UXO Risk : Localised Bombing during WWII

Controlled demolition of WWII UXO at Rivenwood, Newtownards – 20 Aug 2024.

Introduction  

Last week, we looked at a recent event in Newtownards, Northern Ireland where the discovery and controlled explosion of an air-dropped 500kg, (1100lb), SC-500 WWII German bomb led to the evacuation of more than 400 residents and cessation of work at a  construction site for 40 new homes. The discovery of an unexploded device at this location, which caught many by surprise, serves as a stark reminder of the legacy left by World War II Luftwaffe bombing raids across the UK. At times, the threat of UXO encounter can be overlooked in cities, towns, and rural areas not typically associated with the infamous heavy wartime bombing ‘Blitzes’ on British cities and industrial hubs such as London, Belfast, Liverpool, Hull, Coventry, Swansea, Glasgow, etc.

A Legacy of the Blitz: Misconceptions and Realities

Among the many misconceptions about wartime UXO contamination in the UK, a common one is that only sites in or around cities that were severely bombed during World War require a UXO Risk Assessment, as there is no credible threat of UXO encounter elsewhere. However, as evident from last week’s events, Newtownards, a small town over 10km outside of Belfast, was also affected by wartime bombing, when RAF Newtownards was attacked as a ‘localised’ target by the Luftwaffe on the same night as the Belfast Blitz was conducted over the 15th-16th April 1941.  The UXO encounter at Newtownards, which experienced a far lower intensity of wartime bombing compared to Belfast, highlights the impact of the Luftwaffe bombing beyond major cities, affecting smaller towns and rural areas across Northern Ireland and the UK alike.

Map showing distance of UXO discovery location from area of significant wartime bombing density.

Cases similar to Newtownards abound in the UK, where large aerial delivered WWII German bombs have been found in proximity to areas where records indicate relatively low intensity of wartime bombing or only targeted ‘localised’ bombing. For example, in May 2023, a WWII bomb was found in a field in Cubbington near Leamington Spa, where a few targeted wartime bombing raids are known to have occurred. Similarly, work at a construction site in Goole, East Yorkshire was halted when an unexploded bomb was found in July 2021; while a caravan park at Pakefield near Lowestoft was evacuated in November 2023, following a wartime UXO discovery; and the controlled demolition of another took place at Semer, near Hadleigh in May, 2024.

A further common misconception associated to UXO risk in the UK, is that wartime bombing is the primary, or even sole, source.  In fact, defensive actions during WWII, as well as military training over large area of the country right up to the current day, routinely result in UXO encounters. In the case of Northern Ireland, there have also been several UXO finds in recent years in ‘unexpected’ places. For example, in 2022 a group of young people near Crawfordsburn Country Park, who found a WWI ‘Mills Bomb’ hand grenade which had washed up on the County Down beach. Similarly, in 2024, a WWII mortar was discovered in the Woodlawn Heights area of the Co Armagh Village, resulting in the Army EOD team attending the scene, and later initiating a control explosion.

Goole, Yorkshire: Unexploded WWII bomb discovered at construction site in 2021.

Why Choose Artios for UXO Risk Assessments?

At Artios Global, we conduct a comprehensive analysis of wartime bombing targets, enabling us to realistically assess the UXO risk for a site. Our approach carefully considers multiple factors within the CIRIA C681 UXO Risk Assessment framework.

When evaluating wartime bombing raids, Artios meticulously reviews detailed historical records, taking into account the location of minor bombing raids in rural areas or regions with low bombing density. We consider casualty figures from smaller towns and villages, bombing raid distances, and site geology derived from borehole data. Additionally, we analyse post-war development and land use at the site, as these factors directly influence the likelihood of encountering an unexploded bomb, including through the analysis of historic images and maps.

Artios offers impartial UXO desktop risk assessments and mitigation plans, covering Stages 1 to 3 of the CIRIA C681 process. Since we do not provide on-site mitigations at Stage 4, our clients can trust that our assessments enable them to make well informed decisions on how best to control UXO risks to a level that is As Low as Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). 

As the UK continues to develop and expand into both greenfield and brownfield construction sites, recent UXO discoveries, such as the one in Newtownards, remind us that the legacy of the Luftwaffe's bombing campaign extends beyond the well-known devastation of the Blitz. This legacy, combined with other, less obvious sources of UXO, underscores the importance of a thorough, industry-standard approach. However, through careful and detailed research, the locations of these minor raids and military land uses can be identified, and the associated risks can be assessed and effectively controlled.