landmine / 9th Brigade, 1st Eastern Division, I.R.A, 1920

Concrete land mine case, c. 1920. Made by H. Fairtlough. This was the early type of mine used for blowing up Military Lorries and was used during the "Black and Tan War". It usually had 2 feet of road surface over it. This type of mine could be left buried in the ground for about a year. The reason of its solid construction was to send the force of the explosion upwards and not sideways. The detonator leads were brought out underground through the side of the mine to the roadside hedge or ditch where they could be connected to a battery at any time required. The mine held the 16 to 18lb. of "War Flour" (or Cheddar) the explosive invention of the I.R.A. The top of the mine was covered with sawdust and then with a coating of pitch which left it damp proof. The lid was then tightly screwed down "a bit on the rough side but we had not time to be elegant." Fairtlough, a blacksmith by trade, was constructing these mines for the O.C. Engineers, 1st Battalion, 9th Brigade, 1st Eastern Division, I.R.A.;