TUESDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2025
KI N G GEORGE V A N D QUEE N MARY King George V and Queen Mary were both active in the war effort. The King first visited the Western Front in November 1914 and returned five times during the war. His engagements included, meeting Allied heads of state, inspecting troops and visiting the wounded. Queen Mary felt she should accompany her husband and her first visit to France was in July 1917— she visited hospitals, aerodromes, nurses' hostels and casualty clearing stations. At home in Britain, they undertook similar visits to wounded and disabled soldiers, sailors and airmen in hospitals and convalescent centres; discharged soldiers and sailors were even invited to entertainments at Buckingham Palace. During periods of unrest amongst munitions and engineering workers, the royal couple also initiated goodwill tours of industrial and shipbuilding areas. King George V's War Museum A collection displayed at Windsor Castle by George V following the First World War N o 36 Mk I Grenade (Mills Bomb)
The No 36 Mk I Grenade (Mills Bomb) was introduced at the end of the First World War and remained the standard British fragmentation grenade until 1972. The grenade was also used by Australian and other Commonwealth forces. The No 36 grenade was a classic cast iron, grooved pineapple design with a central striker held by a closed hand lever and secured by a pin. The segmented body creates uniform fragments when the grenade explodes, and can be found on a number of other grenade types, including those specifically designed to be fired using a rifle. The Mills bomb was developed and manufactured at William Mills's factory in Birmingham. It was the most common hand grenade used by the British troops during the First World War. The perforated edges enabled it to fragment into many pieces of cast iron on explosion, creating maximum damage. No 36 Mk I grenade—the body is oval shaped and is made from cast iron. The wall is segmented in an attempt to control fragmentation and provide grip. A screw plug is formed on the side for filling the high explosives. There is a large diameter hole in the base of the grenade body and a small hole diametrically opposite. The centre piece, which contains the striker assembly and the detonator, screws into the base of the grenade. The curved striker lever is positioned on the side of the grenade body and fits closely to the grenade body. The end of the striker lever fits into a slot and is secured by a retaining pin that prevents the striker from being forced down onto the firing cap. The body of the grenade is painted black. The Mills bomb was developed and manufactured at William Mills's factory in Birmingham. It was the most common hand grenade used by the British troops during the First World War. The perforated edges enabled it to fragment into many pieces of cast iron on explosion, creating maximum damage. Soldiers were taught to throw Mills bombs in the same way that they would bowl cricket balls. King George V's War Museum at Windsor Castle, was established to display his collection of First World War souvenirs; the King was assisted by the Royal Archivist & Librarian John Fortescue (1859-1933). Many of these objects were loaned to the Imperial War Museum in 1936 at the suggestion of King Edward VIII.
Maggie Marriott's nom de guerre
Maggie Marriott
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