Schoolboy, seven, uncovers remains of World War Two grenades on beach using the metal detector he got for Christmas
- Patrick McAlindon, seven, from Inverclyde, uncovered remains of an explosive
- Schoolboy was testing his metal detector near Aviemore, Scottish Highlands
- He found discarded crates, fragments of grenades and a bomb warning sign
A seven-year-old schoolboy has uncovered the remains of Second World War explosives on a beach in the Scottish Highlands – using the metal detector he received for Christmas.
Patrick McAlindon, from Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, found the grenade remains while he was out testing his new metal detector kit on December 25 during a family holiday in Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands.
The pupil at Kilmacolm Primary School had been scanning a beach in Loch Morlich, for just 15 minutes when his new gadget showed an ‘off the scale’ reading and he made the discovering.
Patrick McAlindon (pictured), seven, from Kilmacolm, Inverclyde, uncovered the remains of Second World War explosives on December 25. Pictured: A sign from a crate of incendiary bombs he found on a beach at Loch Morlich
The schoolboy, who had been testing out his metal detector kit, found pieces of wood (pictured) from the bomb crates along with metal hinges and glass bottle caps
Frantic to find out what it was, Patrick, along with mother Ana, 41, father Andrew, 41, big brother Daniel, 19, and little sister Lana, aged four, started digging and discovered discarded crates, fragments of grenades and a bomb warning sign left behind from allied forces more than 70 years ago.
Treasure hunter Patrick said: ‘The metal detector almost went off the scale. I was really shocked, I thought it was gold or something.
‘We started digging then two minutes later we found the sign.
‘I was really surprised and shocked when I saw ‘bomb’.
‘I was a bit scared at first because I thought there were grenades under there.’
After finding the historic sign, understood to date from the Second World War when allied Norwegian soldiers trained in the area, the family phoned the police.
The dig attracted crowds of tourists as the police called bomb disposal experts.
However after being told there was no risk posed to them, the family kept on combing the beach.
Mother Ana said: ‘When we started digging we first saw lots of bits of glass under the sand.
Patrick (pictured left and right with a historic bomb warning sign) began digging the area with his family when he found a sign and grenade remains
The sign is understood to date from the Second World War when allied Norwegian soldiers trained in the area
‘It seemed odd to see so much clear glass bits of bottles at such depth under the sand. Then we found metal hinges from the crates, then we saw the metal sign.
‘We googled the sign to see what it was and realised that sign was inside a Grenade crate.
‘After reading that I said ”right everybody, step back”.
‘I grew up in Croatia during the 90s, so I knew all about the danger.
‘Andrew called the police and googled ”A W BOMBS” and the same metal sign was on a crate of grenades.
‘The beach was buzzing with people coming off coaches and playing rugby.
‘We sent photos to the police and they sent them onto the bomb disposal squad, who said it was safe. Although I was pretty apprehensive they told us to just keep digging.’
Following his incredible discovery Patrick is looking forward to telling his friends and schoolteacher of his find when he returns to school after the holidays.
Ana added: ‘Patrick loves history. He doesn’t watch cartoons anymore, just the Discovery Channel and history documentaries.
‘He wants to find gold next.’