If you find anything that you think may contain explosives, please do not touch or move it. Make sure you and anyone near you is safe and telephone the Police on 725111 or, in an emergency, call 999.
Recent Explosive Ordnance Disposal Incidents.
World War Two S-Mines Uncovered on Sark
On Feb 9th 2017 Bomb Disposal Officers from Guernsey Police were called to Sark after a number of anti-personnel mines were unearthed during work to install fencing in the area at the top of Harbour Hill.
The Bomb Disposal Team exposed a total of 66 S-mines (Schrapnellmine, Springmine or Splittermine in German) and removed them all from the site for disposal.
It's suspected that these mines were amongst those originally laid by German troops in The Avenue, Sark. This is now the island's high street, but during the war it was the main road leading to the German Headquarters and strong-point on the island known as Citadella.
German Mini Cache on Sark
On 14 November 2014 a farmer in Sark ploughed one of his fields for the first time since the end of World War Two. On the first run up the field, the driver dislodged what he thought were anti-personnel mines.
Guernsey's Police Bomb Disposal team were called in and found a total of 79 bounding mines, commonly known as S-Mines, or "Bouncing Betty's" as they were referred to by British soldiers. Each one contained hundreds of ball bearings making them lethal to anyone within a 20 metre radius, but also capable of inflicting injuries up to 100 metres from the point of detonation.
The mines were all located in one area in the field and were most probably a store hidden by the German forces prior to the Liberation of the island. In total 51 mines were found to be free from explosive and 28 required positive action, with disposal by way of a controlled explosion.
'Ammo' Wreck in Guernsey Gives up an Unusual Secret
The 'Dr Rudolf Wahrendorf' formed part of a large number of armed ships used to escort convoys to the Channel Islands. It was sunk in an air attack by the Royal Navy Air Squadron No.850 on 24th July 1944 and came to rest just outside St Peter Port Harbour in 30 metres of water. Nowadays it is an interesting and achievable dive.
In September 2013, a visiting ship dropped anchor on the wreck and divers were called in to inspect the damage. A Guernsey Police bomb disposal officer accompanied the divers and identified a depth charge lying on the port side of the vessel. The Royal Navy Southern Diving Unit 1 were called in, and on 17th October 2013 the depth charge was lifted from the wreck and taken into a Royal Navy launch where the firing device was carefully removed.
To protect the wreck and for public safety the charge was relocated to an area known as the Great Bank about 1100 meters from St Peter Port where the charge was dropped and disposed of by way of a controlled explosion to initiate the main explosive charge.
Parachute Mine in Bluebell Woods
An unexploded Second World War parachute mine was found in Bluebell Woods during a locator training exercise being run by the Guernsey Police Bomb Disposal Team. Due to the size of the mine disposal in situ was not an option due to the close proximity of houses and the densely populated area around it. A decision was made to call in a Royal Navy Bomb Disposal unit so that the mine could be removed and taken out to sea for disposal.
The area was excavated and the device was identified as a Mk 1 ground mine.
The mine, which was in remarkably good condition and undamaged from its impact with the ground, was excavated and then lifted out from its resting place of sixty-nine years. On Sunday 16th August 2013, the mine was slowly brought up the slope, out of the woods and transported to Fermain Bay, and then via lifting bags, out to the Grand Bank where it was slowly sunk in 15 metres of water. After a period of time to allow the mine to settle on the sea bed, Royal Navy divers placed a small charge on it. This was later detonated in a controlled explosion which could be clearly seen from the shore.
