The Story Of Children And A Bomb In Subiaco (1939).
There are some wonderful stories about children and their adventures in the early years of Subiaco in Western Australian newspapers.
This is the story of children playing with a bomb they found in the backyard off a house in Townshend Road, Subiaco which could have had dangerous consequences. The story was picked up by many newspapers around Australia.
The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1950), Wednesday 2 August 1939, page 22
Believed to be still alive, a wartime Mills bomb was discovered being used as a plaything by children at a Subiaco home yesterday. When an ex-soldier plumber saw the bomb, he notified the police, and the bomb was eventually handed to the military authorities. Careful examination today, however, revealed that the bomb had 'had its teeth drawn' and was quite harmless.
Military experts who examined it found that it contained no explosives. The base had been screwed out and the detonator cap, and fuse removed, apparently before the souvenir was brought b,ack to Australia from the Great War. It was learned also that the bomb had been taken to pieces by a civilian several years ago, found empty and assembled again. Yesterday the bomb was found in the garden of a home in Townshendroad, Subiaco.
Children had played with it at various times over a period of years. Believing that the bomb was live because the safety-pin was still in it, officials were amazed that no one had been hurt. The bomb, which had been used repeatedly by children as a toy, was on the property of Mrs. J. Armstrong, widow of a returned soldier who died 12. years ago.
It was found yesterday by a Mr. Hollyoak. a returned soldier plumber who had called at the house. Believing it to be alive, he buried it and reported the matter as a safety precaution to the Subiaco police. Two constables visited the house and took possession of the bomb. Later it was taken to Military Headquarters. The bomb was old and coated with rust and the safety-pin had been corroded to its head with rust.
Kalgoorlie Miner, 2 August 1939.
MILLS BOMB FOR TOY
CHANCE DISCOVERY IN SUBIACO CHILDREN HANDLED IT FOR YEARS.
A chance discovery at a house in Subiaco today disclosed the astonishing story of how children had played for several years with a live Mills bomb, without knowing the death dealing power of their 'toy.'
Called to effect repairs to a house in Townshend road, a plumber named Hollyoak, who is a returned soldier, saw the bomb lying in the garden. After burying it, he reported the matter, as a safety precaution, to the Subiaco police and Constables Reynolds and Calvin went to the house, where they took possession, of the bomb as the ring was in position on the top of the bomb, Mr. Hollyoak said he was convinced it was a live bomb.
A Mrs. Armstrong, who occupied the premises, explained that her husband, who had been a member of the A.I.F., died about 12 years ago. She did not know that the bomb was a live one and the children had played with it at various times over a period of several years. In response to a telephone message from Sergeant Gorst to the military station authorities, Corporal S. Middleton, of the A.A.S.C., called at the police station, and confirmed the belief that the bomb was a live one.
