Twenty Years of Bomb Disposal
A presentation by Ian Jones, M.B.E.
At the ACU3A general meeting on 18 September, Ian Jones gave a fascinating presentation on his life and work in bomb disposal – a career in pyrotechnics starting at the age 14 by setting fire to his bed – twice!
This was merely shades of things to come and on becoming an adult he joined the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and learned to dismantle small arms munitions, “sticky bombs” (anti-tank weapons) and a number of German bombs left behind after WW2. A tour of duty in Northern Ireland followed, where he focused mainly on the design and maintenance of robot equipment for disposing of IEDs. He emphasized the fact that the damage caused by flying metal fragments from these devices was as lethal as the weapons themselves and meant that disposal teams were obliged to operate at a distance of 100 metres (hence the need for robots).
After gaining a commission from Sandhurst, Ian was again sent to Northern Ireland to deal with two principal types of explosive devices. Firstly: time bombs; and secondly: ambush booby traps, which – for maximum effect - were intended to lure people into their orbit before exploding. A third tour of duty in Northern Ireland, with the rank of Major, offered Ian the opportunity to run nine bomb-disposal teams, concentrating mainly on under-vehicle IEDs.
With a wealth of experience of bomb disposal under his belt, Ian then joined the Metropolitan Police and spent the next 18 years with the Bomb Squad, answering some 2,500 calls during that time. His insider view of some of the more well-documented terrorist attacks in and around London was very sobering. But of all the tragedies to which he was a witness, he said that he was affected most deeply by the reaction of the survivors to those events.
Ian now spends some of his free time entering World War One tunnels in which there are apparently still enormous amounts of unexploded ordnance. He has also written two books: “London – Bombed and Blitzed” and “Malice Aforethought” – doubtless a very fascinating read. Ian ended his talk with what he described as a ‘golden rule’: “Never Trust the French”.
After a short question and answer session, Colin thanked Ian for his engaging presentation and assured the audience that – notwithstanding such a risky career – Ian’s fingers and toes remained intact.
JC
September 2018
This was merely shades of things to come and on becoming an adult he joined the Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and learned to dismantle small arms munitions, “sticky bombs” (anti-tank weapons) and a number of German bombs left behind after WW2. A tour of duty in Northern Ireland followed, where he focused mainly on the design and maintenance of robot equipment for disposing of IEDs. He emphasized the fact that the damage caused by flying metal fragments from these devices was as lethal as the weapons themselves and meant that disposal teams were obliged to operate at a distance of 100 metres (hence the need for robots).
After gaining a commission from Sandhurst, Ian was again sent to Northern Ireland to deal with two principal types of explosive devices. Firstly: time bombs; and secondly: ambush booby traps, which – for maximum effect - were intended to lure people into their orbit before exploding. A third tour of duty in Northern Ireland, with the rank of Major, offered Ian the opportunity to run nine bomb-disposal teams, concentrating mainly on under-vehicle IEDs.
With a wealth of experience of bomb disposal under his belt, Ian then joined the Metropolitan Police and spent the next 18 years with the Bomb Squad, answering some 2,500 calls during that time. His insider view of some of the more well-documented terrorist attacks in and around London was very sobering. But of all the tragedies to which he was a witness, he said that he was affected most deeply by the reaction of the survivors to those events.
Ian now spends some of his free time entering World War One tunnels in which there are apparently still enormous amounts of unexploded ordnance. He has also written two books: “London – Bombed and Blitzed” and “Malice Aforethought” – doubtless a very fascinating read. Ian ended his talk with what he described as a ‘golden rule’: “Never Trust the French”.
After a short question and answer session, Colin thanked Ian for his engaging presentation and assured the audience that – notwithstanding such a risky career – Ian’s fingers and toes remained intact.
JC
September 2018