Main content

The Tank went to war 100 years ago

The world's first battle tank rolled across the Somme in France 100 years ago today. It was backing up British troops who were engaging the enemy German troops, and was driven by Captain Harold 'Monty' Mortimer. David Willey is a curator at the Tank Museum in Bovington, southern England.

Photo: A Mark 1 tank being waved forward by British troops in 1916 (this is not the original tank)
Credit: The Tank Museum

Release date:

Duration:

2 minutes