BBC News - Live grenade prop used in Dad's Army play A theatre group staging a production of Dad's Army narrowly avoided the production going with a bang after using live grenades as props. The grenades had been found in a garage owned by a cast member's father-in-law during a clear-out after his death. The grenades were being used in a rehearsal when a Magor Players' cast member realised they could be live. Police were called and carried out a controlled explosion. The play was an adaptation of the popular TV comedy Dad's Army which was screened from 1968 to 1977. Keith Poultney, who was taking the role of Corporal Jones - catchphrase "Don't Panic" - followed his character's advice and remained calm even as he realised the bomb in his hand was live. Corporal Jones' catchphrase was 'Don't Panic' The grenades had been mounted on a display plate and it was only once they were removed it became apparent they still had the pins in. He told BBC Radio Wales: "It was during rehearsals fortunately. It would have been a bit unfortunate in a crowd of 100 people. "It was in a rehearsal just prior to doing a live show. "I held them several times and handed them around to friends. We'd driven down from Droitwich in Worcestershire with them rattling around in the back of the car." Once Mr Poultney realised the potential danger, he put them in a field outside his house and contacted the emergency services. "The police just said 'keep well clear and we'll get the bomb squad down'," he said. The police blew the grenade partially apart to make it safe but much to Mr Poultney's disappointment the group were not allowed to have them back as the World War I devices are crown property. "It was a bit unfortunate because they just blew part of the hand grenade away to examine them, so when you had your hand on them, they looked like complete grenades, so I though we could still use them as props," he explaned. In the end, they had to carve a replica out of wood. Mr Poultney said of the two-night play run: "It was all done in good fun. "I don't think anyone could be as good as the original one was but I think we paid a fair tribute to them."
the group were not allowed to have them back as the World War I devices are crown property. That's an interesting snippet... anyone know whether or not this bit is actually true? Dave (plus, since when did just 'having the pin in' make a grenade 'live'?)
I was always told that it is illegal to sell Army kit as it belongs to the Crown and may have to prove that any kit I owned (Not Issued) I had actually purchased. Incidently the MOD now have a team watching Ebay for Army Issue kit that hasn't been sold as surplus by the Crown. A popular item that could be found on Ebay after I came back from Iraq in 2003 was PRR Radios I see they are still being sold for half the 2003 price: BRITISH ARMY BOWMAN PERSONAL RADIO PRR H4855 on eBay (end time 09-Jun-10 16:54:02 BST)
You may recall that some years ago the Director of War Studies at Sandhurst was killed in his study by a WWII hand grenade which he had brought back from a trip to North Africa.
It is not easy to tell if a Mills type hand grenade has been rendered safe as I once found out. A Mills Grenade with pin attached was found in a garden shed after a WW2 veteran passed away and the family were clearing out the house. Several houses were evacuated until the bomb squad arrived and examined it. It was declared safe and inert by the Army Team. Always better safe than sorry. Regards Tom
my brother-in-law has his willys jeep, and all its accessories in a lock up garage just over from his house. The council came to renew all the garage doors, but Pete didn't receive a letter. Knock on the door - police and bomb squad had been called because of all the ammo crates etc
