Fuse, bomb fuse

This standard impact fuse was attached to a 50kg bomb that fell near the South West Tower of St Paul's Cathedral on 15 September 1940. The bomb did not explode and was successfully defused by Lieutenant Robert Davies, a Canadian soldier. He was later awarded the George Cross for his bravery. Three days later the bomb was taken to Hackney Marshes. On the side of the turned aluminium detonator is a commemorative inscription that reads 'Robert Davies, GC, Lieut R.E. St Paul's 15.9.40'. On the top of the fuse is inscribed the reference code 'ELAZC50 15 [encircled] Rh.s.1939 14e'. This code identifies the object as a standard electric impact fuse for a 50 kg bomb manufactured at the Rheinmetall Sommerda factory in 1939. The 14e being a batch number, that is the 14th bactch of 10,000 fuses.