, tells of a startling discovery in Back Hill—a woman found an unexploded bomb hidden inside an old fruit tree in her garden.
Christine Battersby had hired a specialist to remove a decaying apple tree from her property. As the tree cutter began working, he found something unexpected—a hand grenade lodged in the hollow trunk.
The specialist acted quickly, alerting police who responded promptly to the scene. The tree had been dead for several years, and given Back Hill’s history of monastic orchards, the grenade’s presence raised many questions.
Tree removal expert Glen Conway, from nearby Haddenham, had nearly finished his job when he discovered the grenade at the base of the tree. Police immediately secured the area and advised residents to avoid the vicinity or stay indoors.
Colchester’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit was called in to handle the dangerous find. They placed sandbags around the tree overnight to contain any potential blast, before safely disposing of the grenade the next morning around 8 a.m.
Because of the grenade’s value as a wartime relic, police provided protection for the property overnight. This measure was to prevent “bounty hunters” from attempting to seize the explosive device.
A police spokesperson thanked local suppliers, Jewsons in Ely, for providing materials used to secure the site. The EOD Regiment, part of the British Army’s Royal Logistic Corps, played a crucial role in the safe management and disposal.
Formed after World War II, the EOD Regiment specializes in counter-terrorism bomb disposal and handling conventional munitions. Their units are strategically spread across the UK for rapid response.
Besides their domestic role, the regiment also supports military operations abroad, providing bomb disposal teams in Afghanistan and overseeing military ammunition safety.
This incident highlights how remnants of past conflicts can unexpectedly surface, posing risks to local communities.
It underscores the vital role of specialized units like the EOD Regiment in protecting the public from hidden dangers and safely managing explosive threats from history.
This story, originally reported in November 2015
