i think i have come across something whilst walking the dog this morning. It was shown to me by a fellow dogwalker. I've checked out photos and it looks like a WW2 bomb.
Got the police coming round soon to check it out. I'll update you as to what it is later, but i'll keep you informed.
(no-one is in danger)
bomb perhaps ?
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Just been with a police officer to the specific area. He thought it was unexploded ordnance too, so has called specialists in.
I'll post the location, and perhaps some photos a bit later, when the site of the UXB is clear.
I'll post the location, and perhaps some photos a bit later, when the site of the UXB is clear.
Last edited by ALIB on 20 Jul 2011 14:48, edited 1 time in total.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
And this was it. Not a huge device, but probably had the potential to kill one or two people who might mishandle it. (though after 60 years, probably unlikely)
Last edited by ALIB on 20 Jul 2011 14:47, edited 1 time in total.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Not as impressive as this:
[youtubes]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVAZmF2d8es[/youtubes]
From the 1979 series 'Danger UXB'.
You may spot Antony Andrews of Brideshead Revisted fame.
Admin
[youtubes]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVAZmF2d8es[/youtubes]
From the 1979 series 'Danger UXB'.
You may spot Antony Andrews of Brideshead Revisted fame.
Admin
Re: bomb perhaps ?
I'd say that was pretty impressive for a quiet afternoon's dog walk in Sydenham ALIB - where was it?
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Pantwetter
- Posts: 44
- Joined: 4 Jul 2011 11:57
- Location: Crystal Palace
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Pity it couldn't have been relocated to CPP. See how long those travellers stick around then....
Though given the price of metal these days they'd pawn it
Though given the price of metal these days they'd pawn it
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Pantwetter, the thought entered my head of handing it to them in CPP and watching as the happy traveller folk attempted to dismantle it with a shovel and pick-axe.
I was actually directed to it by another dogwalker , whilst in Sydenham HIll Woods this morning. The lady thought it was a curious item and wondered what it was. Being of an engineering mind, I asked a few associates. Surprisingly, the answer came from a mature lady on a football forum who recognised it from her childhood in WW2 .
This
It was quite close to the train tunnel in Sydenham Hill Woods
I was actually directed to it by another dogwalker , whilst in Sydenham HIll Woods this morning. The lady thought it was a curious item and wondered what it was. Being of an engineering mind, I asked a few associates. Surprisingly, the answer came from a mature lady on a football forum who recognised it from her childhood in WW2 .
This
It was quite close to the train tunnel in Sydenham Hill Woods
Re: bomb perhaps ?
It's Michelle.
OK bad jokes aside, when I was younger, so much younger than today, while on a beach in Devon (where they filmed The Wall which my uncle was in as an extra) a kid was digging a little distance from where we were sat and he found something metallic.
It was an unexploded ww2 bomb (apparently the US military buried all sorts of stuff under our beaches when they left after ww2 including keeps, bombs, barbed wire etc and they get washed up every now and then). A bomb disposal expert had a look at it and immediately evacuated the beach. The whole beach. We had to walk over dues for over 2 miles before they said it was safe. They then set a timer to explode the bomb. Just before it went off a hangglider landed on the beach just outside the bomb area. The bomb disposal landrover pelted it down the beach, dragged the hangglider into the car and sped off. A few seconds later there was an incredible bang. It made a huge crater. Bits of the bomb were scattered all over the beach. Even after all these years old bombs can still be live.
I found part of a v1 or v2 in my garden along with an old gas ring, tiles and bottles. SOme gardens in Sydenham still have air raid shelters in them, we saw a few when we were looking to buy here 3.5 years ago.
Good find Alib.
OK bad jokes aside, when I was younger, so much younger than today, while on a beach in Devon (where they filmed The Wall which my uncle was in as an extra) a kid was digging a little distance from where we were sat and he found something metallic.
It was an unexploded ww2 bomb (apparently the US military buried all sorts of stuff under our beaches when they left after ww2 including keeps, bombs, barbed wire etc and they get washed up every now and then). A bomb disposal expert had a look at it and immediately evacuated the beach. The whole beach. We had to walk over dues for over 2 miles before they said it was safe. They then set a timer to explode the bomb. Just before it went off a hangglider landed on the beach just outside the bomb area. The bomb disposal landrover pelted it down the beach, dragged the hangglider into the car and sped off. A few seconds later there was an incredible bang. It made a huge crater. Bits of the bomb were scattered all over the beach. Even after all these years old bombs can still be live.
I found part of a v1 or v2 in my garden along with an old gas ring, tiles and bottles. SOme gardens in Sydenham still have air raid shelters in them, we saw a few when we were looking to buy here 3.5 years ago.
Good find Alib.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Yikes Lee! Bet that hanglider had bad dreams for a while 
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Pantwetter
- Posts: 44
- Joined: 4 Jul 2011 11:57
- Location: Crystal Palace
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Great minds and all that ALIB
Is that you handling it? You wouldn't catch me doing it. 60 years or not. I used to go sailing past a wreck in the Thames estuary that sank over 60 years ago with munitions on it. My mate reckoned that if the thing blew (which apparently is a possibility) it would take out the windows of most of that part of Kent. I thought it was a load of bull until I googled it. Sheerness would not be requiring window cleaners for a while. Still, being Sheppey it would probably cause instant improvements to the area!
Is that you handling it? You wouldn't catch me doing it. 60 years or not. I used to go sailing past a wreck in the Thames estuary that sank over 60 years ago with munitions on it. My mate reckoned that if the thing blew (which apparently is a possibility) it would take out the windows of most of that part of Kent. I thought it was a load of bull until I googled it. Sheerness would not be requiring window cleaners for a while. Still, being Sheppey it would probably cause instant improvements to the area!
Re: bomb perhaps ?
There may be a bit more to this story, as i am awaiting a bit more information.
I shall keep STF informed, if the interest is there.
And Pantwetter, the munitions ship is still considered to be active. The reason a 'controlled' explosion has not been used to make it safe, is as you have suggested. I was also under the impression that the resulting shock-wave would also submerge and damage many properties along the coastline.
I shall keep STF informed, if the interest is there.
And Pantwetter, the munitions ship is still considered to be active. The reason a 'controlled' explosion has not been used to make it safe, is as you have suggested. I was also under the impression that the resulting shock-wave would also submerge and damage many properties along the coastline.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Fascinating stuff, Alib. Thanks for posting (both as an interest piece and as a 'warning').
It's a relief that you (and the other dog walker) found it and not some curious kid/teenager or otherwise who may have taken it home to tinker with...
I imagine they were aiming for the railway tunnel to majorly disrupt movements. But do keep us informed!
It's a relief that you (and the other dog walker) found it and not some curious kid/teenager or otherwise who may have taken it home to tinker with...
I imagine they were aiming for the railway tunnel to majorly disrupt movements. But do keep us informed!
Re: bomb perhaps ?
I have done an interview and photos with the South London Press, and this should be out on Tuesday 26th.
At the time of the bomb drop the area was the back garden of someone's house, very close to the railway line.
These particular incendiary devices were normally dropped in tubes of 4, so potentially there are others out there. As this was found on the surface there are two possible scenarios.
1) The device was taken to the woods sometime after WW2
2) The device was dug up (possibly during demolition works to the old house) and may form part of the group of 4 in the area.
At the time of the bomb drop the area was the back garden of someone's house, very close to the railway line.
These particular incendiary devices were normally dropped in tubes of 4, so potentially there are others out there. As this was found on the surface there are two possible scenarios.
1) The device was taken to the woods sometime after WW2
2) The device was dug up (possibly during demolition works to the old house) and may form part of the group of 4 in the area.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Full story in todays South London Press
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ChristalPalace
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 27 Jul 2011 10:53
- Location: Forest Hill
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Hi Ali
I have sent a PM to you.
Thanks.
I have sent a PM to you.
Thanks.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Wow, what an interesting few days!
It is weird to think that bombs from years ago are still out there
It is weird to think that bombs from years ago are still out there
Re: bomb perhaps ?
I am self-employed, as a contaminated land consultant. Some of my work includes screening development sites for ordnance. I have reviewed only 2 sites in the past 12 months for WW2 ordnance (in London)
To come across this was a bolt froom the blue. The bomb map i have seen of the area does not indicate any ordnance 'hit' in the woods. Possibly because they did not explode/detonate.
Check out Southwark News tomorrow (Thursday) and I am also doing a local radio interview tomorrow. It should be broadcast this weekend, so if STF are interested, I'll let you know when and what frequency.
To come across this was a bolt froom the blue. The bomb map i have seen of the area does not indicate any ordnance 'hit' in the woods. Possibly because they did not explode/detonate.
Check out Southwark News tomorrow (Thursday) and I am also doing a local radio interview tomorrow. It should be broadcast this weekend, so if STF are interested, I'll let you know when and what frequency.
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Not quite in the same league as Ali's find, but as a kid, my brother found an old Mills bomb brought back from WW1 in the garage of the house where we were staying. My Dad rang the police, who were quite happy for him to take it out on a boat and drop it somewhere in the depths of Derwentwater. So amateur divers be warned 
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ChristalPalace
- Posts: 5
- Joined: 27 Jul 2011 10:53
- Location: Forest Hill
Re: bomb perhaps ?
Hi allALIB wrote:I am also doing a local radio interview tomorrow. It should be broadcast this weekend, so if STF are interested, I'll let you know when and what frequency.
I'm Chris, and I interviewed Alistair this afternoon for my next radio programme. My programme is on 2-3pm on Sydenham Community Radio, and is available at sydenhamradio.co.uk. Tune in and get involved with this week's topic, handed to me on a plate, of what have you lost or found?
Re: bomb perhaps ?
A very interesting topic, Chris. I'm sure you will be inundated with information /callers, so you may have to re-schedule another slot(s).
For myself, walking regularly in Sydenham Hill Woods. the most frequent hazard is flying golf balls hit iinto the woods by Dulwich and Sydenham Hill golfers. I have had 4 near-misses in the past 3 years, but couldn't possibly comment on whether these happened more on 'ladies days'.
The radio show is this Saturday ?
For myself, walking regularly in Sydenham Hill Woods. the most frequent hazard is flying golf balls hit iinto the woods by Dulwich and Sydenham Hill golfers. I have had 4 near-misses in the past 3 years, but couldn't possibly comment on whether these happened more on 'ladies days'.
The radio show is this Saturday ?