A routine task of cleaning out a grandmother's garage turned into a dramatic encounter with history for a 26-year-old man in Hampshire. George Cheetham was helping his grandmother prepare for her move when he stumbled upon two live World War I anti-aircraft shells hidden in the clutter.
The Discovery
While sorting through the garage on a hot Sunday afternoon, Cheetham recalled childhood memories of his late grandfather showing him the shells. 'I had a faint memory of grandad showing me these shells when I was really young, and I thought I better try and find them,' he said. 'When he was in charge of me, he would let me hold them for a bit. Then I could shoot his air rifle or his catapult. I was probably three years old.'
After digging through the garage, Cheetham found the two rusting shells still intact, sitting on a camp chair. 'They were like really heavy, and still have the tops on. I've got like empty shells at my house – so I know the difference,' he explained.
Calling in the Experts
Recognizing the potential danger, Cheetham placed the shells at the bottom of the garden and called the police. 'They didn't know so they called in the army, who brought in their own bomb disposal team,' he said. The ordnance, engraved with the year 1916, likely belonged to his great-grandfather, who served in North Africa during national service. 'We think it was an anti-aircraft or anti-tank shell. We guess it is British but we're not sure. We rang around the whole family and nobody had a clue.'
The army's bomb squad, consisting of a captain and a sergeant, arrived to inspect the unexploded ordnance. They declined offers of tea from Cheetham's grandmother and conducted tests and X-rays, detecting some explosives. 'They packed them up in a big red box and took them away,' Cheetham said. The team then contacted local farmers to find a safe location for a controlled explosion.
Community Reaction
Cheetham shared his experience on social media, attracting global attention. 'A lot of Americans have been contacting me, saying I should never have given them up. It's strange – I think they love guns too much – you had better be safe than sorry,' he commented. His grandmother found the situation amusing, and Cheetham joked, 'I think my grandad's wetting himself up in heaven to be honest.'
Hampshire Police have been approached for comment but have not yet responded. The incident highlights the importance of handling historical ordnance with care and contacting authorities immediately.
