![]() from Manchester Metro 8 November 2002 ![]() by Andrew Nott AN ELEVEN-year-old girl who visited the Great War killing fields of Ypres was handed a lethal live shell to bring home as a souvenir. The danger was spotted by a guide who realised the shell was potentially deadly and Poppy Higham was given a safe souvenir instead. Sarah Higham said: Poppy was told if she had dropped the shell it could have exploded and blown her up. It is astonishing. They need to know that there is a risk that some people are selling live ammunition. The suggestion seemed so outrageous when Poppy told me that at first I assumed she had got things confused, but clearly it happened. Poppy from Woodbrook lane, was one of a 29-strong group from Therra Nova School, Jodrell Bank, who went on the pilgrimage as part of their French studies.
Poppy picked out the shell she wanted because it was particularly shiny and paid 10 euros. But the horrified childrens guide realised it still had the detonator intact. The guide took the shell from her and handed it in to be safely detonated. "Poppy's experience proved one of the more unusual aspects to the visit but the French guide dealt with the shell efficiently and it thd not defract from the students trip." |
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