When some of the coldstream officers returned to longstop in '43 after the fall of Tunis their task was to recover the bodies of the Guardsmen who had died in a minefield at the Halt to the east of the feature. Unfortunately some officers from another regiment visiting longstop at the same time were not so lucky and blew themselves up on year old german boobytraps hidden in the coarse undergrowth covereding the hill. That was a long time ago now... Later this year however (once I've submitted my bloody PhD) I'm hoping to visit Tunis. The trouble is I'm also planning to visit some out of the way battle sites in Italy next year. Now this raises the question as to the dangers of visiting ww2 battlefields. One of the areas I want to visit is Monte Piccolo, south of Arce, and I was warned by an author I was speaking to recently that if the locals catch you they call the police... not for being in the back guarden, but because the place is full of unexploded ordnance. What sort of arrangements should I make before visiting these sites? Obviously not picking up things is a very good idea, but how dangerous can these sorts of places still be?
If in doubt keep out! I think that using common sense and using the Foreign Office Travel website, and asking the relavant questions as to which battlefield areas are accesssable and which are not, also any other associated items you may have. Also it may be worthwhile talking to the Tunsian Tourist people in the UK embassy/consulate to see if there is any thing they know of and can advise. If you go alone and visit remember the same rules as for walking through MOD ranges when open. most of all do not kick it!
If in doubt keep out! I think that using common sense and using the Foreign Office Travel website, and asking the relavant questions as to which battlefield areas are accesssable and which are not, also any other associated items you may have. Also it may be worthwhile talking to the Tunsian Tourist people in the UK embassy/consulate to see if there is any thing they know of and can advise. If you go alone and visit remember the same rules as for walking through MOD ranges when open. most of all do not kick it! Mike, Good advice, but also always tell someone your route and timetable if going out alone. Just to be on the safe side Regards Tom
Niall Cherry (Airbornemedic) has just been in Tunisia and can give you some up to date advice. My own experience of visiting many battlefields is that you have to be aware, a little more aware than you would on a normal trip. It isn't just UXBs; myself and Owen when in Italy in 2008 found an old ammo box. When we opened it a scorpion was inside! I think you will find in places like Italy that it is only the really isolated locations where you will find very obvious UXBs. Even if locals do call the police if you haven't touched it or are in possession of it then you have done nothing wrong, and I really doubt Italian police would come out for something like this unless it threaten life or property. Also if you are intending on walking off trail in an isolated area that once contained a heavy mine concentration then I would a) think twice about it and b) think twice about it again. In more than 30 years of battlefield visiting I've seen everything from grenades to one ton shells; I've taken plenty of photos of ordnance, but I've always respected its dangers - and that's the best policy.
Phaeton - Arce is a long way from Longstop however the lessons are the same - always keep in mind the tale of how the head man of every Arab family - to show his superiority would walk ahead of his family over the desert - came the war and landmines were blowing up too many head men of families - ergo the solution was to send the WIFE of the head man to lead the family over the desert- now far be it for me to advocate sending any wife in front to test for all sorts of nasty things - but they did have a point... Longstop can and will still be dangerous - as that basically was an Infantry job until Gerry sent his Churchills like goats to the top..... Arce not so much as there was a big Tank battle there with the introduction of the Panther PzMkV which exploded many of the mines set to trap the Infantry and I can still see in my head the picture of a Churchill Tank which had been abandoned by it's crew as a shot from - obviously an 88mm had cut through the underside of their six pounder barrel causing the gun to fall and thus ineffective to fire a retaliatory shot - that to me illustrated the power of an 88mm./ or the special long barrelled 75mm. it was actually quite funny - nothing wrong with the Tank - just the gun barrel ! Cheers
Thanks for the interesting comments. Sadly being an unemployed, soon to be ex student I don't think I'll be able to go anywhere like Egypt anytime soon. Given the risk already posed by local infestations of HoneyBadgers/Scorpions and the like, as well as unexploded ordinance (I don't intend to go around any mined areas intentionally) I'm in two minds about the upcoming trips. I think Longstop has to be done. Although undoubtedly still littered with bits and bobs (it has a treeline these days and thick undergrowth making it unlikely that everywhere has been completely cleared) its been fairly well visited in the last 50 years so I think so long as I stick to the animal paths I should be ok... the problem I believe is Italy. Given its large population Italy still has some incredibly remote locations (Three weeks ago I took a trip into the Gothic line and was amazed at how hostile the terrain was up there). I'll give it some serious thought and decide how best to approach the situation a bit down the line, the author mentioned earlier has me concerned.... especially given that Piccolo is near a large population centre.
give Damiano aka gurdjieff a shout, he lives in Italy & often goes up the mountains. http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/members/gurdjieff.html
