the development of this tactic. Macrae confirmed that placing the bomb rather than throwing it gives better adhesion and allows thicker plates to be penetrated. By July 1941, 215,000 sticky bombs had been produced. Of these, nearly 90,000 had been sent abroad to North and South Africa, the Middle East and to Greece where they did useful service. The remainder were stored at Ordnance Depots or distributed to army and Home Guard units. The grenade was first issued in 1940 to Home Guard units, who appeared to have taken a liking to it despite its flaws. Although the Ordnance Board had not approved the grenade to be used by regular army units, a quantity were provided for training purposes. However, a number of sticky bombs did find their way to British and Commonwealth units participating in the campaign in North Africa, and were used as anti-tank weapons. During the Afrika Korps advance towards the town of Thala in February 1943, they accounted for six German tanks. They were also issued to units of the Australian Army, who used them during the Battle of Wau and the Battle of Milne Bay. They were used by various allied units on the Anzio Beachhead, namely the First Special Service Force, who obtained them from the British. A large number were also supplied to the French Resistance. Recognition In 1947, the Royal Commission on Awards to Inventors considered claims from Macrae and from the managing director of Kay Brothers. Macrae's legal representative was Edward Terrell – himself a wartime inventor. At the time the crown opposed granting an award; when Macrae was asked what elements of the sticky bomb he claimed to have invented, he replied "I am claiming no invention; I merely claim the development of the bomb, which was my job." However, in 1951, the commission recommended that Macrae should receive an ex-gratia payment of £500 () and Norwood received £250 () for his contribution. Users Users of the grenade included: See also British anti-invasion preparations of World War II No. 73 grenade No. 76 special incendiary grenade Blacker Bombard Smith Gun Northover Projector PIAT Notes References Bibliography External links Home Guard site The Home Guard Pocket Manual, by Capt. A. Southworth, M.B.E., pp 47–48: description of the sticky bomb, use and diagram. Imperial War Museum Collection Search: sticky bomb (search results) H 30178 (photograph): Home Guardsmen training with the sticky bomb