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
19182nd SommeRiver LysHamel — Marne — MoreuilAmiens — BapaumeArras — EpehyCambrai — St. QuentinSelle — Mormal Forest
"The next day (November 21) saw composite companies of Tanks fighting in co-operation with new infantry.But though the infantry was new, it was unfortunately not fresh. Sir Julian Byng had no rested troops at all at his disposal. It may be said that the whole of the subsequent history of the battle and its sequel hinges up these two points. All our infantry was weary in the extreme, and most of it had never co-operated with Tanks before."
After suspending the Third Battle of Ypres on November, 6, 1917, the British launched the largest tank offensive yet seen on November 20 with three tank brigades, 380 tanks in all, most of them Mark IVs, near Cambrai, France. The plan called for the tanks to advance to the enemy trenches before running parallel to them, gunning down the defenders, then releasing fascines, great wire-bound bundles of logs, into the trench allowing the tanks to cross. Where they executed this plan, and were well coordinated with the infantry, they succeeded. The troops who entered the battle on November 21 were exhausted and had no experience or training with the tank brigades.
The Tank Corps by Clough Williams-Ellis & A. Williams-Ellis, pp. 114–115, publisher: The Offices of "Country Life," Ltd. and George Newnes, Ltd., publication date: 1919
1917-11-21, November, 1917, Battle of Cambrai, Cambrai, tank, Mark IV, Mark IV tank crushing wire, tank crushing wire
