On the 15th September 1916, as The Battle for the Somme raged, a new secret weapon made its debut against the Germans - the age of the tank had begun.
90 years on, The Tank Museum will be marking this anniversary with a series of special events. |
On Friday 15th of September, a special exhibition on the first use of the tank will open in The Tank Museum’s Trench Experience. The Trench depicts the atrocious conditions by soldiers on the front line, as well as the moment the first tanks crashed over the German Trenches.
Interpretation Officer Martin Wright said; “This anniversary is an important one, because it marks the first time that this British invention, the tank, is used in war. From that moment, warfare changes dramatically.
“Whilst the attack itself is not vastly successful from a military perspective, it remains a highly dramatic and symbolic event. The tank was one of the most significant technological development of the First World War.
“Tanks were top secret, so you had newspapers speculating wildly about what they looked like and how they worked. They had enormous propaganda value as a `war winning weapon`, and there was even a dance called `The Tanko` created in its honour. These curiosities, as well as the stories of those who took part in the action, both British and German, will all be looked at in the exhibition.”
On the 16th and 17th September, the Museum is hosting a family weekend, with a variety of special World War One tank related activities for children to enjoy, including an opportunity to design and build a World War One tank, and climb inside one
History buffs will enjoy the special 90th anniversary evening lecture titled; “The Battle of Flers and the First use of the Tank.” Former soldier Trevor Pidgeon, who is a world expert on this historic moment, will draw on the history he collated for his book “The Tanks at Flers” to mark the occasion.
The family activities will continue over The October Half Term, with a Tanks In Action display on Thursday 26th of October. The Dorset Royal British Legion will also be launching the 2006 Poppy Appeal at The Museum on Friday 27th.
Martin added; “Museums across the world will be marking this important anniversary, but we are the only Museum to have an original Mark I tank from this period. Bovington is the home of the tank, and we are lucky to have such an internationally important collection here in Dorset.”
For more information, call The Tank Museum on 01929 405096.
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Mk IV (female) Tank
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Notes to editors:
Background
The tank was developed to end the costly stalemate of static trench warfare. Barbed wire criss-crossed a `no mans land` that was constantly raked with machine gun fire, making it all but impossible to cross without sustaining heavy casualties.
Against this backdrop, the British began work on a machine that could attack and penetrate the enemy lines, whilst protecting the crew from a hail of bullets. The goal was to return mobility to the battlefield, and bring the war to a satisfactory conclusion much sooner. Much of this early work of testing and training was conducted at Bovington.
Conditions for these early tank crews were appalling. Each tank had a crew of 8 men, compressed into a compact metal shell beside an engine that generated unbearable heat. The noise of the engine; together with the thunder of the tracks, weapons and enemy fire striking the armour, made speech impossible and permanently damaged the hearing of many. Without suspension, the crew were thrown about inside, unable to see the lay of the terrain ahead of them.
The atmosphere inside was a choking combination of exhaust fumes, hot oil and petrol, as well as expended cordite from the guns.
The combined effect this had on the men could be very serious. Oxygen starvation reduced some to the level of zombies, and near madness in others. Yet they were prepared to put up with it, as they were confident they had a war winning weapon. So at dawn on 15th September 1916, near the village of Flers, the pioneers of tank warfare set off at a painfully slow 3mph. With infantry marching behind, they terrified the German defenders who took heavy fire from the tanks as they lumbered closer.
It is this scene that is depicted in The Tank Museum’s Trench Experience. The exhibition, which has recently been completely refurbished, takes visitors on a journey that begins in the recruitment hall, on to the hell of the British trenches, and then into German trenches. Here you can see the world’s only remaining Mark I tank crashing toward the German lines, as soldiers flee in terror. |
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