Exclusive: HISTORIC WARTIME MORTAR WEAPON UNCOVERED IN PARK
Police were called to Broomfield Hill car park in Richmond Park after ‘suspected historic munitions’ had been uncovered during digging works, it was revealed today.
Park visitors witnessed significant police activity on Tuesday afternoon and were advised to move away from the area.
As a precaution, cordons were put in place and specialist officers attended to assess the item, according to the police report seen by Teddington Town.
Tests by experts subsequently confirmed the historic weapon to be an inert 29mm spigot mortar and was safely removed for disposal.
The weapon was designed to destroy tanks or armoured vehicles or attack troops from a short range and deployed by the Home Guard to defend Britain against possible invasion in 1940-1941, according to records.
Unlike a normal mortar, it had no normal barrel. Instead, a large bomb fitted over a steel rod (the spigot). The firing mechanism propelled the bomb towards its target.
During wartime development and trials, experimental gear and prototypes were taken into and tested around Richmond Park and its surrounding Thames pathways.
Richmond Park itself served a heavy military and anti-aircraft role during WWII, housing anti-aircraft batteries and operational units alongside nearby research and operational research groups.
A Met police spokesperson told Teddington Town: “We would like to thank park users and local residents for their patience while the incident was dealt with.”
According to online records Winston Churchill was taken with the effectiveness of the weapon and ordered the production of 14000 to be deployed in various areas and help defend the country.