Shell-Burst !!
Hi Folks and welcome to "Shell - Burst" which is a magazine type section of the website.
Electronic Counter Measures Pin Badge For Trade
I have a few of the British Army 660 Signals - Electronic Countermeasures pin badges for trade. An impressive looking badge as can be seen in my Pin Collection section of this website. They are approx 3cm tall with the 660 and lightning flashes on the Royal Signals coloured shield.
I will trade for Bomb Squad / E.O.D. related pin or patch.
Please give me a call 
Old Explosive Ordnance Disposal Badge
Folks I am hoping that someone out there can assist me with an old Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit patch which I have in my collection.- It is approximately 1 1/2 inches in diameter and of red cloth with a golg cloth outer ring and gold coloured bomb facing downward in the centre.
This badge is illustrated in the "British Army Proficiency Badges" book by Denis Edwards and David Langley on page 86 and is numbered 86x.
The book refers to my patch saying "An interesting curio is the small badge depicted here (86x), a yellow bomb inside a yellow circle on an orange disc. This is believed to be an even earlier pattern BD badge but has not been proved to be so"
ANY information relating to this patch would be greatly apperciated!!
Bomb Disposal operations in Afghanistan.
One of the British army Ammunition Technice Officers who is currently working in Helmand Province, Afghanistan is the subject of an article on the B.B.C. website which can be viewed at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7946383.stm
Nice One Wayne!! 
Charity Walk in Basra......Wearing A Bomb Suit!
Members of 821 E.O.D.Squadron, Royal Logistics Corps have walked an amazing 100 miles whilst wearing their Bomb Suits in the sweltering heat of Basra.
The walk took place on 31st October 2008 to raise funds for the family of W.O.2 Gary O'Donnell who is mentioned below. The combined distance walked by all operators totalled 100 miles.
Helmets off to all those involved
W.O.2 Gary O'Donnell (George Medal)
W.O.2 Gary O'Donnell became known to the general public within the United Kingdom following an article in the press explaining one of the actions he was involved in whilst serving in Afghamistan.
He was working on making safe a landmine consisting of an 82mm mortar and 107mm chinese rocket which was to be activated by electrical contacts which were attached to a clothes peg. As he was crouched over the device he saw the rubber insulation was slipping. If this had continued and the peg had completed the electrical circuit then the device would have detonated.
Being fully aware of the situation he thrust his fingers into the peg to prevent ths happening before using his other hand to reach clippers with which to cut the wires and make the bomb safe.
The information above was made public in June 2008 however unfortunately W.O.2 was killed only a few months later on 10th September 2008 near Musa Qala when he was working to defuse another bomb which may have been booby-trapped.
Army Dog Unit Northern Ireland
THE RED PAW SEARCH! The Red Paw Badge was worn by members of the Army Dog Unit Northern Ireland - a unique Army unit made up of volunteers from every regiment/corps, but disbanded in 2007 when the personnel were no longer required for 'the troubles' in Northern Ireland. The unit started in 1973 and the volunteer dog handlers trained and worked with dogs known as "Wagtails" (arms & explosives search dogs), "Snappers" (guard dogs) and "Groundhogs" (tracker dogs). The Red Paw badge represented the dogs' feet bleeding after carrying out searches in the debris following bombings, etc., in NI. We are trying to contact the ex-dog handlers to join a recently formed Association. By next year we would like to have contacted enough of them for there to be sufficient numbers to take part in the Cenotaph march past in November - all the various regiments combined into one unit in their own right, representing the ADU NI, to honour their lads killed in NI (sometimes the dog as well). To this end the Army Dog Unit Northern Ireland Association have launched a website which has had tremendous support so far. Pretty well everything you need to know is on the site but in view of the number of regiments involved we are finding it very difficult to contact the ex-dog handlers, now spread far and wide, especially those who served in Northern Ireland in the 70's and 80's (50-60 ish age group now). If you were able to give us any recognition "THE RED PAW" it would be instantly recognisable by these people we are trying to find, if for instance if you were then able to put a link to the ADU NI Association on your website, www.armydogunit-ni.co.uk but if you think this is something a little different to feature, that would be fantastic! We would be truly grateful if you would give this cause your consideration. Thank you for your time. This is being sent to you on behalf of the co-founders Eddie Shinton & Mac McClinton, I do not speak very well as I have throat cancer but you can contact Eddie for more information he is one of the two co-founders on 01584 891449 or Mac on 01359239330.
Thank you in advance
Regards
Robert Shevill Press Liaison Officer ADU-N.I
99, Carnarc Crescent,
Inverness.
Always Time For A Laugh!
Even within the world of Bomb Disposal there are times that will raise a smile.
Consider the Technician working on a task when his head is suddenly, and without warning, filled with the sound of a mechanical timer winding down. A worrying situation when you consider that such timers are used by terrorists to initiate the detonation of a bomb however o this occasion the timer had been taped to his helmet by a mischievous colleague!
Or another occasion when the Bomb Squad had arrived at a scene. The operator was suited up and started his walk towards the device however he realised that there were more than a few smiles from other officers as he passed. It was only when he caught sight of himself in a shop window that he realised his colleagues had added a pair of Mickey Mouse type large ears to his helmet!
The Bomb Suit Challenge - For the British Limbless Ex Servicemens Association
Mission : A team from the Army School of Ammunition plan to climb Britains tallest peaks wearing a bomb disposal suit weighing 35kg
Date: 03 - 06 October 2008
Aim: To raise £ 50,000 to pay for 15 amputees from BLESMA to take part in a rehabilitation ski event in Colorado Dec 2008
BLESMA are a charity that support ALL servicemen and women who have lost limbs including use of limbs under any circumstances and at any time. They also support the widows of service personnel who lost limbs. One of the major initiatives that BLESMA is currently undertaking is to rehabilitate as many service personnel who have lost limbs on recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as soon after the event as possible. This is a proven method of ensuring that amputees continue to live as normal a life as possible after their injury. Unfortunately due to the tempo of operations the number of amputees is increasing and there are a number of personnel awaiting rehabilitation.
Our aim is to take 15 amputees to Colorado in December to take part in the worlds largest rehabilitation ski Event. Our members will get one to one expert tuition have access to the best adaptive ski equipment, but most importantly will rehabilitate alongside over 700 other disabled personnel including over 75 US wounded warriors who have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. This event is a life changing experience for all who take part.
Give the guys your support at http://www.justgiving.com/bombsuitchallenge
Lieutenant-Colonel George Styles G.C.
A gentleman who has been referred to in the "Links" section where his book "Bombs Have No Pity" is mentioned.
Styles was awarded the George Cross following his defusing of 2 particularly large and very dangerous bombs in Belfast, Northern Ireland where he had worked as an Ammunition Technical Officer.
The Europa Hotel in Great Victoria Street, Belfast has become well known to tourists in recent years however in the not too distant past it had the unwanted repotation of being the most bombed hotel in all of Europe. From the start the Europa was an excellent hotel catering for many V.I.P.'s and was built at the cost of approx £3 million. Terrorists looked upon it as a priority target and during one of the attacks on 22nd October 1971 Styles attended the scene.
It was believed the bomb was in a suitcase inside one of the telephone boxes in the hotel lobby. The terrorists had chosed this time to try a new bomb design including an anti-handling capability. It was 7 hours before Styles had made the device harmless.
The terrorists accepted the challenge and Styles followed them back to the Europa only 2 days later! This time there was a larger ammount of explosive and a more sophisticated anti-handling function. Once again Styles won the day however on this occasion it took him 9 hours!!
His efforts were awarded with the presentation of the George Cross and at a press interview following the announcement of his award Styles commented "Each designer leaves a trademark. From the circuits he constructs one can see where he went to school, or by whom he was taught"
George Styles was commissioned into the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in 1947 and sadly died on 1st August 2006 aged 78.
An Early "Wheelbarrow" at the R.E.M.E. Museum, Arborfield, Berkshire.
In the early 1980's a terrorist ambush on police was foiled by cattle!
A large landmine had been concealed with a command wire running across a field to the terrorists firing point however there were cattle in the field who chewed through the command wire and prevented a detonation!!!
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