(nzef) Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 Hi All, Spent an enjoyable second day (and its my Birthday!!) visiting another 20 or so Somme cemmeteries today. I have no idea about munitions, but I nearly ran over the ones in the first photo with the car! The second monster was near Warlencourt Butte. Can someone give me details so I know what could have killed me :-) Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 19 June , 2010 Share Posted 19 June , 2010 The one by the Butte is sometimes stood up and sometimes laid down, it has a life of its own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(nzef) Posted 19 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2010 The one by the Butte is sometimes stood up and sometimes laid down, it has a life of its own. Really ? - Here I was thinking the farmer had just plowed this up! I had a lovely lunch in Auchonvillers today, at Avrils. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_beno Posted 20 June , 2010 Share Posted 20 June , 2010 On the left photo, there are 4 British mills handgrenades and 3 german 77mm grenades Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 20 June , 2010 Share Posted 20 June , 2010 The grenade (top right) looks like a Mills 23 MkIII which would be a rare find from 1917-18. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobL Posted 23 June , 2010 Share Posted 23 June , 2010 Biggun looks like a 60 pounder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 23 June , 2010 Share Posted 23 June , 2010 Biggun looks like a 60 pounder Nah, bigger'n that. If that's, say, 5cm wire mesh, it's going to be a 14 or 15". Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glyno Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 The biggun was lying on its side on May 20th ! Nah, bigger'n that. If that's, say, 5cm wire mesh, it's going to be a 14 or 15". Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 The biggun was lying on its side on May 20th ! Yes, Ocean Villas said it varied. But they have very big tractors round there - make ours look like sit'n'ride toys - so maybe they can winch a 1500 - 1900 lb shell up an down in their teabreak - or whatever it is they drink there... Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 How long has the 'biggun' been there? Is it safe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(nzef) Posted 24 June , 2010 Author Share Posted 24 June , 2010 How long has the 'biggun' been there? Is it safe? I was told by a local that they are safe unless you hit them or try and cut them open!!! I also figure that if a farmer managed to plow the thing up and then move it to the side of the field, then it has to safe on some level. Saying that, I felt uneasy around all the munitions I happened accross...and even closed the door of the car softly!!!! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 I was told by a local that they are safe unless you hit them .... Right. It's one of the places my six year old son and I are planning to visit in about four weeks. So, as long as he doesn't hit it eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 The thing is probably a hell of a lot safer than the dogs that wander round further up that road, a few times they have taken part in my fitness regime. Its a 60 pounder, the mesh isn't standard fence mesh, its rabbit fencing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 So, my son merely has to not hit a big bomb and not annoy some dangerous dogs. My wife thinks this is a nice safe hobby that I involve my son in. Little walks. Quiet cemeteries. I might enrol us for some extreme sport instead. Sounds safer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 Its a 60 pounder, the mesh isn't standard fence mesh, its rabbit fencing. Ah, so they don't go round toppling it and hauling it upright with their great big tractors, then... Regards, MikB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 No the rabbits can't drive silly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truthergw Posted 24 June , 2010 Share Posted 24 June , 2010 On a coach trip, I witnessed a young buck demonstrate to his girlfriend how safe these things are by booting a mills bomb about 20 feet across the field. Since I was only a few feet away, I don't mind admitting that my sphincter gave a distinct spasm. The tour organiser gave the guy a small run down on the casualties that year and he blenched. Pure ignorance on his part. He just could not accept that a thing very like a newly dug potato could really be dangerous. One of the few plusses from having seen things like that go off is a healthy respect for them. For those who haven't, something left lying around at the side of the road can't really be dangerous, can it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 25 June , 2010 Share Posted 25 June , 2010 I have never been on a coach trip and suspect I never will, but shouldn't there be some discussion before being letting the punters off the coach about not touching anything or bringing it back or kicking it. Or maybe some vetting process or test to weed out the odd ones. That being said I am intrigued about the run down of the casualites the tour organiser gave. What were they? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
27thBN Posted 26 June , 2010 Share Posted 26 June , 2010 I personally hope when i get to France that all the munitions will still be there and not all removed they make the place seem real ,i intend going in about 3 years or so probably hope left on seeing the real deal. MC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted 26 June , 2010 Share Posted 26 June , 2010 Are these things eventually removed ? If so, how long doe it take, and are they then blown up or what. Seems a highly dangerous practice to leave a few rusty old mills bombs on the road side. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 26 June , 2010 Share Posted 26 June , 2010 I personally hope when i get to France that all the munitions will still be there and not all removed they make the place seem real ,i intend going in about 3 years or so probably hope left on seeing the real deal. MC Don't worry, they unearth 30,000 tons of munition each year on the Somme and about the same in Ypres and Verdun. Don't forget the plough only scrapes the top 10-14 inches each year. There will be plenty left when you get there. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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