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Detail showing the plaque for 1918 from the monument to the Tank Corps, Pozières, France. The base bears plaques commemorating the Tank Corps and the years 1916, when tanks were first used in battle, 1917, when they were proven to be a weapon that could change the war, and 1918, when tanks were decisive in the Allied victory. The plaques for each year list the engagements in which the Corps fought.
Text:
1918
2nd Somme
River Lys
Hamel — Marne — Moreuil
Amiens — Bapaume
Arras — Epehy
Cambrai — St. Quentin
Selle — Mormal Forest

Detail showing the plaque for 1918 from the monument to the Tank Corps, Pozières, France. The base bears plaques commemorating the Tank Corps and the years 1916, when tanks were first used in battle, 1917, when they were proven to be a weapon that could change the war, and 1918, when tanks were decisive in the Allied victory. The plaques for each year list the engagements in which the Corps fought. © 2013 by John M. Shea

Image text

1918

2nd Somme

River Lys

Hamel — Marne — Moreuil

Amiens — Bapaume

Arras — Epehy

Cambrai — St. Quentin

Selle — Mormal Forest

Other views: Detail, Front, Detail

Monday, November 19, 1917

"Special Order No. 6

1. Tomorrow the Tank Corps will have the chance for which it has been waiting many months—to operate on good going in the van of the battle.

2. All that hard work and ingenuity can achieve has been done in the way of preparation.

3. It remains for unit commanders and for tank crews to complete the work by judgement and pluck in the battle itself.

4. In the light of past experience I leave the good name of the Corps with great confidence in their hands.

5. I propose leading the attack in the centre division.

Hugh Elles, Brig.Gen.

Commanding Tank Corps."

Quotation Context

Order of November 19, 1917, the day before the Battle of Cambrai, from Hugh Elles to the commanders of the tanks taking part in the battle. British commander Douglas Haig had suspended the Third Battle of Ypres, his great hope for victory, on November, 6, and he had no great expectactions for the largest tank offensive yet seen. On the eve of the battle, three tank brigades, 380 tanks in all, most of them Mark IVs, were concealed and prepared to attack near Cambrai, France.

Source

The Battle of Cambrai by Brian Cooper, pp. 90–92, copyright © Bryan Cooper 1967, publisher: Stein and Day, publication date: 1968

Tags

1917-11-19, 1917, November, Cambrai, Battle of Cambrai