Guernsey Police marks 80 years of bomb disposal team with tribute to fallen soldiers
- Guernsey Police's Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search team marks its 80th anniversary, having been established in 1946 to continue de-mining work after the Royal Engineers left
- The team has responded to over 4,500 incidents since July 1946, averaging 56 per year, dealing with unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and pyrotechnics
- An estimated 71,000 landmines were laid in Guernsey during the German occupation, requiring extensive clearance operations after Liberation Day
- Two Royal Engineers died during post-liberation clearance operations: Sapper George Edgar Onions in June 1945 during a de-mining operation in Alderney, and Sapper Walter Ernest Callahan in July 1945 from injuries sustained in St Peter Port Harbour
- Guernsey Police plans to hold a commemoration event for Sapper Callahan, similar to existing commemorations for Sapper Onions in Alderney
Guernsey Police's Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search team is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, marking eight decades of specialist work that began in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.
The team was established in 1946 when the Police Committee agreed to create a specialist local unit to continue the de-mining duties being delivered by the Royal Engineers.
Police officers had been working closely with their military counterparts in 24 Bomb Disposal Platoon, building up significant experience in clearing the vast quantities of ordnance left across the Bailiwick following the German occupation.
The Royal Engineers were among the last Task Force 135 troops remaining in the Bailiwick after Liberation Day, working to safely clear and destroy ordnance across the entire island group. An estimated 71,000 landmines alone were laid in Guernsey.
When it became clear there was still more work to be done as the Army prepared to leave, the EOD&S team was formed. It comprised officers who had worked with Task Force 135 and those returning from military service with experience in this area.
Captain Harry Beckingham, the officer commanding 24 Bomb Disposal Platoon at the time, led the training of police constable volunteers at Fort George.
Since the start of July 1946, Guernsey Police's EOD team has responded to over 4,500 incidents, averaging 56 a year. All incidents were recorded in the team's logbook until modern record keeping took over in recent years.
Incidents range from making safe or detonating various types of unexploded ordnance, air dropped weapons and mines, responding to reports of improvised explosive devices or homemade explosives and dealing with various types of pyrotechnics and explosive hazards.
In recent years, the team has located and supported the disposal of air dropped mines in the Bluebell Woods, supported the safe detonation of multiple air dropped weapons outside of the harbour, and disposed of countless Second World War ordnance across all the islands. The team has also responded to various improvised explosive device threats or hoax calls during island-wide celebrations, including during the King's visit in 2024.
The anniversary comes as the team prepares to honour two Royal Engineers who lost their lives during the post-liberation clearance operations.
Sapper George Edgar Onions of 259 Field Company, Royal Engineers, was killed during a de-mining operation in Alderney on 21st June 1945. He was one of the Task Force 135 soldiers who came to Guernsey as part of the Liberation and was previously thought to be the only member of the Engineers to have lost their life in the Bailiwick. He is buried at St Annes Church Cemetery.
Recently, while conducting research, EOD officers discovered that several days later, on 1st July 1945, another sapper was seriously injured in an accident while a merchant ship was being unloaded in St Peter Port Harbour. Sapper Walter Ernest Callahan of 1011 Port Operating Company, Royal Engineers, was in the island as part of the Royal Engineer's wider task of restoring normality after occupation. He died from the injuries he had suffered later that day.
The EOD team is looking to arrange a small commemoration event for Sapper Callahan in the near future, similar to that which takes place in Alderney for Sapper George Onions.
Q&A
Q: When was Guernsey Police's Explosive Ordnance Disposal & Search team established?
A: The team was established in 1946, taking over de-mining duties from the Royal Engineers at the end of June that year.
Q: How many landmines were estimated to have been laid in Guernsey during the German occupation?
A: An estimated 71,000 landmines alone were laid in Guernsey during the occupation.
Q: Who were the two Royal Engineers who died during post-liberation clearance operations in the Bailiwick?
A: Sapper George Edgar Onions was killed during a de-mining operation in Alderney on 21st June 1945, and Sapper Walter Ernest Callahan died on 1st July 1945 from injuries sustained in an accident while a merchant ship was being unloaded in St Peter Port Harbour.
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