WW1 Mills No 36 Grenade Colour Markings

[siegfreid]

Further to the fine thread started by Fragman , here are 2 WW1 Mills grenades wearing their ORIGINAL markings . The first is a 1918 dated No 36 with the usual markings of a solid red band around the top & a pink central/lower filling band denoting any of several types of filling . This is most likely the commonest way a WW1 No 36 [or 23/3] would have looked when delivered to the front in Europe . The second is also dated 1918 but is a No 23/3M . This one has red crosses around the top & a green filling band denoting a non hygroscopic filling & better sealing , probably for use in more tropical climates . I know I've said it before BUT any British WW1 grenade with an ORIGINAL red cross filling band is incredibly hard to find . You'll notice that this 23/3 also has what appears to be an over painted yellowish band just below the green filling band . There is a possibility that this indicates it had been used as an instructional grenade by the Australians in WW1 . I know Tom has done some research on this & he may want to comment . I hope this longish thread might be of some interest to Mills collectors & I would appreciate any comments or additional input anyone feels is relevant . Mike

 

[Fragman]

Hi Mike. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. I'm interested in the yellow over band suggestion, as I have a nice unmessed with WW1 Mills where the original pink band looks to have been over painted with a mustard/yellow band. Cheers

 

[URG86-collector]

I suppose, this is the type of grenade, we are talking about.
The Imperial War Museum claims to have one in their collection (sectioned).

http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30022852

But I wonder, if the markings realy are original. At a first glimpse a repaint seems more likely.
Best wishes from germany.

 

[BMG50]

A lot of the IWM stuff has been re painted in the past, not a good place for colour reference. Best place is people's collections. As with band colours on grenades I these represented explosive filling types.

 

[Snufkin]

You'll notice that this 23/3 also has what appears to be an over painted yellowish band just below the green filling band . There is a possibility that this indicates it had been used as an instructional grenade by the Australians in WW1 . I know Tom has done some research on this & he may want to comment.

The extract herewith is from Instructions in Handling Bombs, GHQ Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces, February 1916. While it refers to MEF, and so covers Egypt, Mesopotamia and Salonika, there is probably no reason why the same instructions were not issued to the BEF. If the instructions were acted upon, the 23III shown by Mike looks to have been a Service grenade emptied of explosive and used for training. At least, that is one explanation.



Tom.

 

[Millsman]

Possibly not relevant in these cases but it's worth stating that Belgian Mills 23 III and 36 grenades used for training had a dark yellow / mustard band around the lower segments. In some cases the upper segments were painted grey.

John