Winston Churchill's Toyshop.

[hedge hopper]

This is the Firs at Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire. Google Winston Churchill's Toyshop to read about this.

 

[Njaco]

This is the Firs at Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire. Google Winston Churchill's Toyshop to read about this.

We're lazy. You couldn't do that for us?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

We're lazy. You couldn't do that for us?

Why Chris? That might bring discussion to a discussion forum...

 

[Njaco]

I ask because my 'G' button is broke on my keyboard - can't *oo*le!

 

[RabidAlien]

Slackers.

From Wiki (cuz I'm too lazy to look for a more credible source):

History

MD1 began in the "Military Intelligence Research" (MIR). The MIR was a department of the War Office set up in 1939 under Lt-Col Joe Holland RE. Holland was the General Staff Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) and brought in Jefferis, also a sapper (RE), an explosives expert, with experience in India, as GSO2 to head MIR(c) a division of MIR that was to develop weapons for irregular warfare. Needing special magnets, Jefferis brought in Macrae initially as an outside contractor but later to be brought into uniform and serve as his deputy. Between them they produced the limpet mine, a timed explosive that could be stuck to the underside of a ship.

MIR(c) started in a room at the War Office, Macrae secured offices and workshop space at IBC, owners of Radio Normandie, in London. Following an air raid, a large country house "The Firs", (fortunately the second home of a patriotic Major) was requisitioned and the design and workshops relocated there, in Whitchurch near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire close to the Prime Minister at Chequers. There they developed and to some extent produced munitions.

During the phoney war, MIR(c) was engaged in developing the floating mine required for Churchill's planned Operation Royal Marine which aimed to disrupt German shipping in their inland waterways by dropping these mines into the river at Strasbourg.

Churchill lobbied for recognition of Jefferis, suggesting promotion.

When MIR was combined with other activities to form the Special Operations Executive, MIR(C) instead in November 1940 became a department in the Ministry of Defence; effectively under the wing the Prime Minister, Churchill who was the Minister of Defence. As First Lord of the Treasury as well, Churchill could provide funds. Churchill, Professor Lindemann and General Ismay (Churchill's chief scientific and military advisors respectively) would protect MD1 from the Ministry of Supply and the Ordnance Board whose areas they encroached on. The Ministry of Supply carried out the administration but the War Cabinet was in control. Jefferis was promoted to Lt-Col and Macrae to Major.

Other staff at MD1 included Stewart Blacker who was brought in after his privately invented Blacker Bombard was taken on for official development.

With the end of the war and the removal of Churchill from office, MD1 was taken over by the Ministry of Supply and the Weapons research establishment at Fort Haldane with the result that it was disbanded. Macrae felt this was an act of revenge by those who had opposed it and the Professor. Production machinery went to the Rocket Propulsion Establishment at Westcott effectively for scrapping. Jefferis received an appointment to the Pakistan Army.
Inventions

Sticky bomb
PIAT
Limpet mine
Puff Ball
W bomb
Clam - miniature version of Limpet mine
Squawker acoustic decoy - developed by Lt-Col Brinsmead
Time pencil
Lead Delay - or "Switch No. 9"
M Mine
Kangaroo bomb
"AP Switch" an anti-personnel weapon based on a .303 inch rifle cartridge and a pressure sensitive trigger.

"Bomb, H.E., Aircraft, J.W., 400lb", the "Johnnie Walker" bomb. Upon entering the water the bomb was expected to dive underwater then surface. This would be repeated until it struck the relatively less protected underside of a ship at which point the 90 lb Torpex warhead would explode.

 

[Njaco]

I thought Capt. Tom Hanks invented the Sticky Bomb?