Having a Blast

Following the entry of Japan to World War Two, in December 1941, the threat of invasion to New Zealand became a real possibility. The superiority of the Japanese air force and their notorious heavy bombing raids, led the New Zealand Government to mobilise several specialist bomb disposal groups. The 2/C Section, New Zealand Bomb Disposal Group, was a Territorial Army unit responsible for the disposal of mines, bombs, shells, mortars, and grenades found in Taranaki. However opportunities to practise for the 2/C Section were few and far between, and most live bombs were provided for detonation by the RNZAF. This photograph shows the crater formed by a 112 kilogram anti-shipping bomb detonated during practise at the Bell Block training ground in 1943.

One real-life emergency did arise when, on 15 February 1943, an enemy mine was discovered being pounded by heavy seas into the rocks below the Belt Road camp site. The 2/C Section decided that it was too risky to detonate the bomb at this site. 2/C member, and strong swimmer, George Wood, volunteered to secure the bomb with a rope, which he then swam to a launch that towed the mine into shore near the mouth of the Waiwhakaiho River where it was disarmed.