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06-01-2021
Fishing boat explosion off Norfolk coast – was a WWII munition to blame?
At the end of December, news outlets were awash with reports of an explosion which partially destroyed a crabbing vessel off the coast of Norfolk. Unfortunately a total of seven crew members were injured as their boat was blown out of the water as it was hauling in a string of crab pots. Three crew […]
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23-12-2020
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
To all our clients, families and friends We hope that you’re looking forward to this season’s festivities and wanted to thank you for your continued support throughout this challenging year. 2020 has been an unprecedented year for businesses across a range of sectors, and we’ve been fortunate and thankful that much of the construction industry […]
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24-11-2020
WWII Bomb Pistols unearthed on airfield location in Yorkshire
This week, the 1st Line Defence Team have been working on an old airfield site location in Yorkshire. In October we undertook a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment for the project prior to some planned ground investigation works. The client proposed to undertake a series of boreholes and trial pits across the site, which historical research […]
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06-11-2020
Several 10lb & 11.5lb WWII Practice Bombs recovered from a UK Airfield
Latest news from our Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Specialists on the ground. This week have been providing UXO Support for a client working on a commercial project located on an old airfield site in the UK, and have so far recovered several 10lb and 11.5lb WWII-era practice bombs. All items were inspected and collected by the Army […]
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28-10-2020
Two British 250lb WWII bombs found and detonated on a site location in Yorkshire
Another exciting week providing Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) support and another site with a surprising history! Back in March 2018, 1st Line Defence were commissioned to undertake a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment to investigate a site location in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Similar to last week’s reported news about Live WWI rifle grenades being found […]
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23-10-2020
Live WWI hand grenades found on a commercial site in Scotland
Recent discovery of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) by 1st Line Defence on a commercial site in Scotland highlights the importance of undertaking a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment, and the value of using local knowledge – and not just official records. A seemingly innocuous site at face value was in fact found to have a very interesting […]
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15-10-2020
History of the ‘Tallboy’ – a 12,000lb bomb used by the Royal Air Force during WWII
This week saw the accidental detonation of the second largest bomb to have ever been deployed during WWII. The incident occurred during an operation to defuse the massive weapon, which was found in a waterway leading to the port of Szczecin in Poland. The British-made bomb, dubbed the ‘Tallboy’, is understood to have been dropped […]
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14-10-2020
1st Line Defence announce expansion of UXO Services with new office in the United States
1st Line Defence Ltd is delighted to announce our new Florida based company in the United States, 1st Line Defense LLC, which has been established following huge growth and success in the UK market. This success has provided the platform, drive and ambition to progress our business strategy by investing in new technology and markets […]
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09-09-2020
WWII grenade uncovered during support works in Kent
In 2019, 1st Line Defence were contacted by one of our regular clients who had come across what they thought might have been an old bomb shell on a construction site they were working on in Kent. The client did exactly the right thing by stopping ground works, setting up a cordon around the item […]
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19-08-2020
1st Line Defence awarded Silver in the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2020 Awards
1st Line Defence is delighted to announce that our Silver Award has been re-validated in the Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) 2020 Awards for East Anglia, which recognises our on-going support to the Armed Forces Community and Defence people in the UK. The ERS Awards continues to grow in strength each year, it was launched in […]
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11-08-2020
Military clear 1,000 unexploded bombs at Cowden Sands
Military bomb disposal experts have spent the past month clearing almost 1,000 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) on Cowden Sands – a beach in Yorkshire, UK – that was previously used as an RAF bombing range. Coastal erosion is now revealing practice bombs and other explosive devices that have been buried in the cliff face […]
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30-07-2020
Serious injuries caused by an unexploded mustard gas projectile found by a civilian in Belgium
Thank you to DOVO – the Royal Belgian Association of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technicians – who have kindly shared some pictures to highlight injuries caused to a Belgian civilian who inadvertently picked up a century-old unexploded mustard gas projectile. The injured man was ‘magnet fishing’ waterways for war relics and after he was injured, DOVO […]
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01-07-2020
Unexploded WWII mortars and projectiles found during UXO excavation support
More items of unexploded ordnance were safely recovered last week by our team supporting planned excavation work as part of a new wind farm installation in Scotland. Following an initial non-intrusive survey at one of the proposed turbine locations, additional support work led to the discovery of numerous 2-inch mortars and another 25lb projectile. Ten […]
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15-06-2020
Unexploded WWII projectiles discovered on Scottish wind farm
1st Line Defence have recently been contracted to provide UXO support and create a risk mitigation strategy for a new wind farm site location in Scotland, UK. The site was part of a wider military armaments training facility that was used during WWII, the use of which left a legacy of UXO contamination in the […]
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01-06-2020
1st Line Defence acquire additional premises following rapid growth in 2019
2019 saw significant growth for 1st Line Defence and with so many plans and ideas for the future, we decided that our office space needed to grow together with us, and provide more room for our 45+ office staff. An exciting opportunity arose at the beginning of 2020 to acquire an additional office space in […]
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29-05-2020
Introducing our brand new Intrusive Magnetometer Rig for UXO Surveys
In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever to plan for the future. 1st Line Defence have always been keen to invest in the latest technology and equipment available, to meet the ever increasing requirements of our clients. It’s also imperative that our teams have the best tools available to be as efficient, flexible […]
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14-05-2020
WWII German Incendiary Bombs recovered from the south coast, UK
1st Line Defence have been keeping busy throughout the lockdown, and one of our UXO Target Investigation Teams have been working on an interesting site in Hampshire where we have recently recovered several WWII 1kg German Incendiary Bombs. Several years ago, 1st Line Defence were commissioned to undertake a Detailed UXO Risk Assessment for a […]
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01-04-2020
1st Line Defence and Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak
1st Line Defence would like to take the opportunity to reassure our clients and suppliers that a business continuity structure is in place across the company. All departments have initiated a work from home plan, and we wanted to reassure you that the entire team is committed to providing our usual high standards of service. […]
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12-03-2020
1st Line Defence provides UXO Support in Paris target area
During WWII, due to nearby rail infrastructure, our clients site area was selected as a strategic target for Allied bombers. The destruction of this rail link was considered crucial to disrupt German communications and transport links following Operation Overlord; the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of […]
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09-03-2020
1st Line Defence deliver exciting induction process for new employees
You’ve landed your dream job and you’re on top of the world. You’re feeling motivated and raring to go, but before you can even begin, you and your fellow new starters are required to go through induction training. Induction training shouldn’t have to be boring. This is the first real encounter any new employees will […]
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26-02-2020
Suspected items of ordnance disposed of at Southend seafront
Southend Coastguard Rescue Team were kept busy over the weekend following reports of possible unexploded ordnance found on the beach in Westcliff. Due to the difficulties of the location and tides, the operation of locating, inspecting and disposing of the items took three days. A total of 16 items were identified and photographs sent to […]
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04-02-2020
500kg WWII bomb find reported on Soho construction site
Streets in Soho were evacuated yesterday after the discovery of a reported 500kg WWII bomb. Press articles reported that the device was found on a construction site on Dean Street near the Soho Hotel. An EOD team attended and safely removed the bomb overnight to a location where it will be detonated. The find highlights […]
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13-01-2020
Two WWII bombs defused in Dortmund
German disposal experts have detonated two unexploded bombs from WWII that were discovered in the western city of Dortmund. Some 14,000 residents were ordered to leave their homes for the operation. The bombs were safely defused in Dortmund’s southwest on Sunday following a large scale evacuation and the closure of the city’s main train station. The city […]
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24-12-2019
1st Line Defence 2019 Newsletter
With the end of 2019 upon us, we wanted to take the opportunity to update you all on what’s been going on at 1st Line Defence this year, and share some news and plans for the future. It’s been a very busy year for the company, despite the uncertainly in the sector triggered by Brexit. […]
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05-12-2019
Thousands evacuated in Turin this week after discovery of British WWII bomb
More than 10,000 people were evacuated from central Turin on Sunday as experts worked to defuse a WWII bomb. Residents of the Italian city were told to vacate a “red zone” in the historic district. A further 50,000 living further away were told either to leave their homes in advance, or to remain inside during […]
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14-10-2019
Royal Navy Dispose of large WWII bomb
Royal Navy bomb disposal experts have destroyed a 987kg German World War Two bomb found in the wreck of a 17th century warship near Southend Pier in Essex. Civilian divers with Historic England discovered the historic device during an archaeological dive on the 350-year-old protected shipwreck of ‘London’ which lies in two parts near the […]
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04-10-2019
Introducing our Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) UXO survey system
Non-intrusive magnetometer surveys are one of the most effective, safe and efficient means of detecting shallow-buried UXO on areas of relatively ‘clean’ greenfield land. Depending on factors such as the size of the site, topography, ease of access, nature of the identified risk and likely depth of targets, 1st Line Defence can deploy a range […]
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16-09-2019
Controlled explosion after beachcomber discovers live grenade
An unexploded WWII-era grenade was found by a beach-comber on an area of coastline east of Lymington, Hampshire. A Lymington Coastguard rescue team was sent to Pitts Deep, between Tanners Lane and Sowley Lane, after the call-out on 6th September. They identified the object as a possible explosive and alerted the Royal Navy’s Portsmouth-based bomb […]
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08-07-2019
Thousands evacuated in Frankfurt as WWII bomb is defused
Thousands of people have been evacuated from a district of Frankfurt that includes the European Central Bank headquarters as authorities prepare to defuse a half-tonne World War II bomb. City officials ordered around 16,500 people to leave their homes in the Ostend district before the operation was scheduled to begin. Authorities already moved some people […]
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01-07-2019
1st Line Defence teams with A.P. van der Berg on paper for CPT’18
1st Line Defence provided case studies and data for a recent paper submitted for CPT’18 regarding a digital CPT system that we utilise called Icone®. Below is the abstract of the paper and summaries of the two case studies. You can read the full paper here. ABSTRACT: The paper describes a digital CPT system called […]
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01-07-2019
Finds at UXO Target Investigation project in Cambridgeshire
One of our target investigation jobs continues at a former RAF airfield in Cambridgeshire – last week the team found and coordinated the removal of a number of practice bombs from the site. Many targets remain to be excavated and investigated, so it will be interesting to see what else is uncovered. These finds serve […]
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25-06-2019
Armed Forces Day 2019
Don’t forget about Armed Forces Day, this Saturday 29th June – a great chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: from currently serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets. There are many ways for people, communities and organisations across the country to show their […]
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11-06-2019
Burn pit found at former RAF Station
Some interesting finds last week from one of our target investigation teams working on a former RAF airfield near Cambridge. In 2018, 1st Line Defence were commissioned the undertake a non-intrusive survey of the airfield following a risk assessment which identified a potential of encountering buried and discarded munitions as a result of the former […]
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23-04-2019
1st Line Defence writes for Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
When planning any development or construction, one important consideration is what might be beneath the ground – and in the UK, this can still include unexploded ordnance Two world wars and more than a century of military land use have resulted in significant quantities of unexploded ordnance (UXO) lying beneath the surface of British cities, […]
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16-04-2019
1st Line Defence to clear former military airfield
1st Line Defence UXO teams will be busy over the next two months undertaking target investigation on a former military airfield in the east of England. Following a vehicle mounted non-intrusive magnetometer survey of the entire 100ha site, clearance teams will be locating and investigating a series of modelled buried anomalies. Our operatives can then […]
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11-04-2019
New Intrusive UXO Survey Rig
Introducing our latest intrusive UXO survey rig – already out and about clearing pile positions. On sites where a risk of encountering deep buried unexploded bombs (UXBs) has been assessed, and where piled foundations are planned, 1st Line Defence can provide an Intrusive UXO Magnetometer Survey to provide clearance ahead of individual pile locations/clusters and […]
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31-03-2019
Meet the Office Team!
If you work with 1st Line Defence, or maybe will in the future, click the link below to meet our dedicated team in the office! We have had some new photos taken – find out who’s on the other end of the phone. https://www.1stlinedefence.co.uk/about-us/meet-the-team/ For advice, quotes or information, call us on 01992 245020 or […]
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20-03-2019
Navy Divers Detonate Wartime Bombs In Wales
Divers from the Royal Navy have safely detonated a number of wartime bombs, shells and flares. It took place at the ranges of the Gower Peninsula, west of Swansea. It is part of a 60-year mission to clear the Welsh countryside of unexploded ordnance. Ahead of the divers’ arrival, a team of explosive ordnance disposal […]
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10-01-2019
Experienced EOD Engineers required
1st Line Defence are currently recruiting experienced EOD engineers for projects based all across the UK for immediate works. Please get in touch with Lana Gosnell with your CV, qualifications and availability at lana.gosnell@1stlinedefence.co.uk 1st Line Defence Ltd is an equal opportunities employer
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17-12-2018
Merry Christmas from 1st Line Defence
A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our friends, families and colleagues. Thank you all for your continued interest and support this year – wishing you a happy and healthy 2019.
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11-12-2018
A century on from WWI, ‘100 years’ of work remains to clear munitions from some parts of France
VILOSNES-HARAUMONT, France (Reuters) – As the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One draws near next month, bomb disposal experts are still digging up munitions sunk in the killing fields of eastern France — and it could be another 100 years before they are done. World War One was largely fought on French […]
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19-09-2018
Contamination Expo 2018
1st Line Defence had an excellent couple of days exhibiting at the Contamination Expo at the NEC Birmingham last week (12-13th October). The expo is the leading contamination event in Europe, showcasing and providing insight into the products and innovations that are helping to advance contamination management, prevention and recovery around the world. The show […]
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31-08-2018
WWII sea mine trawled up off Essex Coast
A fisherman out trawling off the Essex coast trawled up a WWII sea mine. Ady Mole was fishing in Mersea when he came across the 2,000lb German parachute mine on Thursday afternoon (August 30). He then had to carefully load it into his boat and take it to shore. The huge piece of weaponry was then safely detonated […]
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27-07-2018
New Vehicle
Introducing a new vehicle to the fleet to assist with non-intrusive survey. The new vehicle should allow us easier access for our survey teams into more inaccessible sites. For more information about the various types of UXO survey and support we provide, contact our team at info@1stlinedefence.co.uk or ring 01992 245020.
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18-07-2018
WWII artillery projectile found at Forres Farm
A controlled explosion had to be carried out following the shock discovery of a Second World War artillery shell on a Moray farm. The Royal Navy bomb disposal team were called out to Wester Coltfield farm near Forres, where a farmer had discovered the piece of war ordnance in one of his fields. Police first […]
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13-07-2018
Teignmouth seafront evacuated after WWII bomb found
Parts of a Devon seaside town were evacuated after a WWII bomb was found in the sea near the pier. The explosive was discovered by a man and his nephew who were scuba diving in Teignmouth earlier. Police evacuated seafront properties to allow a bomb disposal team to tow it out to sea and destroy […]
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05-07-2018
1st Line Defence supports UN Global Compact
United Nations Global Compact In June 2018, 1st Line Defence signed up to the UN Global Compact, a voluntary initiative based on company commitments to implement ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption. By incorporating these ten principles into strategies, policies and procedures, and establishing a culture of integrity, […]
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08-06-2018
1st Line Defence win at Hertfordshire Business Awards
It was a great night for 1st Line Defence at the Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards 2018 in St Albans last night. Hosted by the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce at St Albans Cathedral, this prestigious event focuses on and celebrates the expertise, achievements and outstanding contribution that businesses and individuals continually make to the growth of the […]
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05-06-2018
Be careful what you fish for!
A member of the public has fished up a WWII-era artillery projectile from the Grand Union Canal at the weekend. The find resulted in the closure of the Braunston Tunnel while the police and Army investigated the find. Reportedly, Northamptonshire Police were told by the Army’s explosive ordnance disposal that the 16 inch long shell originated […]
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04-06-2018
WWII UXB removed from construction site in Birmingham
A suspected unexploded device, which is believed to date back to WWII, was found in Birmingham last week. Islington Row Middleway up to Bath Row was evacuated and West Midlands Police has evacuated a construction site. An explosive ordnance disposal team was called to the scene and closed Islington Row Middleway up to Bath Row […]
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21-05-2018
WWII German sea mine washes up near Bognor Regis
A live German sea mine from WWII washed up on the Sussex coast has been towed out to sea and blown up. The large metal device measuring about 6ft (1.8m) and thought to weigh about 1,000kg was found on Saturday. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said the mine was “safely detonated” at about 17:10 […]
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11-05-2018
New 1st Line Defence Intrusive UXO Survey Rig
Due to the ever increasing demand for UXO survey prior to piling works, we have introduced a new 20 tonne survey rig to our fleet. This 6×6 all wheel drive rig increases our capacity to undertake intrusive UXO magnetometer surveys across the UK. If you would like more information about intrusive UXO surveys, click here […]
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19-04-2018
500kg WWII bomb found on a construction site in Berlin this week
Construction workers at a building site north of Berlin Hauptbahnhof have discovered a bomb from the Second World War. As the explosive is set to be defused on Friday, services at the central station will be temporarily suspended. An 800-metre area around the bomb find will need to be evacuated by 9am on Friday morning, […]
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18-04-2018
WWII-era Anti-Aircraft Projectile found on Gloucestershire site
A 1st Line Defence UXO Specialist investigated a suspect item found during ground works on a construction site in Gloucestershire this week. The item was confirmed as a WWII-era anti-aircraft projectile, a cordon was imposed, and the device was appropriately and safely disposed of by a military EOD unit with minimal disruption to site works. […]
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12-04-2018
Suspected WWII mortar found near Ayrshire wildlife park destroyed by bomb disposal unit
Bomb disposal experts were called in to deal with a device discovered near a farm park in Ayrshire. A member of the public found what appeared to be an old mortar bomb near Dunure Road, just behind the Heads of Ayr Farm Park at 21:30 on Saturday. Police put a cordon around the area and […]
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15-02-2018
500kg bomb which resulted in the closure of London City Airport safely destroyed at sea
An unexploded World War Two bomb found near London City Airport has been detonated. The 500kg device was discovered at the King George V Dock on Sunday during planned work at the airport. It was closed and all flights were cancelled on Monday after an exclusion zone was put in place. The detonation, which took […]
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12-02-2018
London City Airport shut as WWII bomb found in George V Dock
London City Airport has been closed after a WWII bomb was reportedly found in the adjacent dock waters. The airport will be shut all day and all flights cancelled, affecting up to 16,000 passengers, a spokeswoman said. The bomb was discovered at about 05:00 GMT on Sunday at George V Dock during pre-planned work at […]
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29-01-2018
Unexploded 1000lb American WWII bomb found by construction workers in Hong Kong
The UK is far from alone in considering the legacy of WWII ordnance on construction projects. In Hong Kong yesterday, police carried out a major bomb disposal operation after a WWII bomb was unearthed at a construction site. The 1,000-pound wartime bomb was discovered at Convention Avenue, Wan Chai, on Saturday. The operation also involved […]
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17-01-2018
Controlled explosion carried out on a suspected WWII-era projectile in Latchford, Warrington
ROAD closures have been lifted after an ‘unexploded artillery shell’ was discovered by builders. Police blocked off roads around Edgewater Place in Latchford on Tuesday after officers were called at 3.40pm. A bomb disposal team were called this morning, Wednesday, but the controlled explosion has been delayed and entry to Thelwall Lane remains restricted. It is understood the […]
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06-11-2017
1st Line Defence launches new website
Introducing the new 1st Line Defence website. Find out about the history of our company, meet our staff, view our services, browse case-studies, FAQs, careers and more. Chat directly to one of our consultants via the online chat function. We are hoping the new site will allow our clients to get to know us better, […]
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31-10-2017
London Build 2017
1st Line Defence ended the 2017 exhibition season at London Build, Olympia following a successful presence at the Contamination Expo at ExCel and the Kent Construction Expo, Maidstone. We are always very passionate about getting out and meeting new people and reacquainting with old friends – talking face to face cannot be bettered. Watch this […]
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04-06-2017
New 1st Line Defence Midi-Rig
Introducing the latest member of the 1st Line Defence fleet. Our brand-new UXO survey midi-rig has arrived. The small size of the rig means it can be used in numerous different situations and sizes of site, and allows us the flexibility to increase the number of options/solutions that we can provide our clients. Contact us to […]
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16-05-2017
Unexploded 250kg HE Bomb found on a construction site, closing the A38 (M) Aston Expressway
A large unexploded World War Two bomb shut one of Birmingham’s major roads and forced the evacuation of “hundreds of homes” and businesses. The closure of the A38 (M) Aston Expressway caused long delays for drivers, remaining closed for several days, police said. Rail services on the Cross City Line between Lichfield and Birmingham were […]
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18-04-2017
Unexploded WWII mortars discovered near a plantation on the Isle of Man
Two unexploded World War Two bombs have been discovered in the west of the Isle of Man, according to police. A spokesman said two mortars were discovered on a green lane track in the Sartfell area, near Kirk Michael. Military bomb disposal specialists are travelling to the island to help local emergency services detonate them. […]
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31-03-2017
Unexploded bombs in Hanover may cause 50,000 people to be evacuated
Up to 50,000 people could be evacuated from Hanover after several unexploded World War II bombs were found in the German city. Explosives experts are investigating the area around the Vahrenwald in the north of the city to assess how many bombs could be buried there, Thomas Bleicher from the unexploded ordnance authority told The Local. It could result […]
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03-03-2017
250kg WWII bomb found at a construction site in Brondesbury Park, Brent. Schools and properties evacuated in the surrounding area
Army bomb disposal teams worked through the night to prepare for the removal of a Second World War device discovered on a building site. Schools and properties were evacuated on Thursday after the unexploded bomb was found in north-west London, forcing local residents to take shelter in a church overnight. However, the evacuation area was increased […]
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22-02-2017
250kg WWII bomb dredged up in Portsmouth Harbour
A World War Two bomb containing 290lb (131kg) of “high explosives” has been found in Portsmouth harbour. The ordnance was discovered by a dredger in the water at about 03:00 GMT, the Royal Navy said. Specialist divers at the scene said the bomb posed a “very serious threat”. It was towed out to sea and […]
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27-01-2017
1st Line Defence finds 500lb bomb in forest site, Norfolk
During the Target Investigation phase of a project near Thetford Forest, Norfolk, 1st Line Defence UXO Specialists found a live British 500lb high explosive bomb in an area where future intrusive works were planned. The bomb was identified and excavated by one of our experts, who put into place emergency procedures, evacuating the area, advising […]
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20-01-2017
WWII bomb dredged from the River Thames near the Houses of Parliament during engineering work.
An unexploded 50kg World War Two bomb found in the River Thames has been removed and exploded. The operation by the Royal Navy and Metropolitan Police forced Waterloo Bridge, Westminster Bridge and Victoria Embankment in central London to shut. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the WW2 device had been towed along the river to […]
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26-12-2016
1,800kg WWII bomb found in southern Germany which led to the evacuation of 54,000 people on Christmas day
54,000 people were evacuated from the city of Augsburg, southern Germany, after construction workers discovered an unexploded World War Two bomb on Christmas morning. Because of the size of the 1.8 tonne bomb, the evacuation zone was 1.5km. Although evacuations of this sort are common, this is the biggest single evacuation for an unexploded Allied […]
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