I have heard that there is still an unexploded mine shaft at Messines to this day!
It has been alleged that the Hawthorn Mine (the first) was set off prematurely at 7:20am as a diversion. Some say it went off at 7:30 as planned. Some even argue about the spelling, claiming it should be with an 'e' on the end!
Certainly, there are an untold number of unexploded shells and rounds of ammunition lying there waiting for the unwary to uncover them.
'Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant.'
