Mills started out as the sole manufacturer with two contracts, one of 50,000 (27th April 1915) and the next of 100,000 (13th May 1915). It was clear this was never going to be enough and contracts were placed with 2 other makers from the 13th May (W & J Wilder and Birmingham Engineering Co). For the first Mills contract the product was just 'Mills Grenades - Filled'. For the second is was 'Mills No 5 Mk I Filled'. So the No 5 was officially 'born' on the 13th May 1915.
There is a famous list of makers in both the Skennerton and Landers books which lists the first makers of the Mills Grenade. Examination of base plugs shows this list to be incomplete (and incorrect). There were at least 5 other makers working in that period and the evidence is in base plugs.
The reason seems to be that contracts were being placed by the Ministry of Munitions AND Trench Warfare at the War Office. At the same time the Royal Engineers were placing contracts with French factories (this was stopped after about 180,000 grenades were made) which resulted in a court case. In the summer of 1915 the Army were desperate for the new grenade, which left the No 1, No 2, No 15, Battyes and jam tins in the shade.
I think the ROFs got involved in WW2 but not WW1.
Snufkin may be able to add more clarity.
John
Thanks John and Mike.
I bow down humbly in recognition of your superior knowledge.
I think in this modern age we forget that back in 1914-18 there was no computers, internet, smartphones etc, no email, and sometimes not even telephone, was either telegraph, post or person to person, this goes some way to explaining the no5 baseplugs sometimes being dated after no23 etc etc.
Did Mills Munitions Birmingham satisfy that 150K? Upon doing a little research where the Mills factory was, the site hasn't got a very large footprint, largest factory in Birmingham area I know made no5 was Kenrick, they still on same site now, Victorian foundry building and offices are all thar remain from that time. Vaughan and JP&S sites larger than Mills too, Mills was probably only making grenades where as Kenrick, Vaughan and JP made other items too, saying that Archibald Kenrick and JP&S seem to be more common than Mills produced examples? (Going on baseplugs as no idea if bodies made by same manufacturer)
I found in my research that Kynoch Witton, close by in Birmingham too was producing caps and det sets as well as supplying HE Amatol and Baratol from ICI, anymore to substantiate this? Kings Norton Metal Co apparently made levers and rings.
My Great Auntie and her mother and grandmother (my Gt Gt Gran) Worked for W Pilson then J Parks in Willenhall, Great Aunt told me many times how all West Birmingham made was grenades in 1st and 2nd WW. "Guns and cartridges in East Brum, grenades and shells in West" she passed away 2015 aged 98. Was given 3 days leave to help out at BSA Small Heath plant after it was bombed, sent plane parts from BSA down Canal to Hawker Sidderly? (Unsure on spelling) boats loaded in private covered wharf at BSA. To a certain degree Birmingham was completely self sustaining as all parts made local.
Sorry for rattling on, whole subject is fascinating.