Military Expert Warns of More Wartime Explosives in Circulation
A military history expert is cautioning Canadians that the discovery of a live grenade in a Chatham Value Village donation bin this week likely signals more wartime explosives will surface in unexpected places. The incident forced the store to close for an entire day while authorities safely removed the dangerous item.
Donation Bin Discovery Forces Store Closure
The alarming discovery occurred earlier this week when staff at the Chatham Value Village location found what appeared to be an authentic grenade among donated items. The store immediately closed for safety reasons and remained shut for approximately 24 hours while explosive disposal experts secured the area and removed the device.
Byron Lazarus, a volunteer at the Kingsville Military Museum, confirmed the grenade was similar to historical military ordnance in their collection. Lazarus stood beside a defused mortar shell from the museum's exhibits while discussing the incident, highlighting the real danger such items pose to unsuspecting civilians.
Why Wartime Explosives Keep Appearing
According to military experts, Canada's history as a training ground for Allied forces during World War II means unexploded or souvenir ordnance remains scattered across the country. Many veterans brought home military equipment as souvenirs, and their descendants often discover these items decades later when cleaning out estates.
Many people don't recognize the danger of these historical items, assuming they're inert or fake. The expert explained that explosives from the World War II era can remain volatile for decades, with chemical compounds becoming increasingly unstable over time.
The timing of this discovery is particularly concerning as many Canadians begin seasonal cleaning and donation drives ahead of the holiday season. Historical military items often surface during estate clearances and spring cleaning when families encounter belongings from older generations.
Safety Protocols for Discovering Suspicious Items
Authorities emphasize that anyone who encounters potential military ordnance should follow specific safety protocols:
- Do not touch or move the item
- Immediately leave the area
- Contact local police or emergency services
- Do not attempt to determine if the item is live or inert
The Chatham incident serves as a critical reminder that historical military items require professional handling, even if they appear to be decorative or non-functional. Police and military explosive experts have specialized training to safely identify and dispose of such devices.
As Canadians continue to uncover historical items from attics, basements, and storage units, experts anticipate similar discoveries will become more frequent. Proper handling and immediate reporting to authorities remain the safest approach for protecting both discoverers and the general public.
