Possible field grave in Gronsveld – Juli 2016
Search dogs
Signi Search Dog Foundation (Stichting Signi zoekhonden) is willing to help us with the search for a possible World War II field grave in Gronsveld, The Netherlands. We picked July 16 as a search day, and Signi Search Dog Foundation and Study Group Missing Soldier will meet each other at the meadow in Gronsveld.
The start
We arrive and meet the family around ten o’clock in the morning. Around twelve the Signi Search Dog Foundation team arrives. Esther van Neerbos and Janette Kruit traveled to the site, accompanied by one volunteer and five search dogs.
On request of the Signi Search Dog Foundation we deliberately did not enter the field in order tot minimize disruptive smells. This way, the dogs have least chance of distraction and can fully focus on the field grave, if present.
After the dogs have relieved themselves, it’s time to let them work. The first dog scans the embankment with complete determination and seems to have found something at the top of the embankment on the west side of the field. The dog stops at a spot and starts barking. The other four dogs also seem focused on that specific spot.
Challenge
The next challenge presents itself: there’s a shed for livestock and a pile of roof tiles where the dogs are barking. The pile of tiles is quickly moved, but the shed will have to be moved before we can search underneath. The shed’s frame is made of metal, which is why our metal detectors give inaccurate readings.
We have the dogs search again at the spot where the roof tiles used to be. One of the dogs is so excited and immediately starts digging. You’d almost think there must be something there, so we decide to carefully dig in that spot.
We dig for several hours but don’t get very far. The ground is like concrete and at the end of the day we decide to return later with some heavier tools. It is impossible to get in without a pickaxe, so we’ll have to come back another time.
Our metal detectors do not give any readings and therefore aren’t providing any clues. Perhaps we could arrange for a deep-search device in order for us to narrow down the search area and “look” a bit deeper. It also would be great if the shed was moved.
July 16, 2016 Attendees – Project field grave in Gronsveld
Ton de Louw, Peter Mulder, Tino Dam, Bart van der Sterren, Team Stichting Signi zoekhonden