Drama as grenade is dug up by Postman

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.expressandstar.com/2009/03/2 ... is-dug-up/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Up to 150 homes were evacuated when a postman unearthed a hand grenade while digging his garden in the Black Country.

Ashleigh Lewis, 26, found the Second World War weapon in his garden in Middlepark Road, on Russells Hall Estate in Dudley.

Around 30 police officers were drafted to the estate and a section of Middlepark Road and Hawkesley Road was cordoned off.

The live grenade was detonated in a controlled explosion on fields next to the street, near Russells Hall Hospital, to the delight of children who shouted when they heard the blast.

Keen gardener Mr Lewis, who has a daughter Mia aged two, said: “I was using a pick axe when I heard a tink and thought ‘what’s that?’

“The grenade was buried about a foot in the ground, I got it onto a shovel and showed it to my neighbour Dawn Black who said I better call the police.

“I then put it down very gently, I was worried it was going to explode.”

A crowd gathered outside The Old Park pub when the drama unfolded about 1pm on Saturday.

Landlord Colin McNay, aged 51, said: “I’ve only been here a week and I certainly was not expecting anything like this to happen.

“I thought the police were raiding the pub.”

The Royal Logistics Corps from Tewkesbury arrived and residents were allowed back into their homes at 5.30pm. Staff sergeant Matt Henton from the corps said the device was a Number 36 hand grenade and he was able to see explosives inside.

Mr Lewis’ partner Bobbie Lowe, a Castle High School classroom assistant, said: “I asked Ash to do some gardening while I went out for lunch.

“Later he phoned me and said he was sorry but he had some bad news, he had found a hand grenade. I thought he was pulling my leg,” added the 30-year-old.

West Midlands Ambulance Service and a crew from Brierley Hill fire station were also at the scene.

Holly Hall School was opened for people to get and tea and coffee.

[johnsouthwales]

lucky holly hall was open then lol.. rofL @ pubraid

[smokerjim]

Right, that's it - I'm waking up the wife & telling her I ain't doing any more digging!

[johnsouthwales]

when he said he heard a tick, lucky it wasnt a bang.. cant see the point of evacuating all those houses.. everyone knows that the blast from a grenade has only a certain projectile area. should be safe when the safetypin is intact lol.

[andy2007]

Actually, explosives can become more unstable over time. And even if just moving it, didn't set it off. If the pin was badly corroded, it could have failed, which would also have resulted in an explosion.

But you're right about them going over the top with the evacuation. A couple of houses either side, should have been enough.

[smokerjim]

Actually, explosives can become more unstable over time. And even if just moving it, didn't set it off. If the pin was badly corroded, it could have failed, which would also have resulted in an explosion.

But you're right about them going over the top with the evacuation. A couple of houses either side, should have been enough.

Ah, but how many neighbours in the safe area thought "A grenade! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH GET ME THE F*CK OUT OF HERE..........I'm going to be killed!!!!!!!!" :runforthehillsgif:

[johnsouthwales]

lol wonder how it got there in the first place? probably t the owners dog sniffed it out and buried it in the garden haha... think they projectile range is about 25ft. yeh they can be volatile..ge the uxb team in.. suppose it was a bit of exitement for them

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Actually, explosives can become more unstable over time. And even if just moving it, didn't set it off. If the pin was badly corroded, it could have failed, which would also have resulted in an explosion.

But you're right about them going over the top with the evacuation. A couple of houses either side, should have been enough.

They detonated it by a controlled explosion, which invariably means they used explosives to destroy the hand grenade. From what I remember from my time in the Forces the minimum safe area is usually taken as a 100yds in a circle round the seat of the explosion. This is because of the possibility of the combined effect of the new explosives and the slim chance of sympathetic detonation of the grenade and any shrapnel effect.

[johnsouthwales]

couldn't they have taken it away? in that case of a controlled explosion, get the hell out of there. lol. yeh think its 100 yards. your right there, the new explosive to dtonate it causes more harm

[andy2007]

Why do they need so much extra explosives to detonate it?
Would a new fuse not be enough?

[DGP1]

Why do they need so much extra explosives to detonate it?
Would a new fuse not be enough?

Would you want to be the one who had to take out the old fuse and replace it with a new one it's safer all round if you just place some explosives (I don't think they would use a lot, maybe a few grammes) on the grenade and making sure it was completely destroyed.

[andy2007]

Why do they need so much extra explosives to detonate it?
Would a new fuse not be enough?

Would you want to be the one who had to take out the old fuse and replace it with a new one it's safer all round if you just place some explosives (I don't think they would use a lot, maybe a few grammes) on the grenade and making sure it was completely destroyed.

Thanks. Sorry for being so daft. But I understand now.