Wartime trench discovered at Elgin school

GROUND investigations are to be carried out next week within the grounds of an Elgin primary school after aerial imagery emerged of a wartime trench.
Local Defence Volunteers in training in Scotland. World War II weapons may be buried at West End Primary School. Picture: TSPLLocal Defence Volunteers in training in Scotland. World War II weapons may be buried at West End Primary School. Picture: TSPL
Local Defence Volunteers in training in Scotland. World War II weapons may be buried at West End Primary School. Picture: TSPL

The aerial photograph of what are now the playing fields at West End Primary School was discovered by staff from Moray Council’s environmental health section as they were researching another site in the area.

The photograph, taken during the Second World War, shows a military defensive trench and a number of parked military trucks.

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Although it is unlikely that live ammunition training took place at the site, it is possible that caches of weapons were buried there.

A council spokesman said: “It is only thanks to the emergence of the photograph that we became aware of this trench and the plan is to undertake a comprehensive geophysical survey of the site.

“Any anomalies that the survey throws up will be excavated at the time and dealt with.

The work will begin on Monday and should take only two or three days so it will be completed before the school reopens after the holidays.

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