Description
Physical description
Description: brass-bound oak case containing a brief typed history of the adoption of the Pomeroy bullet, a photocopy of details of a meeting to consider the Pomeroy bullet and the following examples, as numbered in the case: 1) a Pomeroy modified .22 cartridge, not sectioned; 2) a Pomeroy modified .22 cartridge, sectioned; 3) the .22 rimfire cartridge case from the experimental Pomeroy explosive round fired at aircraft wings at Ealing range by Major Colley; 4) an unsectioned .303 bullet as modified by Major Colley for the Pomeroy round's trials by the Royal Flying Corps against a gas-filled dummy 'Zeppelinette'; 5) an unprimed .303 case with a sectioned .303 bullet as modified by Major Colley for the Pomeroy round's trials by the Royal Flying Corps against a gas-filled dummy 'Zeppelinette'; 6) an example of the successful 'No. 6 Pattern' Pomeroy bullet made in quantity for the RFC's use; 7) a 'special purpose' Pomeroy bullet (purpose unspecified); 8) a light armour piercing bullet for Royal Naval use; 9) a sectioned Pomeroy bullet for a .450 Express rifle; 10, 11 and 12) modifications to the Pomeroy design made at the Royal Laboratory Woolwich, but not put into production. Accompanied by a framed photograph of Major C.C. Colley.
History note
Description: a unique and important surviving set received from Major Colley's family. Mr Pomeroy had travelled from Australia to offer to the War Office his invention, an explosive bullet for use in air warfare against fabric covered targets such as Zeppelins. No interest was shown in his development until, at a last attempt with his few remaining bullets, he succeeded in obtaining an interview with Major Colley at the Ministry of Munitions. Although Major Colley's responsibilities were for artillery ammunition, he was so impressed by Mr Pomeroy's forceful presentation that he agreed to try the ammunition on a range at Ealing. It clearly functioned effectively, and Major Colley became Pomeroy's champion and himself designed a number of modifications to .303 bullets to accommodate the explosive. His Number 6 design became the production prototype. Considerable use was made of the bullet in combat by the RFC, for which Major Colley was both nearly 'sacked' for distributing unauthorised ammunition and Mentioned in Despatches for valuable work in connection with the war. Pomeroy was eventually awarded £25,000 by the Government, and Mrs Pomeroy was awarded the OBE for her services in filling the bullets with what her husband referred to as his 'dope'. The design went into service in a slightly modified form as the 'PSA', adopted for service in August 1916. Note: Major Colley stated that the set was inert, but two of the .22 rounds may be live.