Having been involved in agriculture for over a century, UK manufacturer's G.T. Bunning & Sons Ltd. were somewhat taken aback to learn that one of their market leading rear discharge manure spreaders was operational in Afghanistan, and rather than being used for the purpose with which it had originally been designed - to spread a variety of manures and waste products, instead, it had been adapted for use as a mechanical tool in the effective clearance of landmines. Devices responsible for immeasurable human casualties and fatalities throughout war torn countries worldwide.
The machine had caught the attention of Mr. Guy Petts, Mechanical Mine Clearance Officer of The HALO Trust; the world's oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance organisation.
Guy was looking for a bigger trailer than their existing model currently operational in Afghanistan and so, took the idea a step further. His research eventually led him to a farm in Dumfries where he viewed a Bunning spreader at work in the field . After further investigation and discussions with local engineering firm Martins of Closeburn, the necessary modifications were deemed realistic and so a Lowlander 75 spreader was purchased by The HALO Trust and subsequently underwent an intensive two month adaptation in readiness for it's new role.
The Trust itself was co-founded by Messrs. Guy Willoughby and Colin Mitchell back in 1988 and had personnel in Kabul from the time of the withdrawal of Russian military forces in February 1989. The HALO Trust's Head Office is based in the South West of Scotland, UK, where it has received charitable status, acting as an autonomous non political and non religious entity.
Another division of The Trust, is also active in the states; HALO USA, allied to HALO UK. Again, it is a non profit organisation with the same objective - to remove the debris of war. Offices are based in both Washington, DC and San Fransisco, CA.
The HALO Trust is currently operational within 10 countries, employing almost 8,000 fully trained staff, most of which are local to their respective areas and therefore directly affected by both ongoing conflict as well as dealing with the horrific aftermath of war.
Programmes run throughout Central & South East Asia, Horn of Africa, Southern Africa and the Caucasus & Balkans.
The disastrous impact of landmines was brought to the worlds attention by the late Diana, Princess of Wales who showed a keen interest in HALO’s operations whilst on a visit to Angola with The British Red Cross in 1997. The only footage of her in a live minefield was taken during this trip prior to her untimely death in the August of that year. Her presence there undoubtedly heightened media attention highlighting the importance of the work undertaken by The Trust.
Prince Harry has continued to raise awareness to this cause, following in his mothers footsteps by visiting Mozambique, a two day trip privately organised by The HALO Trust in June 2010.
Todate, the milestones crossed are listed (somewhat modestly) on The Trust’s website (www.halotrust.org). They include the destruction of tens of millions of landmines with other munitions and the safe clearance of vast areas of land including many roads and roadsides.
Their mission statement, which simply reads ‘get mines out of the ground, now’ needs no further explanation. However, it does not stop there, in 2002 a separate weapons and ammunition disposal (WAD) team was created to seek and destroy ordnance ranging from conventional ammunition to heavy weaponry, even guided and air dropped bombs.
The HALO Trust is one organisation that has embraced technology, illustrated by their readiness to develop mechanical solutions through the adaptation of industrial, civil and agricultural equipment into purpose built armoured units to aid manual demining, which still remains the backbone of most clearance programmes. Their portfolio of mechanised assets now equals 206, approximately 60 of which operate in Afghanistan alone. As a Company, G.T. Bunning & Sons Ltd. take pride in the fact that one of these life saving pieces of kit, originating from their Norfolk based factory is now facilitating such an essential procedure.
The once Lowlander 75 manure spreader is more specifically now part of what HALO term as a screening or sifting device. It's purpose to separate anti personnel mines and unexploded ordnance from previously undisturbed soil. Renowned for its overall body strength, the modifications concentrated mainly on the removal of the rear shredding augers and part of the top of the original body, lowering the overall height for loading purposes and to reduce the machines centre of gravity. A vibrating mesh screen was fitted which is hydraulically operated, raising the front so material works it's way to the rear of the machine. The hydraulics were modified into a self contained system run via a PTO - enabling it to be used in conjunction with any other armoured mechanical vehicle also fitted with a PTO. Soil contaminated with anti personnel mines and suchlike is loaded onto the hydraulically raised vibrating screen located on the top of the machine, which shakes the load, enabling the clean soil to be sifted through onto a moving floor before being discharged. Any mines that are left on the screen then escalate downwards into an armoured inspection tray which can then be removed and the contents safely destroyed.
Having been asked if they had encountered any issues in terms of effectiveness and reliability, Guy responds "No, it's a good machine - it works really well and is doing a great job". Although he went on to say “the actual volume we found in the end, when we put the material through, wasn’t a problem”, he indicated that extending the screening area further in order to take more material, may be an option for the future. The Lowlander 75 model is the smallest of Bunning’s current Lowlander Mark 4 Range, the Company can offer models with capacities to a maximum of 35 tonnes.
The HALO Trust has plans in the pipeline to offer humanitarian assistance in Colombia and Zimbabwe. They are also investigating the possibility of moving further South into the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
To aid both present and future projects it is possible to donate on-line, by text or by sending a personal cheque. For further information please visit www.halotrust.org
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