AN Exmouth fisherman has uncovered a war relic from the River Exe. Bert Thomas, 54, of Egremont Road, was fishing for sand eels in the river just off Exmouth beach, opposite the Harbour View café, when instead of pulling up live bait he dragged up an old cannon ball.
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Mr Thomas, who fishes as a hobby, said he believes the cannon ball came from an old gun emplacement, which during the war was sited above the old swimming pool – now known as Gun Field Gardens.
Mr Thomas said: “It must have been fired a long time ago. When I found it, it was encrusted with stones from the river. I could see it was metal because of the colour. I tapped it with a chisel and it fell apart and in the middle was a perfect round cannon ball.
“I have got a hunch where it came from. Where the old swimming pool was, there used to be a cannon gun emplacement to protect the river. I suppose they used to fire practice shots.”
Do you remember Exmouth’s gun emplacement? Contact the Journal reporters on (01395) 276153.