Stone was a lieutenant serving with 274 Field Company Royal Engineers. On the moonless night of May 15 he crossed the Channel in a Motor Torpedo Boat and, about three miles off the coast, transferred to a powered 18ft dory. He then transferred into a dinghy which capsized in five feet of water; he and two NCOs had to wade ashore near Quend Plage. There they found a forest of stakes about six yards apart, eight to nine inches in diameter and seven to eight feet high. As reported, a mine sat on top of each.
After photographing the device with a special infra-red camera, Stone carried out tests to see if it was magnetic; it was not. He then looked for booby-traps, using a stepladder to climb up and fully examine one of the mines. Once up, however, he lost his balance; the ladder toppled over and he found himself clinging to the mine with his full weight on it. When it did not explode he concluded that it was not booby trapped.
Lt. John Stone M.C. 1922-2011
You Must Be From Away 
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