Grenade encountered in a farmer’s field Gloucestershire

An unexploded hand grenade was recently discovered in a field at Grey Hill Farm near Gloucester, prompting an immediate response from the authorities. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) engineers attended the scene and safely destroyed the grenade in a controlled explosion.

How are unexploded grenades disposed of?

When dealing with live hand grenades, EOD teams follow strict safety protocols to prevent unnecessary risks. Where possible, they avoid transporting these unstable devices due to the potential for detonation. Instead, grenades and other small UXO items are typically destroyed on-site in a controlled explosion, ensuring the safety of both the public and the surrounding environment.

What type of grenade was found?

The exact model of the grenade was not publicly disclosed, but one of the most common British grenades from WWI and WWII was the Mills Bomb. This classic fragmentation grenade was widely used by British and Allied forces and remains a frequent UXO find in the UK, particularly in areas with a history of military training.

Why was a hand grenade found in a farmer’s field?

The discovery of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in rural areas is not uncommon due to Britain’s extensive military history. During WWI and WWII, the British War Office requisitioned large areas of land across the country to accommodate the growing number of Allied soldiers stationed in the UK. These lands were often used for training exercises, leading to the presence of UXO decades later.

Additionally, during WWII, armed Home Guard units patrolled the countryside. Many of these soldiers trained on civilian land and even buried caches of ammunition in strategic locations in case of enemy invasion. Over time, agricultural activities such as ploughing and land development have uncovered previously buried UXO, bringing these forgotten hazards back to the surface.

The importance of UXO risk assessments

UXO discoveries like this highlight the lasting dangers of historic military activity. Without proper risk assessments, construction and agricultural projects could unknowingly disturb buried explosives, posing serious risks to workers and the public.

A Brimstone Stage 1 Preliminary UXO Risk Assessment is the best way to determine whether a site has historical military contamination. By analysing wartime records, previous land use, and known UXO finds, our experts provide a detailed risk assessment to help ensure safe development and land use.

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