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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2001-08 > 0997298522


From: "Tom Tulloch-Marshall" <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] An Exceptioanlly Good Book
Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2001 20:22:02 +0100
References: <F35yz5b6KZmcK8r6beU000010c8@hotmail.com> <4.1.20010808085123.00a1e940@mail.i-plus.net>


Robert - Tanks first went into battle 15th September 1916 on the opening day
of the Battle of Flers - Courcelette (Somme). The original Mk1's had "bomb"
(grenade) screens on top, made from a sort of chicken wire over a timber
frame - they may have impeded Infantry from getting on top but were soon
ditched as a useless impedance.

Plenty of contemporary photo's show troops riding on tanks - in the "Q"
series Imperial War Museum collection for example - or try something like
the Times History of The War. I dont think I've ever seen one showing troops
on-board under fire conditions though.

No doubt there will be "General Routine Orders" in the Corps war diaries
which forbid this activity - and no doubt they were studiously ignored as
were so many orders of that type.

regards
--
Tom Tulloch-Marshall
Great War Military Research

http://www.btinternet.com/~prosearch

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