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We knew there was a risk that the whole thing would blow
sky high on the explosion of the propellant, so we made sure that we were crouched
below the rose garden wall when the propellant ignited. The sound was right
so we knew the missile was still intact. At about 7pm on November 5th , one
pound of gelignite detonated about 50 ft above the pond in the beauty spot known
as Aldbury. The reverberation went round the valley five times. We were never
arrested for that one.
A variety of explosions followed and we found electrically detonated underwater gelignite charges to be more effective at fishing in the canal or reservoir than a length of thread with a bent pin. I think our largest detonation in one go was 40lb of gelignite.
I was dully arraigned for my activities with Bazookas and can remember feeling quite wronged by the prosecution. At the age of 12 I knew what I was doing with the shell. By carefully inserting the safety pin every time we moved one and exploding them safely we were clearing the ranges of dangerous debris. We would explode the Bazookas from trenches above Aston Clinton by removing the safety pin and throwing the Bazooka in a well lofted arc. If it didn't go off, the safety pin was re- inserted for transporting back to the trench and then it was thrown again. They always went off eventually.