A press report in 1944 gave credit for both the PIAT and the Blacker Bombard to Jefferis. Blacker took exception to this and suggested to Jefferis that they should divide any award equally after his expenses had been deducted.[17] The Ministry of Supply had already paid Blacker £50,000 for his expenses in relation to the Bombard and PIAT.[18] Churchill himself got involved in the argument; writing to the Secretary of State for war in January 1943 he asked "Why should the name Jefferis shoulder gun be changed to PIAT? Nobody objected to the Boys rifle, although that had a rather odd ring." [18] Churchill supported Jefferis claims, but he did not get his way.[18] For his part Blacker received £25,000 (equivalent to £1,087,000 in 2020).[19] from the Inventions Board.[1]