Mills 36. Drill ? As used in South Africa

[Andy Naude]

Found this Mills 36 today.

Would it have been an "official" drill or has it just been tampered with?

There are five small holes drilled in the body. The top lugs have been removed. There is traces of white paint.

The base plug is stamped : NO 36 M II R L 1 - 37 with an over stamping of a U with arrow, which would indicate that it was used the the South African Defence Force at some stage.

 

[millsbomber]

How can a Mk2 base plug be dated 1937 if it was not for the South African mark I would have said re stamped is there and markings on the body ?

 

[Andy Naude]

I can not find any markings on the body. Only on the plug.

 

[Snufkin]

There was a British contract for 500 (repaired) "Grenade, 0.303-in, Rifle, Practice, No.36 M MkII" for South Africa placed 8 September 1936 with CSOF (Woolwich). With the RL marking and 1-37 date there is a good chance the grenade (certainly the base plug) is from this order.

The lugs were probably fully removed when one got broken, such breakages being a common occurrence.




Tom.

 

[Millsman]

I was intrigued by the body shape of this grenade. It looks like some of the Mills 23 Mk III bodies with a longer bottom segment and is similar to the Israeli (and Russian WWI) produced Mills grenades.

If Tom is right about the contract is the body from somewhere else other than the UK?

John

 

[millsbomber]

Here is a Mk2 that's made in Aluminum once again South African, Steel on right for comparison.