William Mills

Sir William Mills (24 April 1856 – 7 January 1932) was an English engineer. He invented the Mills bomb, which was developed and manufactured at his factory in Birmingham, England. The Mills bomb was the hand grenade most widely used by British and Imperial forces during the First World War. He was knighted in 1922. A blue heritage plaque and Mills Bomb artwork commemorating Sir William Mills' achievements are placed on The Times Inn public house in Wear Street, Low Southwick, Sunderland, SR5 2BH. He was born here in 1856. During and after the First World War, he resided in East Boldon on Front Street. Notable places near this area include: East Boldon Cenotaph, East Boldon Methodist Church, The Black Bull Public House and Brewery