Aniseed Balls

In 1939, the war office wanted to build a limpet mine that you could stick to the hull of the ship and it detonates later. But what they needed was something to keep apart the hammer and the detonator - so aniseed balls were invented. They dissolved in about half an hour and water... but you didn't have to suck the grenade. Brilliant. James always manages to find a fact to calm you down.