MikeyH Posted 23 April , 2018 Share Posted 23 April , 2018 This rather murky photo was reproduced in the Christmas 1961 issue of the 'Northampton Independent Magazine'. It shows what is captioned as a Mark 1 tank on the Market Square in Northampton in Spring 1918. The occasion was a War Savings Day display, this resulted in the collection of £1642.00. It also states that a similar tank, was subsequently presented to the Borough and positioned in the shrubbery mound in Abingdon Park. Protests against a 'weapon of war' in 'this haven of peace', led to its sale and break up for scrap. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShtLE303 Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 Sold for scrap....how ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyH Posted 27 April , 2018 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2018 5 hours ago, ShtLE303 said: Sold for scrap....how ridiculous. This fate befell virtually all of the tanks presented to various towns and boroughs (around 265) throughout the U.K. The only one that survives, in Ashford, Kent was used as an electricity sub station, this ensuring it's existence today as a war memorial. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanks3 Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 Mike The photo in your opening post must have been "touched up". Tank 119 "Old Bill" did visit Northampton between the 25/2/1918 - 2/3/1918 but it was never known as "Ole Bill" and never had this name painted on it. Also there are 2 surviving presentation tanks. Along with Ashford, the tank in the Lincolnshire Life Museum was the former Gloucester presentation tank. Tanks3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeyH Posted 27 April , 2018 Author Share Posted 27 April , 2018 1 hour ago, tanks3 said: Mike The photo in your opening post must have been "touched up". Tank 119 "Old Bill" did visit Northampton between the 25/2/1918 - 2/3/1918 but it was never known as "Ole Bill" and never had this name painted on it. Also there are 2 surviving presentation tanks. Along with Ashford, the tank in the Lincolnshire Life Museum was the former Gloucester presentation tank. Tanks3 I should have said in the original location. Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 (edited) "and positioned in the shrubbery mound in Abingdon Park."not so,the mound in Abington park comes from the time the welligbro road widend,the tank displayed along with cannon close to where the café is now Protests against a 'weapon of war' in 'this haven of peace', led to its sale and break up for scrap. It's a Mark IV, and although most presentation tanks were Female that this one is a Male doesn't make it terribly unusual. It's a Foster's built tank, serial 2325 which means it was G22 "Grasshopper" of 6 Section 20 Company G Battalion, first noted at St Julien on 12 August 1917 and later on 22 August handed over to D Battalion after that Battalion had four tanks put out of action shortly before they were due to attack from Belle Vue Farm. In that action it was lost after problems with its starboard track. The tank was presented to Northampton in April 1920 and was eventually scrapped in February 1935, though a vote to scrap it was lost at the local Council in March 1928. The meaning of the number D2 in the circle on the glacis plate isn't known. tank was used by a Tank Corps School in France, all the Mark IV Males you're ever likely to see are fitted with Lewis guns, this one has a mount for a Hotchkiss in the front of the cab. copy of a letter sent to me a while ago Edited 27 April , 2018 by BIFFO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIFFO Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 Barnsley had it's own tank, presented at the Peace Day celebrations, 19th July, 1919. Sadly this, too, ended up as scrap. http://www.warfaremagazine.co.uk/articles/Barnsleys-Tank/232 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidearm Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 10 hours ago, tanks3 said: Mike The photo in your opening post must have been "touched up". Tank 119 "Old Bill" did visit Northampton between the 25/2/1918 - 2/3/1918 but it was never known as "Ole Bill" and never had this name painted on it. Also there are 2 surviving presentation tanks. Along with Ashford, the tank in the Lincolnshire Life Museum was the former Gloucester presentation tank. Tanks3 I'm afraid I'm going to disagree. This tank was known as "Ole Bill", not "Old Bill". It was the name used by the Nottingham music hall entertainer Billy Merson. He spoke to the crowd from the tank when it was at Birmingham, and from that time on the tank was known as "Ole Bill". (Source: Nottingham Evening Post, 23 January 1918, page 1). Like you though, I have never seen a photo of the tank with the name painted on, but I don't think its been touched up. I think this is a new discovery. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidearm Posted 27 April , 2018 Share Posted 27 April , 2018 I have just noticed that in the week between Ole Bill's appearance at Coventry, when it wasn't marked, and it's appearance at Northampton, when it seems it was, the tank underwent a week of maintenance. A perfect opportunity for someone with a paintbrush to add the name. Maybe it was to match Julian, which already carried its name in this style and position. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanks3 Posted 28 April , 2018 Share Posted 28 April , 2018 Gwyn Thank you for correcting me. I didn't know this at all. It's all new to me Tanks3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidearm Posted 4 May , 2018 Share Posted 4 May , 2018 Fear not, I keep learning new things. Gwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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