Lieutenant Colonel Mike Watkins MBE lifts a bag of ammonal explosive from a 6,500lb mine charge, 65ft beneath the surface at Vimy Ridge, in early 1998 prior to removing the detonators and primers. It was one of three mines laid by 172 Tunnelling Company to support the Canadian Corps attack on 9 April 1917, but was not used because the Germans had blown a series of craters in the vicinity two weeks before. Mike Watkins was one of the most experienced explosives experts in the British army, but was tragically killed later in 1998 by a collapse that occured while attempting to access another of the many tunnelling systems under the Ridge. He is commemorated on a plaque near the entrance to the Grange subway. (The Durand Group).