THIS IS FINDON VILLAGE - Cissbury Ring Mortar Bomb

20th November 2003.

Hi

I was browsing the internet looking for information on mortar bombs in Cissbury when I found your page about a bomb found in Dec 2002.

The reason that I was looking was that I found one last month also on Cissbury which they had to blow up.

Makes me wonder how many more there are...
Neil Dando

Neil Dando, Worthing, West Sussex.

5th December 2003.

Valerie

Mortar Bomb

Looks to me like a two inch smoke bomb. The flares were very similar but had a "front end" which unscrewed if it wasn't exploded off in the air. We used to unpack the parachutes from them.

The smoke bombs were very common and often remained intact even after they had produced their smoke.

Canada Bottom and Stump Bottom were full of these after the Canadians had been on exercises. It was the larger three inch explosive mortar bombs that one had to be particularily careful with if they didn't explode. They were more "bomb" shaped and had different fins. But these days I wouldn't trust my memory enough to rely on it!!

Peter in NZ was more of an expert on these and may hopefully comment.

Mike.

Mike Cooksey, Bristol.

5th December 2003

Greetings, Valerie,

I've just seen Neil Dando's mortar bomb on Cissbury. I don't know how we missed it!

In the early 40's I and two others (who may still be residing nearby and therefore shall remain nameless!) used to comb the Ring and Stump Bottom for "blinds" such as that!

Those that we could not convert into fireworks for our own amusement we dumped down the old well at Stump Barn.

The photo shows a 2" mortar bomb - of which there were three types in general use. H.E. (High Explosive) ; Smoke ; and Parachute Flare.

I would need to get my hands on this one to be sure which category it is. (I guess it's H.E.) But it brings back memories of many happy hours of carefree experimentation - such as would probably be frowned upon today!

Cousin Mike, of Bristol, was at that time living in Findon Valley but, being younger than us, was a bit restricted in his movements to join our scientific endeavours..... Well, most of the time!

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - to you - and Findonia!

Regards, Peter.

Peter Archbold, Ashburton, South Island, New Zealand.

6th December 2003

Valerie -

Mortar Bomb

The pictures of the mortar bomb certainly brought back many memories of my Findon exploits, which includes dropping some very nasty anti tank sticky bombs down one of the wells.

I would go for the mortar being a smoke type, the HE had a solid looking nose, and the flare had a flimsy look about it.

Tony.

Tony Hammond, East Preston, West Sussex.

7th December 2003

Valerie

Hand Grenade

I know nothing about bombs etc. but I am reminded of an incident that happened when I was about ten.

We were making a camp in the bushes on some rough ground near our home in Findon Valley when we found what we thought was an old fashioned easter egg. I carried it home and opened the back door. Dad who was sitting at the kitchen table, leaped to his feet and shouted at me to put it down at once. I was so startled that I threw it behind me and it hit the garden fence with a bang, frightening us all. Dad locked it away in the garage and later the police came and took it away.

I don`t know if it would have gone off but I remember the older brother of
our friend was furious that he had not found it as he would have pulled out the pin and thrown it and run like mad. Perhaps it was a good thing he didn`t find it!

Pam.

Pam Stepney, North End, Findon, West Sussex.