‘Grenadier’ throwing a ‘grenade’ Whoops! ‘Bomber’ throwing a ‘bomb’, in World War One.
Why were grenades called ‘bombs’ and grenadiers called ‘bombers’ in the British Army of World War One?
When, in 1915, grenades emerged as important trench warfare weapons and grenadier became an important infantry specialisation, the Grenadier Guards reacted with alarm at the threat to their regimental name and lodged an official complaint.
Such was the influence of the premier regiment of Foot Guards that the army authorities directed that these terms be discontinued and replaced by ‘bomb’ and ‘bomber’.
All the instruction manuals had to be reprinted to reflect the directive.