delta Posted 26 September Author Share Posted 26 September (edited) There is no record as to when the tank crewmen were first issued steel helmets, The need for them for them was exposed during the first tank actions on 15 Sep and again on 25 Sep, Cpl Charlie ironmonger, whose tank was ditched northwest of Martinpuich that day, looked for a helmet amongst the British casualties "only to find someone's head in it." Below, Ironmonger's tank on 15 Sep - some crewmen wearing the leather "anti bump" helmets as well as their pistols. Those wearing steel helmets in this image would be infantrymen. Edited 26 September by delta Confirmation that the original crewmen's helmets were made of leather Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitz_merc Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September Anti bump helmets! That tells us so much of the experience of being inside these early tanks. Can you recommend a book or article that recounts experiences of being a tanker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 26 September Author Share Posted 26 September I don't know of any published books by a tank officer or crewman who fought in 1916 although a number did record their experiences later. which I have used in my recent book https://www.helion.co.uk/military-history-books/the-tank-corps-in-the-great-war-volume-1-conception-birth-and-baptism-of-fire-november-1914-november-1916.php A number of company and section commanders wrote of their experiences in 1917 and 1918. I suggest you look at three for the actions of 1917 which remarkably were all written by men of the same unit: A Company of Tanks by WHS Watson - he commanded No 11 Coy of D Bn in 1917 and was Swears' OC at Bullecourt - it has recently been republished as "With the tanks 1916-1918" Life in a tank by Richard Haigh who was Watson's second in command. This book was written for the American audience in mind - Haigh having been selected to take a tank to the USA for propaganda purposes Men and Tanks by JC Macintosh - this has been republished with Haigh's book as a paperback For 1917 and 1918, look at Rolllng into action - memoires of a Tank Corps section commander by DE [Daniel} Hickey who was a skipper at Cambrai Tank Warfare: The Story of the Tanks in the Great War by Frank Mitchell who commanded a British male tank in the first Tank versus Tank action in April 1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September 2 hours ago, delta said: some crewmen wearing the leather "anti bump" helmets as well as their pistols Couple of screen captures from Reel 2 - the part with the officer and his lucky cat! At 11.07. And 11.04 - crewmen left sorting out his belt. Both images courtesy the Imperial War Museum. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September (edited) 3 hours ago, PRC said: Couple of screen captures from Reel 2 - the part with the officer and his lucky cat! At 11.07. And 11.04 - crewmen left sorting out his belt. Both images courtesy the Imperial War Museum. Cheers, Peter The officer appears to have the bronzed cap badge of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Edited 26 September by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September (edited) 2 hours ago, delta said: There is no record as to when the tank crewmen were first issued steel helmets, The need for them for them was exposed during the first tank actions on 15 Sep and again on 25 Sep, Cpl Charlie ironmonger, whose tank was ditched northwest of Martinpuich that day, looked for a helmet amongst the British casualties "only to find someone's head in it." Below, Ironmonger's tank on 15 Sep - some crewmen wearing the leather "anti bump" helmets as well as their pistols. Those wearing steel helmets in this image would be infantrymen. You get a real sense that the men are sheltering beside the tank while the advance is still underway given their crouching demeanour. The infantrymen have bayonets fixed, and the one on the left appears to have a wire cutter fitted to his muzzle and a shovel secured behind his back. One fellow in the foreground with just a cap on seems to be viewing the photographer, presumably taking his shot from a shell hole, with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. An officer in cap has his back to the tank and looks to be sitting. I presume the flag stuck in the ground alongside is signifying breakdown. Edited 26 September by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitz_merc Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September Thank you Peter and Stephen. going to make tanks a theme of the forthcoming trip as 2 relatives of students were Tankers. Hugh Swears and Harry Mansfield. From early tanks to Mark V’s. Have booked a visit at Pond Farm near Ypres so the students can get close to a tank- even though it’s a copy. The theme is only possible because of the great help of the group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 26 September Author Share Posted 26 September (edited) 11 hours ago, FROGSMILE said: The officer appears to have the bronzed cap badge of the Northumberland Fusiliers. Harry Drader was indeed commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers. Born in Canada, but brought up in England, he was commissioned into the NF on 5 Aug 1915 and served in France for ten weeks. he joined the Heavy Section MGC on 27 May 1916 and commanded the Male tank Daphne on 15 Sep. Exactly when the film was taken is unknown. Harry served with the Tanks for the remainder of the war, commanding a company in10th Bn from 4 Apr 1918. The corporal wearing the leather helmet was Owen William Frank Rowe from Chagford in Devon. He was seriously wounded at Cambrai and his foot was amputated; as a result he was discharged from the Army. He settled at Bovington where he worked with another former member of D Coy as a fitter and driver. Sadly he died of tuberculosis in 1923. The kitten's name was Percy - he survived the war and lived with Harry' s family. Edited 26 September by delta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September 4 minutes ago, delta said: Harry Drader was indeed commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers. Born in Canada, but brought up in England, he was commissioned into the NF on 5 Aug 1915 and served in France for ten weeks. he joined the Heavy Section MGC on 27 May 1916 and commanded the Male tank Daphne on 15 Sep. Exactly when the film was taken is unknown. Harry served with the Tanks for the remainder of the war, commanding a company in10th Bn from 4 Apr 1918. The corporal wearing the leather helmet was Own William Rowe Frank Rowe from Chagford in Devon. He was seriously wounded at Cambrai and his foot was amputated; as a result he was discharged from the Army. He settled at Bovington where he worked with another former member of D Coy as a fitter and driver. Sadly he died of tuberculosis in 1923. The kitten's name was Percy - he survived the war and lived with Harry' s family. Thank you delta, it’s very interesting to learn of their fates and it really brings that screenshot alive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitz_merc Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September Percy could have told a tale or two! Incredible knowledge and mastery of detail on display here. I am learning much which I will share with the students. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 26 September Author Share Posted 26 September (edited) Percy appears in a letter written by Harry Drader on 16 Nov 1916 - he and his crew had been in action two days earlier which resulted in a German strong point being captured and, it was later discovered, 300 Germans being taken prisoner. The letter was written to Gnr Walter Atkins who had been wounded on 15 Sep and was now in hospital in the UK; Atkins recovered but died three months later during an appendectomy. The Drader family believe that Percy went into action with Harry on this and all subsequent occasions although I have my doubts, The cat went to England at some stage and lived with the family but no one knows for how long. Edited 26 September by delta Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September (edited) 18 minutes ago, delta said: The Drader family believe that Percy went into action with Harry on this subsequent occasions although I have my doubts. Presumably secured in a pigeon basket! Edited 26 September by FROGSMILE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 26 September Author Share Posted 26 September Quite possibly..... Below, Percy with Harry's sister Alice (date unknown) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitz_merc Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September All I need now is a photograph of the mascot Hugh Swears had for his tank then I'm finished! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRC Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September It probably doesn't add anything but here are some cropped screenshots from the part of Reel 5 that features Hugh Swears. Original images courtesy The Imperial War Museum. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitz_merc Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September Well I appreciate your skill and it confirms that Hugh was a pipe smoker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitz_merc Posted 26 September Share Posted 26 September The family have sent me this photo. Death Penny and medals for High Spears..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 27 September Author Share Posted 27 September Thank you for sharing the image with us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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