irresistible military rubbish-pit

Today (26th June), Trust volunteer Neil – assisted by Martin, the son of Trust volunteer Shirley – started to dig out the post-war rubbish-pit on the Trust’s new excavation site in front of Roman Circus House. The site is on part of the site of the Roman circus, but the uppermost levels are, of course, modern. The rubbish-pit was uncovered by volunteer members of the public during our big open dig day on Saturday. The rubbish-pit is full of extremely rusty, discarded military items and fragments which had been thrown onto a bonfire. We think the pit dates to immediately after WW2, although there are some items which seem later in date. Martin is very interested in modern military history and collects military artefacts, so he offered to help identify the finds on his afternoon off from college. Today’s finds include the rifle mount from a vehicle, another metal tag, part of the rear light from a jeep, and more parts of Sten guns, including a trigger mechanism. Shirley is interested in militaria because her father served in the army during WW2 and so, during the afternoon, she couldn’t resist the attraction of joining in with the work on the rubbish-pit, as well…

Many thanks to Neil, Martin and Shirley for all their interest, hard work and help.

The images show Neil and Martin working in the pit, and Martin identifying the trigger mechanism and with some of the Sten gun parts arranged in order (with the former dining hall of the Artillery (Le Cateau) Barracks in the background). (Apparently we’ve now got almost enough parts to make our own Sten gun.)

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