Mines: their effect in WW2

A story... some years ago when I was about eight years old a friend of my father was talking about his 'army days'. I don't recall where he was but he said that when confronted with a suspected minefield two 'volunteers' would strip down, grab a tape and start running flat out across the field! Have you ever heard of such a thing happening? I can't dismiss the story out of hand because he mentioned some other things that I did not want to believe at the time but have proven to be true.

 

No Never! The army trains its men to do the job in the proper manner.
.... IF we had some one like that we would have sent for the men in white coats.

I cannot think it wise to commit suicide....Its bad enough with the enemy trying to kill you... without doing it yourself....

 

Most of us are aware of the ongoing European civilian casualties from buried ordnance, going back to WW1. I've never heard of mines continuing to be a hazard although there must have been many forgotten minefields. Anyone with any knowledge?

 

Minefields are very carefully recorded. With the care taken, I don't think there are "Lost Fields" What you do get is mines buried deep ....So that vehicles will travel over them until one sets it off.

Then there is the mines that travel by themselves in sandy soil, or beaches..Changing position until they eventually come to the service. Specially on the beaches. Or shores, sometimes coming to the surface years after. With tragic results......
Sapper

 

There are still many minefields in Europe although most date from the late 80's to early to mid 90's that are still killing and injuring people.

Minefields still exist in North Africa from WW2 and are still killing and maiming people (my dad spent a period of time in El Adam, Libya with the RAF Regt who were clearing minefields in the 1960's). They were not all cleared and due to the ature of the campaign they were not all properly recorded. When the countries gained independence etc they tended to stop clearing them and have made repeated calls for the Europeans to pay for them to be cleared (despite stopping us doing it in the first place).

Falklands minefields are still being monitored as the mines have moved while the minefield locations and compositions were badly recorded (some not being recorded at all). The mines in the peat are tending to rise to the surface and become a nuisance for the sheep as the fields are now marked to prevent civilian injury.

 

My father cleared many mines in the desert. He would joke about the nomads - wife in front followed by the camels and then the menfolk. No self respecting nomad wanted to lose a camel! Probably service humour.

 

Here you go Les - I knew I posted someting on it

A mention of the Royal Engineers giving mines to Welsh Guards to do with as they please:

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/1940/33373-mines-used-bef-france-1940-a.html

 

Royal Engineers report -Mines at El Alamein - a report for US Forces use.


http://www.scribd.com/doc/34836074/German-Minefield-at-Alamein-October-november-1942-USA-1943

 

Great thread. Sorry that Sapper is no longer with us (hope I am right... although, I would rather be wrong, in this case). Wanted to share this. Nicely dated, 1944. I have been looking for one for years...