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Egbert the WW1 Tank


leon21

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On 26th Nov 1917 "Egbert" one of the tanks that had taken part in the Battle of Cambrai, the first large scale

use of tanks in the battle, was shipped back from France and put on display in Trafalgar Square London.

So successful was this fund-raising event, that a further five tanks were allocated to tour the major towns

and cities to raise money from the sale of bonds and certificates.

To foster a spirit of competitiveness it was decided that whichever town or city raised the most money,would

win one of the tanks "Egbert".

West Hartlepool won the competition by raising some £2,367,333 and in June 1919 "Egbert" was presented to

the town, "Egbert" put on a show before going on permanent display at Stanton Bull Garth, finally going for

scrap in 1937.

Below are some photo's of "Egbert" the tank.

 

1st Photo of Tank No 141 "Egbert" outside the Kings Arms Pub in Yorkshire Street Oldham in Feb 1918, after

three days £682,957 had been raised. ( Photo from Oldham Archives (.

2nd Photo of Tank No 130 "Nelson" at West Hartlepool helped to raise £2,367,333 During tank week. ( Photo

West Hartlepool Archives ).

3rd Photo a postcard Presenting "Egbert" to West Hartlepool in June 1919.

4th Photo of "Egbert" being put through his paces outside Forbes Bakery before going on permanent display

at Stanton Bull Garth, finally going for scrap in 1937.

img821.jpg

boy-scouts-alongside-nelson-the-tank_large[1].jpg

presentation-of-egbert-to-the-town_large[1].jpg

egbert's-last-leap_large[1].jpg

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 Cracking pictures Leon, it's such a shame these beautiful tanks where destroyed  , are there any  of this model  of tank remaining to this day ?

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There is at least one in the Imperial War Museum in Lambeth, London. There are, as far as I know, a few more around somewhere.

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Yes here is a list of surviving tanks.

Mark I....One at Bovington Tank Museum.

Mark II..One at Bovington Tank Museum.

Mark III. No surviving tanks.

Mark IV.. Severn  there are three in the UK at Lincoln, Ashford and at Bovington  Museums, one in Brussels,

one in Canberra and one in the USA.

The last one is a veteran of the Battle of Canbrai,  Tank "Deborah" at Flesquieres France.

Mark V...Possibly nine, five in the Ukraine, two in Russia, two in the UK at Imperial war Museum and Bovington

Tank Museum.

Mark V*..one in the USA.

Below are photo's of the one at Lincoln Museum which I visited some years ago, for 30 years it was always believed

to be the Tank Flirt II but new evidence is that it is in fact Tank D42 serial No 2743 possibly known as "Daphne"

which saw service in France with 12th Company, D, Battalion of the Tank Corps in August 1917.

From 1919 - 1940 it was a presentation Tank at Gloucester,

from 1940 - 1970 it was at Bovington Tank Museum,

from 1970 - Present Day at Lincoln Museum.

74458_Museum-of-Lincolnshire-Life-Mark-IV-tank-WW1-3[1].jpg

74459_Museum-of-Lincolnshire-Life-Mark-IV-tank-WW1-4[1].jpg

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Here is one of the British Mark V's from the Archangel Campaign in Russia. They were part of the Allied forces  to fight with the White Russians against the Bolsheviks from 1918 to 1920.  Britain supplied equipment to the White Russian North Western Army including the six  tanks together with their volunteer crews, who were the only British troops to fight alongside the North Western Army. British tank crews pushed to within 12 miles of downtown Petrograd in the Autumn of 1919. All six tanks survived the battle, despite having developed some mechanical problems. This one is still in Arkhangelsk Russia today.

1280px-Mark_in_Arkhangelsk_RU.JPG

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Thanks Leon & kenny, its good to know not all where scrapped,  also ironic that they survived  all these years & some plooky  little oink found it fit to vandalism with spraypaint.

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Here's two more photo's,

1st of a Mark II ( Male ) Tank No C-47 called Lusitania at Arras April 1917, he broke down with

magneto failure and was left on the battlefield, the following day was destroyed by British gun fire.

2nd of a Mark IV ( Female ) Tank serial No 2815 called Escapade broke down and was captured by

German soldiers near Cambrai, sadly did not survive the war.

WWI-18[1].jpg

WWI-23[1].jpg

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Here is a further tank, which I assume is near the Miltary Cemetery in Cambrai, as it is on the page of Chemins de Mémoire under Cambrai.

http://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/de/cambrai-0

 

Tank.jpg

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