Couple who kept a live BOMB as a garden ornament since 1982 are left devastated after it’s detonated by disposal unit – and reveal they told squad ‘we’re not leaving, if it goes up we’re going up with it’
- The Ministry of Defence said it removed a 29kg ‘naval projectile’ from the garden
A couple who kept a live bomb as a garden ornament since 1982 have been left devastated after it was detonated by a disposal unit.
Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, thought the bomb was a ‘dummy’ with no charge before the Ministry of Defence said it removed a 29kg ‘naval projectile’ from outside their home.
Mrs Edwards said she used to bash her trowel on the bomb – thought to date back to the 19th century – to remove dirt after gardening.
The couple received a visit from police on Wednesday evening who said they had seen the bomb and would need to warn the Ministry of Defence, the BBC reported.
One hour later the pair were told the bomb squad would arrive the following day.
Mr Edwards, 77, said: ‘I told the bomb disposal unit ”we’re not leaving the house, we’re staying here. If it goes up, we’re going to go up with it”.’
A bomb being used as a garden ornament (pictured) has been detonated by a disposal unit
Sian and Jeffrey Edwards, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, thought their bomb was a ‘dummy’ with no charge
The bomb was removed by a bomb disposal unit after police spotted it in the couple’s garden
Tests showed the bomb was live with a very small amount of charge
He added: ‘It was an old friend. I’m so sorry that the poor old thing was blown to pieces.’
The bomb was transported to a disused quarry in Walwyn’s Castle and buried with five tonnes of sand and detonated – after tests showed the bomb was live with a very small amount of charge.
Mr Edwards said he learned about the bomb’s history by the Morris family, whose family members used to own the house.
‘Warships for the Royal Navy used to drop anchor in St Brides Bay and point their guns towards Broad Haven and open fire,’ he said.
‘Well Pop Morris, who went around delivering lemonade, was going down to Broad Haven with his horse and cart and found the shell.’
The Ministry of Defence said it removed a 29kg ‘naval projectile’ from the couple’s garden
A hole is left in the couple’s garden where the bomb used to sit
Mr Edwards said: ‘[The bomb] was an old friend. I’m so sorry that the poor old thing was blown to pieces’
Mr Edwards said he learned about the bomb’s history by the Morris family, whose family members used to own the house
He added: ‘He plonked it upright in the front courtyard and that’s where it remained.’
The Ministry of Defence said: ‘We can confirm that on 30 Nov 23, Ashchurch Troop, 721 EOD Sqn, 11 EOD&S Regt RLC, responded at the request of Dyfed-Powys Police to a suspect item of ordnance.
‘The EOD team assessed the item and determined it to be a 64lb naval projectile which was removed from the scene for subsequent explosive demolition.’
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