A pair of individuals who used a live explosive as a decoration in their garden have expressed regret that their “longtime companion” was destroyed by a disposal team.
The projectile, previously located at the residence of Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, is believed to originate from the late 1800s.
The pair, originally from Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, believed the object to be a non-functional bomb with no explosive material.
According to Sian Edwards, she would tap her trowel against the ground to loosen dirt while gardening.
A police officer notified the couple on Wednesday that he had discovered a bomb and would have to inform the Ministry of Defence.
One hour later, the officer informed the couple that the bomb squad would be arriving the following day.
According to Jeffrey Edwards, a 77-year-old, we were unable to sleep at all last night. It was very unsettling for us.
I informed the bomb disposal team: “We are not evacuating the house, we will remain here. If the bomb detonates, we will be caught in the explosion.”
According to the BBC, the explosive device was taken to an abandoned quarry in Walwyn’s Castle and buried with five metric tonnes of sand. It was then detonated after testing confirmed that it was active, although with a minimal amount of charge.
Edwards, who has resided on this street since the age of three, stated: “It’s someone I have known for a long time. I am deeply saddened that they were destroyed in such a tragic manner.”
According to his account, the Morris family, who are descendants of the original owner of the house, shared with him the story of the bomb’s discovery over 100 years ago.
The Royal Navy’s warships previously anchored in St Brides Bay and utilized the nearby sands towards the Welsh village of Broad Haven for target practice.
Edwards stated that Pop Morris, the lemonade deliveryman, discovered the shell while traveling to Broad Haven with his horse and cart.
“He exerted effort to return to the beach, carrying the object with him. He then placed it onto his cart and had a bumpy journey of seven miles back to his home.”
“He placed it in an upright position in the front courtyard where it stayed.”
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that on November 30, 2023, the Ashchurch Troop from 721 EOD Sqn, 11 EOD&S Regt RLC, was called upon by Dyfed-Powys police to respond to a potentially dangerous item.
The EOD team evaluated the object and identified it as a 64lb naval projectile. It was then taken from the area for later demolition using explosives.
Source: theguardian.com
