A story worth reading

[Christoph1945]

I thought that this story was well worth reading. Knowing that many of us are now using deep seeking metal detectors on wet sand; I thought that it was worth posting this item. I know that it is an old article but many may never have seen it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/wint ... ence/print" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[metal detector]

That is truly a sad story.

That must of been a huge explosion and another one would be awful.

If hope they seen in some bomb disposal people with metal detectors.

[Christoph1945]

Hi Metal, did you notice in the report that there were still a number of mines on that beach that were unacounted for! Following WWII there were a large number of British Sappers killed whilst demining our beaches.

My regular beach was mined during WWII and demined in 1945. I have a hard copy report from the MoD that states that they are unable to confirm that all mines were removed; or that any mines were unacounted for. I think that the chances of find a landmine now, are very slim but I do my beach detecting with great care.

Chris

[Gwawrer]

Hi Chris I reckon the SSSI status on the dunes is all a ploy , they are full of mines hence why they are all fenced off.

[Christoph1945]

Naaaaaaa, I don't think so; people ignore the fences and climb all over the fenced off sections.
We would have heard of an accident bye now. Mind you; I did find what looks like a finger bone!


Chris

[onlyonegazza]

i had a ranger come up to me today and say there was ordinance about, i looked around and said yes i know, i've been coming here for years and i'm careful.
50 yards up the beach kids were digging a huge hole, he didn't bother talking to them?

[Dave8472]

Bloody hell

Of the 117 mines laid on Swanage beach in 1940, as Britain prepared for a Nazi invasion, 58 are still unaccounted for. Key ended his speech with a plea for the whole area to be swept again for mines:

[Christoph1945]

That was my exact thought Dave. Bloody hell!

Knowing that the beach at Talacre was mined during the WWII conflict and demined in 1945; I contacted the MoD for more information under the Freedom of Information Act. Aparantly the Microfich records are in such poor condition; it is impossible extract a lot of details from them.

They confirmed that the beach was mined but were unable to say how many mines, and which models, were put in place. They provided me with map references and confirmed that the beach was demined in 1945. They pointed out that they were unable to confirm that all mines were accounted for. But neither were they able to confirm that any were unacounted for.

I would think that this information would apply to all British beaches that were mined during the war. I now do my beach detecting with a little more caution and would follow RRPG'S advice...."If in doubt; back off and call in the professionals".

Chris