Mills Bomb, Square slot filler plugs

[BMG50]

Found these near a old grenade range, very unusual where most grenade bits found are Brit or Canadian with the usual straight slot. Although the New Zealanders and Austrailians were in the area, I have seen these on New Zealand grenades, what was a common NZ base plug used with these square slot plugs.

 

[Scout Sniper]

The Canadians do use screws with a square drive, called Robertson screw.

May not be relevant, but i would suspect they are Canadian. Not many other countries ever adopted the Robertson screw drive system.

 

[BMG50]

Thats interesting, the Canadians used these filler plugs.

 

[sgtlynn]

Not Canadian!! we only used the standard slot type. I suspect NZ. And its the worlds loss that they haven't adopted the Robertson screw

 

[BMG50]

I suspected they were NZ, surprised they where Canadian.
I have had a look on the Mills web page http://www.millsgrenades.co.uk/ but see no NZ related filler plugs or NZ base plugs, lots of South African plugs etc. Is there a web site showing NZ or Canadian Mills parts and their markings or some form of reference.

 

[Snufkin]

Try this:

NZ No.36 thread including link to article by BOCN member Fragman

 

[BMG50]

Well i solved the problem finding what country used square plugs for their mills bombs NZ and found matching base plug to match. Both found near a UK grenade range used during WW2 in which NZ forces were in the area.
Looking at the link above found me the NZ grenade that used the base and plug below.

Often when you find a grenade with WHE fitting it will have a base plug made by “P D (over a V) L”. Plastic and Die Casting Limited (Christchurch) was founded in 1937.

 

[BMG50]

The mills used.

 

[Snufkin]

Both found near a UK grenade range used during WW2 in which NZ forces were in the area.

Is that saying that New Zealand units brought their own grenades with them all the way from New Zealand?

 

[BMG50]

Looks like it. Remember the Canadians also brought their Grenades to the UK as well as 2inch mortar and 77 grenades. Both were in the area training for Normandy.
There is a unknown brass mills base AF marked that would be interesting to see what country use that.

 

[Snufkin]

After a brief spell in 1940 when a single NZ brigade was deployed in Scotland, I am not aware of any NZ units that trained in the UK. No NZ land units either landed in Normandy or fought in France and the Low Countries. My understanding is that from 1940 onwards NZ troops went to the Mediterranean and Aegean theatres via East Africa or India, and then Egypt, but happy to be corrected.

As for grenade supply, 1944-45 saw orders placed by UK Govt to NZ for 3 million No.36. These were for supply to Burma, Egypt (for Italy) and UK, which explains the presence of NZ base plugs on UK grenade ranges.

Slightly off topic, for supply of Canadian-made No.36, the Department of Munitions and Supply (DMS) monthly shipment records show Canadian factories shipped:

July 1944: 425,000 to UK Govt, and 20,000 to Canada (training);
August 1944, 1 million to UK Govt, and 30,000 to Canada (training);
September 1944, just over 1 million to UK Govt, and 30,000 to Canada (training).

A similar story for other land service stores, including No.69, No.75 and No.77 grenades, and 2-inch and 3-inch mortar bombs - small numbers for training troops in Canada, much larger quantities to UK depots. All troops fighting under Montgomery's 21st Army Group ( British 2nd Army and 1st Canadian Army), in Europe were issued with grenades that came from those depots, and they could have been made in the UK, South Africa, NZ or Canada.

 

[BMG50]

NZ were here training on the railways at Longmoor and they camped at Park Camp Blackmoor estate.

 

[Snufkin]

NZ were here training on the railways at Longmoor

Briefly in 1940, yes. In June 1940 the 10th Railway Construction Company, NZ RE, arrived with its parent brigade in Scotland, and was then detached to RE Railway Training Centre, Longmoor. Departed for Egypt, for North African campaign, August 1940. (Rest of brigade departed UK by January 1941.)

The 1944 dated NZ base plugs are from UK Govt grenade contracts placed with NZ in 1944.

 

[Millsman]

Some of these filler plugs have also been found on old ranges in Malta.

The 'Mills grenades' made in Israel also used these plugs with square holes.

 

[BMG50]

I assume Israel mills grenades are post war.

 

[Millsman]

I assume Israel mills grenades are post war.

The indication is that the Israeli underground forces started making them in 1944.

 

[Snufkin]

The Israeli grenades used hex keyholes, not square.

Also thread incompatible with British filler screws.

 

[Millsman]

Well squarish. Working from memory!!