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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Mills grenade Box, found on the Somme.


Andy A

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Here is a picture of my Mills grenade box, found on the Somme and still has the remains of the det tin. Its one of my most prized possessions. Been thoroughly and carefully cleaned and treated. You can sill see the original  blue/grey paint an the places where the explosives stickers once were. Also contains the remains of the original detonator tin, empty of course,  Its quite sound and I will treasure it.

 

Andy

 

 

 

DSCN4421 (1).JPG

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Nice one Andy.

 

WW1 boxes are rare as hen's teeth. There was one for sale in the Le Tommy Cafe Pozieres last year and the wanted 300€ for it and it didn't have a lid. On one end cleat (where the rope handle was) you could still read Falkirk   /16.

 

Last time I went back there it had gone.

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This one isnt for sale John. but I have a few repro excellent copies of mine which might be. A guy I met through F/B made up some for me 10 years ago, they look pretty good to, Ile show you the lot of the including this one when I see you next.

 

 

Andy.

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Here's one I bought a few months ago. Missing the feet (genuine ones always seem to)

 

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That looks fantastic John, what a result to make a find like that. In great condition too. So rare certainly a keeper. I gather there were quite a few design changes over the life of the grenade, all designed by William Mills himself.

 

 

Andy

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The initial box with the metal hinges came from Mills or his team but the box used from 1916 to just after WW2 was designed by F W Vickery as was the later det holder. He was awarded £5000 in 1921 for it. Probably saved thousands of pounds. 

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From a private collection on the Somme 78197C30-0F53-42D7-BC0E-17329B061682.jpeg.b6b7894c531c8498f9e5c686274bfd47.jpeg5AF61BA2-1A25-47D9-A2CD-01FDFC1460DE.jpeg.db3acf758a789cb3e26644002c43c092.jpeg8CE889BD-8044-4926-A244-579EC1B43C17.jpeg.41b214e0df61c15ce5c72a557c3ba7cb.jpeg85E61A5B-5ACB-4260-95D6-9D3ED1A31A35.jpeg.d5c522af53caa03701464862f1549b33.jpeg1446337A-17B0-42D3-A82C-581C99D2E524.jpeg.9b609ce6d91bb0a431cab45f31cf363f.jpeg

A68AF488-F7B0-47D2-9726-DFCCD8FA1999.jpeg

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And another 

B352185F-0CFB-48C8-AC81-AA4C52497606.jpeg.26f8f1cbdcac62be158e7c9eef2b6f49.jpeg431D2BCA-BCA4-4123-8DE8-2842B6C45667.jpeg.2324d82b7a472ea6148f427c313e21f8.jpeg431D2BCA-BCA4-4123-8DE8-2842B6C45667.jpeg.2324d82b7a472ea6148f427c313e21f8.jpeg

31AD4001-D4AB-4897-B18C-7EE47C13CFB9.jpeg

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This is fantastic an in such excellent condition too. makes me want badly, thanks for showing

 

 

Andy

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Super. Many thanks for showing them. I've not seen the second type hinges before. 

 

 

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53 minutes ago, Gunner Bailey said:

Super. Many thanks for showing them. I've not seen the second type hinges before. 

 

 

A couple more for you gunner

I’ll try and find a few more images

the chap who owns them has an amazing collection 3F46F688-67E6-4A9C-9166-E2D9570C0922.jpeg.9faaf9b47368ec7008a17f3b3c56c564.jpeg

C3E50322-3182-4086-9058-3CFE09F1BD55.jpeg.6157dbe7a87a494afbb66690a00a100e.jpeg18755A0B-51F4-4C37-AC02-5D10A96ECCC6.jpeg.d508234eab1cae64e80d2b68bd6c0994.jpeg3A997359-F5E5-4B03-A1EC-AEE823B919F1.jpeg.bf06b6c03286118fd308ba06c620f453.jpegC7D28C85-B7EB-4C4C-890E-C6C5CB2D6E37.jpeg.bcb40989ab2706060b016b5f9998263a.jpeg385D051D-F5E6-4247-A228-F9B84AA26E11.jpeg.ae3667e11862c377fb5f00c22bcc82aa.jpeg

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The Box marked B&S could be Burman & Sons of Birmingham. Most of their grenades were made 11/15 to 1/16.

 

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