The World War II SIP ("self igniting phosphorous") grenades were discovered by workmen on the seafront stabilisation works who unwittingly set off two grenades when they struck them with their digger bucket. The fire service were called to deal with the resulting fire and smoke, and then the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) specialists from the Army at Tidworth were called to deal with the rest of the find.
In all, 6 broken devices and 18 intact ones were removed and placed in a skip where a controlled explosion took place, igniting the evening sky with a ball of flame and filling the bay with smoke.
According to Wikipedia (we had a lot of time to kill while maintaining the cordon), the SIP grenades were issued to the Home Guard as a form of self defence and it is likely they were stored in or near the bunker that was also recently removed from the hillside. Wikipedia goes on to say "The perfected list of ingredients was yellow phosphorus, benzene, water and a two inch strip of raw rubber; all in a half-pint bottle sealed with a crown stopper. Over time, the rubber would slowly dissolve making the contents slightly sticky and the mixture would separate into two layers – this was intentional and the grenade should not be shaken to mix the layers as this would only delay ignition. When thrown against a hard surface, the glass would shatter and the contents would instantly ignite liberating choking fumes of phosphorus pentoxide and sulphur dioxide as well as producing a great deal of heat"
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| Swanage Coastguard maintaing a saftey cordon whilst the SIP grenades are exploded. CRO Hudson rearranges the cones on the beach and discusses the incident while CRO Field takes refuge in the Coastguard Rescue Vehicle (far left) to avoid choking fumes of phosperous pentoxide and sulphur dioxide as well as a great deal of heat. Told you I had plenty of time to read Wikipedia, didn't I....? (Photo Credit: Adrian Wright) |
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