Any information on British mortar shell?

[Tmine35]

My pal has this British mortar shell. I know nothing about British ammo, could someone tell me what is the hole on side of this dug-up relic? Is it just drilled afterwards of is this a special shell; smoke or similar?

 

[Big Dave]

Hi T,it looks like a 3" Star,mortar round [para illum].Has it got 3 screws around the top band ? I dont think the hole in the side is original ,regards Dave

 

[Tmine35]

Thanks Dave,
I'll ask further details from my friend and revert then.

 

[Tmine35]

Got some more details from my friend.
-There are no screws around top band.
-In mouth there are remains of a cut fuze ( aluminium ).
-The hole on side obviously has been drilled to remove the charge.
-Shell material thickness is 5-8mm.
-There are some stamped markings, hardly readable but something like this:
3" MOR SMK
10 LB
DEL
FS
5 38
CM ( or OM )
and a couple of arrows around

Possibly this is just an ordinary HE-shell?

 

[Big Dave]

Evening T sorry for the first opinion i was not looking at the first picture close enough . What your friend has is a 3" mortar smoke bomb ,10lb , it looks like a mark 1 with 2 guide bands and was filled from the side through a charging hole that had a plug [the hole in the bomb is probably were the plug was ] . The bomb was filled with white phosphorous and was made in several marks only the mark 1 had the side filling hole .The remains of the fuse is probably a No152 made from Mazack ,regards Dave

 

[Tmine35]

Thanks Dave. My pal is happy with this information.