely safe.
Whilst there was no risk posed to life or property in this instance, it is always wise to contact the Police immediately after finding any potential item of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). Without positive identification, the requisite security procedures cannot be put in place to ensure the safety of all those concerned.
