Guest Pete Wood Posted 22 October , 2002 Share Posted 22 October , 2002 Does anyone know if there is a definitive list of 'adopted' names that were put on Tanks - eg Sir Archibald Murray - ? I've asked the Tank Museum at Bovington, but (so far) drew a blank. Any suggestions, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 23 October , 2002 Share Posted 23 October , 2002 Aftre the formation of the Tank Corps, the active units were battalions. These began at 1 for 1st Bn, but A was also used to signify 1st Bn as well. Normally, in that battalion the letter associated was used as a starting point for names; i.e. all the tanks in 1st (A) Bn began with the letter A - and this was followed by most of the other battalions of the Tank Corps. There is a list of some of the ones used at Cambrai in 'Following The Tanks' by Jean-Luc Gibot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Brown Posted 23 October , 2002 Share Posted 23 October , 2002 Thanks Paul regarding the prefix letter for battalion that helps me. The 6th Btn history lists some names eg:- F1 - Firespite II : F31 Fearnought : F21 Five Knights : F28 Formidable : etc Stuart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn_Hammond Posted 23 October , 2002 Share Posted 23 October , 2002 As Paul Reed says, after the formation of the Tank Corps, most tank names follow the pattern of having the same initial letter as the Tank battalion letter. Names come from a variety of sources. (There's some particular fun with tank names when 15th Battalion co-operate with the Australians in August 1918). However, before the Corps was constituted, it's considerably more messy and you will get tanks named after stage shows in London, personalities, alcoholic drinks, etc. There are dreadful puns and cryptic references. Trevor Pigeon's 'The Tanks at Flers' has some of the names of tanks in that action (Creme de Menthe, etc.) but there's a lot of variety - Her Majesty's Landship Lusitania at Railway Triangle, Arras, for example. As you can see in Juc-Luc Gibot & Philippe Gorczynski's 'Following the Tanks' crews also used the same name for more than one tank (hence 'Egbert II', etc.) Most (but not all) after-action reports on tank operations use the tank crew number to identify the tank ('E1', 'C41'). Sometimes the Tank number is used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesmessenger Posted 25 October , 2002 Share Posted 25 October , 2002 Teapots I am very surprised that the Tank Museum has not been able to give you any leads. If you have not done so already, the chap to speak to is David Fletcher, the Librarian. Charles M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 25 October , 2002 Share Posted 25 October , 2002 "I am very surprised that the Tank Museum has not been able to give you any leads. If you have not done so already, the chap to speak to is David Fletcher, the Librarian." Charles To be fair, I didn't say that the Tank Museum hasn't given me any leads. I was told about the two excellent books (which I have since ordered). But the museum has been unable, so far, to come up with a list of all the adopted names - or to tell me of anyone who has such a list, even if one exists. My understanding, from a very helpful lady (I'm sorry I don't know her name) at the museum, is that I will probably have to visit the museum and go through all the records; in other words, such a list of names does not exist. This lady did say that she would attempt to clarify the situation on receipt of an email. I sent this email just one week ago, so if the museum finds that such a list does exist, rest assured I will notify the forum. I think the Tank Museum does a great job and I wouldn't want anyone to think that they haven't given me good advice/leads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham-McAdam Posted 30 October , 2002 Share Posted 30 October , 2002 As Paul Reed suggests, Gibot / Gorczynski carries the most complete list of tank names at Cambrai. If you find any that are missing from that list, do let me know - there should be a second edition heading for the printers next year. My favourites are Autogophasta (A41 2/Lt G H Jones) and Cuidich N'Righ (C 17 2/Lt L E Minchin). What must the Germans have thought?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 30 October , 2002 Share Posted 30 October , 2002 What must the Germans have thought?! I Dinnaken........ (D17 2/Lt S H Hastie) I spoke with David Fletcher, at the Tank Museum, yesterday. Apparently he "made a start on a list of tank names, a long time ago." David no longer has the resources to complete this task, at present, but has kindly offered to make a copy of the list (to date) available when time allows. Also, David has pointed out that many names were simply not recorded at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pete Wood Posted 21 November , 2002 Share Posted 21 November , 2002 David Fletcher, historian at the tank museum, has just sent me the part-completed list of tanks. It gives the names of all the known tanks in A-H Battalions. Does anyone care to throw in a name (or more) from I Battalion onwards? This would help David out no end, I'm sure. Please add if you know if it is a male tank (gun) or female tank (machine guns only) and any other details you are aware of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Reed Posted 21 November , 2002 Share Posted 21 November , 2002 Am pretty sure I have a list of some of the I Bn tanks at Cambrai; will have a look and let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Carter Posted 22 November , 2002 Share Posted 22 November , 2002 Each Tank Battalion would have its own War Diary at the PRO. No doubt the name of each battalion's tanks would be in them. It may be worth checking out if you can get there. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham-McAdam Posted 23 November , 2002 Share Posted 23 November , 2002 Gibot and Gorczynski researched this thoroughly at the PRO and found only a handful of 'I' Battalion names: I.26 Impregnable No. 4556 I.28 Incomparable No. 4555 I.36 Invincible I.54 Intimidate There are lots of names of commanders for the Battalion, but no more names. Strange! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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