A grenade is a hollow ball, cylinder, or cube, made of metal or other material, which is filled with some explosive, and burst by means of a fuse, or on impact when it falls among an enemy. Until about the end of the seventeenth century trained soldiers called Grenadiers used grenades which were thrown by hand, but after that date they fell into disuse. In 1899—1900 at the siege of Mafeking they are said to have been used by the besieged, and also in the Russo-Japanese war. In the year 1914, however, the beginning of the great war produced new methods in the employment of infantry in the attack or defense of positions. It was proved that under many conditions infantry armed only with a rifle and bayonet found it impossible to press home an attack or hold a position against troops armed with grenades. This weapon, handy to use and immensely destructive and demoralizing in its employment, has played a most important part in every successful operation carried out by British troops on the Western front. It has become one of the principal weapons not only in trench warfare, but in the attack and clearing of enemy positions, strong points, villages, and especially in house-to-house and cellar fighting. NOTE. 1. In throwing all hand grenades an overarm action will be used, like a bowler when playing cricket. 2. Attached to all stick hand grenades are tapes or streamers a couple of feet long to enable them to fly head first, when thrown. BRITISH GRENADES There are two kinds of grenades: No. 1. Time grenades. No. 2. Percussion grenades. No. 1 rely for ignition upon: (_a_) Some form of fuse lighter. (_b_) A length of time or safety fuse. (_c_) A detonator or exploder. No. 2 on: (_a_) Some form of percussion striking device. (_b_) A percussion cap. (_c_) A detonator. For throwing purposes grenades as follows: 1. Hand grenades. 2. Stick hand grenades. 3. Rifle grenades, fitted with firing rods 8 to 10 in. long. GRENADE HAND NO. 1 or General Service =Type.= Percussion stick grenade. =Weight.= Two lb. complete. =Explosive.= Lyddite. =Safety Device.= 1. Safety pin. Leather thong through eye of pin. 2. Cord becket. 3. Red indicator and words of directions on removable cap. [Illustration: GRENADE HAND NO. 1, MARK I.] =Body.= Brass cylinder. =Striker.= Steel needle carried in removable cap. =Detonator.= Special detonator (see page 57.) =To prepare for use=: 1. Turn word “remove” on cap to red indicator. 2. Take off removable cap. 3. Insert detonator. Turn to left to secure. 4. Replace cap and turn to “travel.” =To fire=: 1. Turn cap to “fire.” 2. Pull out leather thong from safety pin. Remove cord becket. 3. Gather streamers palm right hand, holding grenade in left hand. 4. Holding grenade right hand, pull out safety pin with left hand. 5. Throw grenade.