"Lethal” Bomb In Sydenham House

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30559, 30 September 1964, Page 1

"Lethal” Bomb In Sydenham House

A householder in Sydenham who climbed through the manhole in the ceiling to inspect his water cistern yesterday afternoon found an aerial bomb under the roof.

He climbed down, with it, and almost dropped it when he realised that it was a bomb. He hurriedly telephoned the police from his home in Southampton street. The elongated bomb weighs 8 lib. It has fins with a circular protective flange round

them. It is yellow, with the year 1941 on it. After policemen from the Sydenham station and a detecitve sergeant from the Central station had gingerly inspected the bomb, an Army explosives expert, Captain E. D. Gerard, of the Southern Military District, was called in. Captain Gerard considered that it was a smoke bomb, but was puzzled because it was yellow. Smoke bombs used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force are painted white. He took the bomb to the armament section of the R.N.Z.A.F. station, Wigram. It was there identified as a smoke bomb. The white paint turns yellow with age. “The bomb was live. The detonator was fused, but the safety pin was in,” Captain Gerard said last evening.

"It could have caused severe, even fatal injuries, through the detonator going

off, or if the smoke canister had been set off the heat could have caused severe burns. An elderly person could die of shock with a bomb of this type going off in a confined space such as a house,” Captain Gerard said. “It could be a lethal weapon.” The man who found the bomb moved into the house last May. He is not in very good health. Policemen thoroughly searched the house, but found no other dangerous objects. It is considered that the bomb was a war “souvenir” hidden in the ceiling and long forgotten. Inquiries are continuing.