Each year farmers all along the Western Front plough up substantial quantities of unexploded ordnance, making agriculture an unexpectedly hazardous occupation. The failure rate of British shells was particularly high in the early days of the Somme battle due to rushed and faulty manufacturing, though matters were quickly improved. However it has been estimated that throughout the war some 1 in every 4 shells fired failed to explode, largely due to the soft and very often muddy nature of the torn up ground. Given the enormous tonnages of iron and explosive that the two sides hurled at each other throughout the war, such a calculation would indicate that the soil will continue to yield substantial quantities of ordnance for many years to come.

When farmers find such items, they are left at the sides of the fields for the disposal teams to collect, and sights such as shown in this photograph are extremely common, particularly during the autumn and spring drilling programmes. It need hardly be mentioned that these things can be exceptionally dangerous - each year brings a handful of sad tales of death and horrible injury. Even after the passage of nearly 100 years, The Great War continues to take.