4 days ago
Explosion on Welsh beach near where 'top secret' military base was sited
A controlled explosion was carried out on a beach close to a former "top secret" military base. Ynyslas in Ceredigion was selected by the Air Ministry as a missile-testing site for solid fuel rocket systems towards the end of World War Two.
The German army and Luftwaffe were developing long-range rockets with guidance systems – the V1 and the V2 - and this provided the impetus for a new Guided Projectile Project. The Ynyslas Range - next to the Dyfi Estuary that separates Ceredigion and Gwynedd - was nominated to provide special test facilities for the testing of rockets propelled by liquid fuels (such as liquid oxygen and petrol).
It saw a secret research base set up with workshops, assembly shops, accommodation huts and ancilliary buildings. As the threat of invasion had passed, the pillboxes and barbed wire entanglements installed in 1941 were pressed into service as perimeter defences, keeping the public and prying eyes away.
The range was to be called Ministry of Supply Experimental Establishment Anti-Aircraft and was pressed into action - with test firings from concrete bases still located close to the shore car park.
Despite the additional facilities installed at the Ynyslas, the long term stumbling block was the limits of the space available for testing, particularly as the technology rapidly developed.
This saw Ynyslas dropped in 1946. Equipment was moved to Aberporth in south west Wales, while for testing military chiefs also looked at the potential of the far larger ranges on offer in the giant expanses of Canada and Australia. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
While its life was short lived, the legacy of the site continues due to the unexploded ordnance left behind. The latest drama started on Sunday afternoon with an initial callout for Borth Coastguard to two people potentially in trouble while swimming in the sea despite this being a red flag beach, mainly due to the tidal currents rather than ordnance. They were then told that witnesses had seen them exit the water safely.
But before the team could leave they were called to a potential ordnance a short distance down the beach near the Borth and Ynyslas golf club.
The team said: "When we find potential ordnance we place a (switched off) radio close by to provide scale and take photos to send to EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit) to assess. It was initially deemed safe but after a further look, EOD made the decision to come and dispose of the item.
"Due to the tides, the team were tasked again this afternoon (Monday) when it would be uncovered again to meet with EOD and provide a safety cordon for detonation. As you can see from the photograph, the burning afterwards confirmed that there was still propellant in an item that has clearly been underwater for many years.
"Thank you to the members of the public who were patient and respected the cordon we created. We are not there to inconvenience you, just to keep you safe."
The team noted this is certainly not the first time they've dealt with these issues and very likely won't be the last.
They offered this advice: "There are many items of ordnance washed up on the beaches locally. If you see anything you suspect to be ordnance DO NOT pick up or move it. Call 999, ask for coastguard and give as exact a location as you are able and if you see anyone in difficulty on the cliffs, shoreline or out to sea call and ask for the Coastguard."
