British soldier directing a Mark IV tank across a trench, September 11, 1917.


British soldier directing a Mark IV tank across a trench, September 11, 1917.

This photograph, colourised by @dougbanksee, was taken today 105 years ago inside the Oostheek Wood near the village of Elverdinge, in the Ypres Salient.
The tank in focus is the Male Mark IV C23 tank named "Crusty", belonging to the 8th Company, "C" Battalion of the British Tank Corps. This specific tank was commanded by British 2nd Lieutenant H. W. Ashforth.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

"Crusty" would go on to be one of the 476 British tanks which took part in the Battle of Cambrai on November 20, 1917. The tank assisted the British 20th Division in the capture of the village La Vacquerie, where it broke down or was knocked out in the action.

When the Germans launched their large counter-offensive at Cambrai on November 30, 1917, they recaptured La Vacquerie and "Crusty" on December 4, 1917.
The British lost some 179 tanks in the Battle of Cambrai of which over 90 were captured by the Germans. 

Many of these would see service under the Germans again in their 1918 Spring Offensive.

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