THE mystery of what happened to the First World War artillery shell which Halesowen’s Shell Corner is named after has been solved – by the News.

The shell took pride of place from at least 1924 until the 1970s, when it went missing during roadworks, never to be seen again.

This week, 81-year-old Tony Griffiths, who used to work for Halesowen Borough Council Highways Department in the 1970s, told the explosive story of how he was ordered to scrap the shell.

He said: “I was clearing out a council-run yard in Blackheath in the early 1970s, when I came across what looked like a huge bomb.

“I called the police, who called the Army bomb disposal squad, who came and ensured it was safe. They told my bosses to scrap it, in case they were called out again to inspect it.”

The Cradley pensioner added: “So I did what I was told and took it to a scrap yard, I was even told to stay there and watch it get melted down.

“It was in fact an 18 inch naval shell from a ship in WW1, I did not want it to be scrapped but I had to do my job.”

Halesowen Borough Council was abolished during the 1974 local government reorganisation which led to the formation of Sandwell Council and Dudley Council.

Halesowen North Councillor Stuart Henley, who is leading the campaign to install a new shell at Shell Corner, is delighted the mystery has been solved.

He said: “It is great to know what finally happened to the shell, I have spent years trying to find out.

“It is sad someone, somewhere decided this piece of history should be scrapped, but we are trying to right a historical wrong.”

Cllr Henley has got an artillery shell donated by The British Army’s Carver Barracks, Essex, to be installed on Shell Corner.

He said: “I have a meeting this week with Dudley Council to decide where to put our shell, which is currently being painted by Halesowen College students.

“I wanted it on the traffic island but it looks like that is out of the question now. But hopefully, it will be installed by the bus stop so everyone can see it.”

To donate to the shell installation campaign visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfund ing/ShellCornerCommunityProject