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bomb, boomerang

human history
  • Other Name

    Australian Russell boomerang grenade, WW1

    Captain NRW Thomas, Auckland Infantry Regiment

  • Description

    Australian boomerang bomb, WW1

    Collected by 20940 Captain NRW Thomas, Auckland Infantry Regiment

    metal in form of boomerang with illustrations of emu and kangaroo at either end; with removable triangular plate at angle; an exploding charge is stored in the angle of the boomerang with a fuse extending down one arm; and metal pellets contained in both arms (see diagram on file)

  • Place
    Australia
  • Associated Place

    Australia

  • Accession Number
    1938.167
  • Other Id

    W0894 (war)

  • Department

    History

    War History

bomb, boomerang W0894

Images and documents

Images

  • bomb, boomerang W0894
  • bomb, boomerang W0894
  • bomb, boomerang W0894
  • bomb, boomerang W0894
  • bomb, boomerang W0894

Artefact

  • Credit Line
    Collection of Auckland Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, W0894
  • Primary Maker

     Garrett Victor Russell (Invented by)

     Harvey Sutton (Invented by)

  • Place
    Australia
  • Date
    1915
  • Associated Notes

    The Russell boomerang hand grenade, WW1

    "That'll astonish the Turks" said Colonel Dangar during a demonstration of the boomerang grenade. This bomb in the form of a boomerang was designed so that it could be thrown over a high wall and returned back into the wall, or to be thrown around a corner.

    The inventors, Garrett Victor Russell and Harvey Sutton applied for a patent on 3rd August 1915. However, later trials at the Grenade Training School concluded that the grenade was so "erratic and uncertain in its flight" that it would be of little value for the military.

    Australian Patent Office, application No 17,016/15, Australian Department of Patents, application dated 3/8/1915; accepted 3/6/1916.

    The Argus, Melbourne, 19th and 24th July, 11th, 25th, 26th August, 1915.

    Trove: http://trove.nla.gov.au

  • Associated Event
    WW1; 1914-1918
  • Associated Person

     Captain Norman Thomas (Invented by)

     1NZEF: The Auckland Regiment (Invented by)

  • Associated Place

    Australia

  • Associated Date
    1916
  • Period

    World War 1, 1914-18/Wars

  • Signature/marks

    PAT.AP.No.17016

  • Media

    steel/iron alloy/metal/inorganic material

  • Measurement Description
    250 x 250 x 10mm
  • Measurement Reading

    250mm

    250mm

    10mm

  • Subject Category

    arms technology/wars

  • Classification

    bomb

    ammunition

    arms & armaments

    Bomb

    Ammunition

    Armaments

    05 Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

  • Last Update
    15 May 2023
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