Bombshell for grader driver

BOMB technicians from a Queensland army base were called in to inspect a 11kg military casing found in the Yuraygir National Park near Sandon River.

The bomb, thought to be a shell used in chemical warfare training during World War Two, was discovered by National Parks and Wildlife staff as they were grading a 4WD track with machinery.

Grafton police said NPWS staff accidentally hit the shell with the grader and moved it to the side of the road. They called for help from police and the defence force. Police said bomb technicians deemed the shell to be spent and therefore safe yesterday.

“They packaged it up and took it away,” said a Grafton police officer who was at the scene.

The officer said the shell appeared to have been used by field gun artillery and would have released smoke when active. He said the shell, which was full of mud, looked like a canister with the sharp end intact – the smoke released from the back.