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Tank Action in the Great War: B Battalion's Experiences 1917
Harry Moon and eight fellow members of the Royal Sussex Regiment all volunteered to transfer to B Battalion Machine Gun Corps in January 1917, (later the Tank Corps) to serve in the revolutionary MK IV Tanks. After describing his experiences, training and fighting on the Somme, with the Royal Sussex the book concentrates on service in tanks. The first action was at Messines in the MKIV and Harry’s story is embellished with accounts of gallantry by others and anecdotes. After the battle he took part in two tank demonstrations for Royalty.
The 3rd Battle of Ypres followed in July 1917 resulting in the death of one of Harry’s fellow volunteers. A full and thrilling account of the mass use of armor at Cambrai follows after descriptions of trials of fanciness and barbed wire clearing equipment. The Battalion successfully achieved their first, second and third objectives. This was celebrated with a white table cloth lunch on the Hindenburg Support Wire!
Disaster was to follow at the attack on Fontaine-Notre-Dame on 23 November where there were 70% casualties. This debacle is analyzed in detail.
The 3rd Battle of Ypres followed in July 1917 resulting in the death of one of Harry’s fellow volunteers. A full and thrilling account of the mass use of armor at Cambrai follows after descriptions of trials of fanciness and barbed wire clearing equipment. The Battalion successfully achieved their first, second and third objectives. This was celebrated with a white table cloth lunch on the Hindenburg Support Wire!
Disaster was to follow at the attack on Fontaine-Notre-Dame on 23 November where there were 70% casualties. This debacle is analyzed in detail.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 4, 2026
***1/2
Will a gifted amateur outperform the professional?
Verrinder's idea of following a core cast of 9 members of the 8th Sussex Regiment from Menen to Cambrai is reminiscent of Martin Middlebrook's "First Day on the Somme" but this thread is less succesful than the journey built around it.
Still, history comes alive in all its petrol-perfumed glory here.
Half genesis, half 3 days of attrition at Cambrai, I'm following up B bataillon with D bataillon in "Deborah and the war of the Tanks 1917"
Will a gifted amateur outperform the professional?
Verrinder's idea of following a core cast of 9 members of the 8th Sussex Regiment from Menen to Cambrai is reminiscent of Martin Middlebrook's "First Day on the Somme" but this thread is less succesful than the journey built around it.
Still, history comes alive in all its petrol-perfumed glory here.
Half genesis, half 3 days of attrition at Cambrai, I'm following up B bataillon with D bataillon in "Deborah and the war of the Tanks 1917"
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review