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  1. Hi all. To respond to the initial post from ajmac… It’s not true! TANKFEST has always been dominated by Museum vehicles. But we do invite guest vehicles every year – and 2013 will be no exception. TANKFEST has become an ideal venue for newly restored vehicles to make their show debuts – and we are always interested to hear from anyone who has something new to show off. As you can imagine, the cost of tank transportation is high, so we can’t accept all available offers - as much as we would like to! Last September we held an event that was predominantly guest (Military Vehicle Trust members) vehicles, and we will be doing the same. So put Saturday 21st September in your diaries, and contact us if you would like to exhibit!
  2. The Tank Museum presents two letters that question the veracity of claims made in Botham and Montague’s 2012 title Catch That Tiger. There have been numerous books and documentaries written about The Tiger Tank since the first intact machine was captured in April 1943. But no other title has sought to challenge the accepted version of events as dramatically as Catch That Tiger – a book that provides a new account of the capture and recovery of Tiger 131 which is based on a previously unpublished (and, to date, unverified) source. Click here to see the accepted account of Tiger 131's capture. (Tank Times, February 2012, page 3.) The account given in Botham and Montague's work fails to correspond with the evidence held at The Tank Museum, which includes the testimony of the book’s lead protagonist, Major Douglas Lidderdale (Pictured centre). The letters that Doug Lidderdale wrote before his death in 1999 make it clear that whilst he was heavily involved in the story of Tiger 131, he wasn’t there when it was captured. In contrast, Botham and Montague put him central to the action. They claim that Lidderdale kept a secret wartime diary, which reveals that the capture of Tiger 131 was the result of a top-secret mission given to him by Winston Churchill in person. They describe a “close hand shoot-out” in which Lidderdale and his men overpower the crew of Tiger 131 in order to secure its capture. This is despite the fact that the war diary of the German unit that Tiger 131 belonged to states "Crew members of Tiger 131 panic and abandon the tank after two harmless hits from a Churchill". The book goes on to state that Lidderdale’s son uncovered the diary and that the Major had been ordered to remain silent about the mission. Letter 1: “He was there at the time, I only later...” As a REME officer, Lidderdale’s role was to recover the tank from the battlefield and see it safely back to the UK for evaluation. This led to a life-long fascination with the tank that had also played a large part in the life of Peter Gudgin - a veteran 48 RTR officer who was knocked out of his Churchill tank by Tiger 131 on the day it was abandoned. The two exchanged a lengthy correspondence in their later years. Peter Gudgin died in 2011. Crucially, Lidderdale never claimed or insinuated any involvement in the capture of Tiger 131, nor did he allude to any of the more fantastic events found in the book. On the contrary, his letters reveal a man who is both fascinated and concerned with accurately piecing together every minute detail of what occurred to Tiger 131 from its capture to the day it arrived at The Tank Museum in 1951. He was particularly keen that his understanding of events was supported by Peter Gudgin, as the following letter reveals. Download & view Douglas Lidderdale's letter to George Forty (7/11/87) here. In this letter, written by Lidderdale to the then Museum Director George Forty on 7 November 1987, Lidderdale reminds us that one of the biggest risks facing Tiger 131’s safe return to the UK was the souvenir hunting activities of Tommy Atkins, rather than spies or saboteurs as suggested in the book. He also recalls that it was whilst receiving the briefing to recover the tank from the battlefield that he first heard that Tiger 131 had been immobilised in battle by a Churchill. He goes on to acknowledge that Peter Gudgin was the most reliable source on events that day because; “He was there at the time, I only later.” That statement alone is enough to fundamentally challenge the premise of Catch That Tiger, before one questions the veracity of the journal on which the book is based. The notion of a REME Officer and a handful of men forming a snatch squad for what would effectively be a commando mission without specific training may well seem far-fetched. That the officer charged with this top secret mission would then keep a journal that is so specific about names, dates and places, (which the book states were "noted in situ as the story unfolded") would have been directly contrary to military practice. Such a cavalier approach to secrecy would be highly out of character for a man so fixated with detail. Letter 2: “...Instructed to `tiptoe` away from the subject!” On page VII, the book makes reference to another letter – providing an example of how source material can be abridged in a way which deliberately changes the meaning of evidence in order to give credence to a particular point of view. The book reads; During his lifetime, Douglas Lidderdale felt obliged to remain silent with regard to his mission to `catch a Tiger`. In a letter to Captain James Henderson dated 4 November 1986, Doug wrote, 'I was instructed to tiptoe away from the subject [of the Tiger tank]! Which I did, yet with misgivings which have bothered me until today.' This hand written letter to Captain Henderson (which is actually dated 4 November 1988), is also held in The Tank Museum Archive. Henderson had been one of the Officers aboard the Liberty Ship Ocean Strength which had transported Tiger 131 and Lidderdale from Africa to Glasgow in 1943. The letter explains a more benign and trivial reason for the Censorship imposed on Lidderdale. Download & view Douglas Lidderdale’s letter to Captain James Henderson (4/11/88) here. In it Lidderdale is seeking to “make amends” with the Captain for failing to respond to what appeared to be a simple request – for Henderson had written to ask Lidderdale if it would be possible to mention the Tiger as a recent cargo when giving a talk to a Glasgow girls school on the work of Ocean Strength. “For security reasons I could not authorise that personally…” Lidderdale wrote. Explaining that he needed to get clearance from a Senior Security Officer as the Tiger was soon to be on public display at Horse Guards, he informs Henderson that the clearance was never granted and for that reason he was “ordered to tiptoe away from the subject.” In the final paragraphs of the letter, Lidderdale again outlines the way in which the Tiger was captured, concluding: “No one can be quite sure which of Peter [Gudgin]’s troop fired the shot which caused the Tiger crew to abandon ship but he is content that one of them did.” Conclusion The Tank Museum has challenged the authors to provide more evidence to support the claims they make. So far nothing has been produced that ties the events in the `Lidderdale journal` to any other documentary source or personal testimony. “This book has put us in a difficult position because some of those who have read it have come away with the false impression that we support or endorse the work,” said Museum Curator David Willey. “Our judgement on it is based on the evidence we hold, which I feel speaks for itself.” “We aren’t opposed to new theories that challenge our understanding of our artefacts, but we do expect them to be rigorously backed with evidence.” He added; “We should not forget that British soldiers died in the action that led to the capture of Tiger 131 and to cloud such history would be to do Lidderdale, Gudgin and the diminishing number of veterans a tremendous disservice.”
  3. Would you like to be part of the team at one of the world's leading military museums? Over 150,000 people visit the Tank Museum every year where we bring the history of tanks and tank crew to life... Supported by the world’s best collection of tanks & action packed live displays. Our staff play a vital role in ensuring each and every one of them has a memorable and enjoyable visit. We are currently looking for a Museum Warden, a Senior Restaurant Assistant and a Library and Archive Officer. If you want the opportunity to work at Dorset's leading heritage attraction we would love to hear from you...Click the image below to find out more.
  4. This Saturday, The Tank Museum is hosting a lecture by Andrew Simpson titled `Lawrence After Arabia`. One of the less well-known Lawrence related items in our collection is this portrait. In 1921, distinguished war artist, Eric Kennington, accidently composed this ghostly and prophetic portrait of the great Lawrence of Arabia. Eric Kennington rose to prominence after he was employed by the War Propaganda Bureau, to produce pictures of the Western Front, and would eventually go on to be the official war artist for World War Two. In the interim, the artist composed numerous pictures and sculptures, of his famous friend, T.E. Lawrence. Before Lawrence left the Colonial Office to travel to the East, Kennington was commissioned to complete his portrait. However, soon after Lawrence’s departure Kennington became dissatisfied with his composition. He particularly disliked the heaviness and force of the treatment, and decided to remedy this by removing some of the pastel. He placed the drawing board on the floor, covered it with a couple of sheets of paper, and proceeded to walk around on top of it for a little while. When he removed the top sheets of paper, he was left with a more satisfying portrait, and an unexpected surprise. The excess pastel had left a faint reverse copy imprinted on the covering sheet. Not thinking much of this accidental copy, he placed it in a drawer and it was promptly forgotten for the next fourteen years. After Lawrence’s death, in 1935, the artist rediscovered this forgotten drawing and was struck by its ethereal nature and the stigmata-like wounds on the forehead which had been absent from the original. The accidental portrait was purchased by Colonel Buxton and presented to All Souls College, Oxford, where it still hangs. On the initiative of Mr. Lionel Curtis a private edition of a hundred copies was printed, and in 2005 one of these was given to the museum by a private donor. At T.E. Lawrence’s funeral Eric Kennington was one of the pallbearer’s, and he went on to sculpt a memorial for his good friend. The artist’s memorial depicts Lawrence of Arabia in effigy. He is lying down, clothed in Arabic dress, holding a curved dagger in his hand and a whip by his side. At his feet is a block of Hittite sculpture, showing two fighting bulls, which is said to represent his archaeological research and his struggles in the First World War. Originally this memorial was destined for St.Paul’s Cathedral, but controversy surrounding Lawrence, and the fact that he was depicted in Arab clothes, caused them to reject it. It would be offered to Westminster Abbey and Salisbury Cathedral, before eventually being accepted by St. Martins Church, Wareham – the oldest church in Dorset. Lawrence of Arabia himself was buried in nearby Moreton Church, on the same estate as his beloved Cloud’s Hill. To find out more about this Saturday’s Lecture click the image below:
  5. Hi Alastair, When the VCC is complete, the first objective will be to ensure that all of the vehicles currently held in poor storage sheds (or outside) are placed in the new facility. This will take a few months to achieve, but when it is complete we will have more space within the Workshop area to work on actual projects. The VCC is phase one of a master plan that will see the building extended the length of the Museums entrance road and include a new and larger Workshop where all future projects will be undertaken.
  6. Sturmgeschutz or assault gun was a very popular German weapon. Based on the chassis of a Panzer III; its advantages were that it was a simple design, cheap to build, low profile and could carry a larger gun however, it had no turret leaving it vulnerable to flank attack… Click image for more information...
  7. These days we all accept that smoking is life threatening - but Major Harry Bizley's habit saved his life thanks to the metal cigarette case he kept in his breast pocket. On February 13th 1945 Bizley, of 49th Royal Tank Regiment, was taking part in Operation Veritable as the Allies pushed towards the Siegfried Line through the snow covered Reichswald forest. The fighting was bitter. Whilst dismounted from their vehicles, Bizley's men came under attack by a German mortar battery. When a Sergeant was struck down in the barrage, Bizley ran to his aid. Whilst crouching over his wounded colleague, a shell landed between them and Bizley was peppered with shrapnel. The Major was badly injured and lost a leg. But a potentially fatal strike to the chest had been prevented by his cigarette case. Just before he was flown back to Britain, an unknown Medical Officer placed a bottle of champagne on his stretcher, saying; “You’ll need this on the journey”. The champagne bottle has a stamp stating that it was reserved for the German Army. Both items have been preserved in The Tank Museum's Supporting Collection Store.
  8. Torrential rain and high winds haven’t slowed the pace of construction at The Tank Museum this winter. Two months on from the day that BBC Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman volunteered to `break the earth` on the Vehicle Conservation Centre (VCC) project, work halted for the Christmas break with 90% of the steel frame for the 40,000 sq ft building in place. Building contractors Dawnus remain on target to complete the new publicly accessible building before TANKFEST, but it will be late autumn before it is opened with a modest conservation exhibition (right) and around 100 tanks - many of which will be on public display for the first time. Museum Project Manager Roy Hicks said; "Having seen many architects drawings for the building over the last couple of years, it is only now that we can really appreciate just how substantial this new hall will be. And this building is only phase 1 of a site master plan that will include the construction of new workshop facilities alongside the VCC." With a huge amount of spoil removed as the land was levelled, it seems there has been as much work taking place below ground level. He said; "On what is essentially a `brown-field site` there can often be unpleasant surprises lurking below the surface. On a site which has been in military use for over 100 years this can have serious implications. The World War One era military huts that once occupied the site raised fears that there could be both asbestos and unexploded ordinance in the ground. Fortunately we have encountered neither so far." Digging continues, as a new Tank Wash facility being built as part of the project requires a specialised drainage system and a 50,000 litre underground rainwater storage tank. The unit, which will remove the mud and grit that coats vehicles when used in the arena, will be fed by `recycled` rainwater whilst the drains will filter out oil and silt to ensure that all waste water entering the sewage system is as clean as possible. The Vehicle Conservation Centre is just one part of a wider programme of developments at The Tank Museum, which was awarded a £2.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in July 2012. To find out more about our VCC appeal and the various ways you can show your support click here.
  9. – An experimental machine gun carrier. The original patent dates from 1937 when 2 prototypes were built on the idea to create a low-profile weapon carrier able to take advantage of natural cover but could raise up to fire over walls or other obstacles. In practice it was difficult to operate and in 1944 the project was abandoned and is now regarded as something of a joke… Click the image for more information...
  10. One of the most famous vehicles of WWII. It became as familiar to the British Army as the Jeep did to the Americans. It was originally designed as a light weapons carrier but became used for so many other things it ended up serving virtually every branch of the British and Commonwealth armies in every theatre of war…Click the image for more information...
  11. Richard Smith, Tank Museum Director, Writes: "It’s worth saying clearly that everyone agrees that the Friends of The Tank Museum are a vital source of support to The Tank Museum and that the dependence of the Museum on the Friends is likely to grow rather than shrink over time. While our lease with the MOD protects our funding to a considerable degree, the Museum remains dependent on a significant in-kind public subsidy each year. A flourishing membership organisation is not only a sign of people feeling involved in the life of the Museum but also provides a key source of volunteers and donations which will keep the Museum operating at a high and sustainable standard for years to come. There are clearly some areas where the operation between the Friends and the Museum needs to improve. In my recent article in Tracklink I highlighted that the cost of producing Tracklink seems disproportionate to the income of the Friends, that the membership needs to grow and be administered effectively and that we need to ensure that the role of volunteering is clarified. I see all these issues as eminently resolvable - indeed some of the suggestions on this thread make a great deal of sense. I am really encouraged that the Friends Chairman has asked Keith Glenn to pull together proposals for how the Friends will work in the Future. I would very much encourage everyone who has ideas about how the Friends can develop and grow to feed them through to Keith so that he has the best possible background from which to compile his thoughts. I agree that it would be really good for the Friends members to have an online forum where these sorts of issues can be discussed. The reason we moved our forum to HMVF was because that discussions like this one seemed to happen more readily on this forum than on a Tank Museum hosted one. With so few members being able to attend general meetings in person (about 40 out of 900 attended the recent AGM), perhaps member communication could be one area that is overhauled as part of Keith’s review."
  12. TANKFEST wouldn’t be TANKFEST without the contribution made by the Living History Community. Writes Event Manager Vicki Pol. Visitors to TANKFEST enjoy the spectacle of seeing tank displays, but we know they equally enjoy the feeling of stepping back in time to meet `soldiers from the past`. Our Living History contingent has gone from strength to strength in recent years, and we are even more ambitious for our mock battle finale in 2013. This year we are doing things slightly differently. In the past we have used an intermediary to bring living history groups together on our behalf. But this doesn’t help us get to know the re-enactment groups on a more personal level, so we can better look after them when they are working with us. So, as an organisation with a growing events portfolio, we want to build direct links with the Re-enactment community. For this reason we want to recruit our 20th century Living History Groups directly with this appeal! If you or your group are interested in joining us at TANKKFEST 2013 (29th & 30th June 2013), please apply using the form below. Space is limited, so this will be a selective application process to ensure we have a broad spread of armies and eras represented. We are looking for groups to represent all nations of 20th Century conflict; and this year we are particularly keen to find groups who can portray Cold War era NATO and Soviet forces to take part in our mock battle. This will be an ambitious attempt to convey what might have happened if the Cold War had turned hot on the plains of Germany. We have never done this before, but we have a number of cold war vehicles set to take part including a fleet of FV 432’s we intend to use for an infantry attack. The more troops that we can have taking part in this battle, the better it will be as a spectacle for public. We may be able to help kit out some of these troops. So, if you and your group would like to take part in what is one of the most prestigious military history events in the world, we would love to hear from you. Remember space is limited, so don’t risk missing out by delaying. Get your forms to us as soon as possible! TANKFEST 2013 Living History Application Form. Click here. Don't worry if you miss out on TANKFEST this year. We will keep all submitted details on record. With a number of new and exciting events in the pipeline, you can be certain to hear from us in the future!
  13. Renowned military historian David Fletcher has retired after 30 years’ service at The Tank Museum. David, who was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2012 honours list, had already spent many years researching the history of armoured warfare at The Tank Museum before he joined the staff in 1982. He first visited the Museum in the 1960’s at a time when there was very little published work on the subject. Motivated by his own fascination in the Museum’s collection, David spent hours researching and examining artefacts and documents held in the Museum to become the world’s leading armoured warfare expert. Now the longest serving Museum employee, David has over 30 books, hundreds of magazine articles and numerous television documentary appearances to his name. He remains in demand as a speaker, particularly on his favoured subject - British Tanks of World War One. Following the success of the Haynes published “Tiger Tank - Owners Workshop Manual” he co-authored, he is presently working on another collaboration to produce a manual for the British Mark IV tank. Right: Dressed as a WWI tank crewman, David Fletcher (second from right) was presented to Her Majesty when a contingent from The Tank Museum took the Mk V tank to Germany for the Royal Tank Regiment Standards Parade in 1985. Tank Museum spokesman Nik Wyness said; “David’s impressive body of work will have touched anyone who has ever visited The Tank Museum or read a book or magazine that deals with the history of the tank. “He is without question a leading light in the field and his work has made the subject accessible to people around the world. That there are very few self-taught enthusiasts, who can claim to be genuine, globally recognised experts in their field makes David’s achievements even more impressive,” said Nik “There are even fewer that are as well respected and well liked as he is.” David says he intends to spend his retirement writing and hiking, but he is not severing his ties with the Museum he has contributed so much to. He plans to continue his research with one eye on the approaching centenary of World War One and the tank itself. Nik added; “David is irreplaceable, and The Tank Museum is fortunate to have had someone as passionate and knowledgeable within its ranks for so long. We all wish him well in his retirement and hope he visits often.”
  14. The A7V we recently obtained is now on temporary display in the Museum. To find out more about our latest exciting aquisition, see our video...Click the image to view...
  15. Developed by the Studebaker corporation of Indiana, USA in response to a British Order. It was not actually used for the intention it was built (as an over-snow vehicle to carry commandos on a raid against the German heavy water plant in Norway) however, its very low ground pressure proved useful in muddy conditions... Click Image for more information.
  16. One generous bidder has claimed the ride of a lifetime in The Tank Museum's VCC Appeal Tiger Auction. The winner will be climbing into the commander’s seat of Tiger 131 at Tiger Day in March where, as Premium Ticket holders for the event, they will also be treated to talks, `turret tours` and the opportunity to see the Workshops where the restoration work was carried out. Communications Manager Nik Wyness said; “The winning bidder has secured a fantastic and unique prize, and we are very grateful for his generosity. His winning £3,500 bid makes a significant contribution to the £25,000 VCC appeal which was launched in October.” The auction result takes the current appeal total to just under £10,000. “This is a fantastic achievement after just two months and I would like to sincerely thank all those who have contributed to the Appeal so far,” Nik added. We are also holding a raffle to win a ride in Tiger 131! Thousands of tickets have been issued through Tank Times, Britain At War and Military Machines International and we have a quantity of books remaining. Each book contains 5 tickets, each ticket is just £2. If you would like some, please email: fundraising@tankmuseum.org , with the number of books and your postal address.
  17. How would you like to be one the lucky few who can claim to have ridden in a World War Two Tiger Tank? We’ll now’s your chance, as The Tank Museum is giving Tiger fans the chance to bid for a seat in its most famous exhibit in a special charity auction to be held on eBay. To help raise funds to support the Museums Vehicle Conservation Centre (VCC) project, the Dorset based charity is inviting bids for this once in a lifetime experience which will take place at the Museum's Tiger Day on Saturday 30th March 2013. Museum spokesman Nik Wyness said; “We’re offering the winning bidder two Premium Tickets to Tiger Day, but the highlight of this lot is a ride for one in Tiger 131 – the world’s only working example of a World War Two Tiger 1 tank.” The Museum hopes that the auction, being held for ten days on eBay from Thursday 22nd November 2012, will raise several thousand pounds for the VCC Appeal. “Tiger 131 is our most famous exhibit,” added Nik. “Few living people can claim to have ridden in a World War Two Tiger Tank and so we are hoping that this auction will attract a good deal of attention from Tiger enthusiasts around the world.” The Tank Museum is currently raising money for a new 40,000 sq ft publicly accessible building called the Vehicle Conservation Centre (right). It will store around 120 vehicles which are currently stored out of public sight and in poor environmental conditions. The Heritage Lottery Fund pledged £2.5m towards the project in August. “Bidders stand a chance of winning a once in a lifetime experience, the proceeds of which will make a significant contribution to helping us achieve our ambitions to ensure that all the vehicles in our collection are stored undercover for the first time Click Here to bid. BIT PRICEY? We are also holding a raffle to win a ride in Tiger 131! Thousands of tickets have been issued through Tank Times, Britain At War andMilitary Machines International and we have a quantity of books remaining. Each book contains 5 tickets, each ticket is just £2. If you would like some, please contact us on: fundraising@tankmuseum.org! For full T's & C's, click here
  18. Cambrai Day. Today, The Royal Tank Regiment marks its regimental day – which for RTR servicemen commences with tea laced with rum, served to the men by Officers and Senior NCOs. Every year, Special Order No 6 is read aloud to the troops – click the image below to find out more. FEAR NAUGHT! OBJECT OF THE WEEK: Special Order Number 6. On the morning of the Battle of Cambrai, the Tank Corps Commanding Officer Lt. Gen Elles issued his `Special Order Number 6`. The handwritten order is probably the most famous order given in the history of The Royal Tank Regiment. In it he explains how at long last the Tank Corps would get the opportunity to operate in good going in the `van of battle`. Earlier in 1917, the Tank Corps had been deployed for operations in the morass of mud and broken ground near Arras and Ypres. The conditions here were far from suitable for the tank and the men of the Corps were becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of opportunities to prove themselves. Some were even beginning to question the future of the tank itself. Cambrai was, therefore, the opportunity they had been waiting for. `Special Order no. 6` was clearly written by a truly enthusiastic commanding officer who recognised that his moment in history had finally arrived. He ended the Order; “I propose leading the attack in the centre division” – something unheard of in modern war. The order is read aloud at Royal Tank Regiment gatherings to mark the anniversary of the battle. This document, from the Museum archive, is one of the original copies made of Elles order, which was duplicated for distribution to the various battalions.
  19. Not often visited – but moving in its simple purpose - a stone memorial bench sits in a wood in Bovington, not far from The Tank Museum. It is inscribed: “In Loving Memory of Sgt RW Essex, 50th Royal Tank Regiment Killed at El Alamein, November 2nd 1942 Aged 30 years He loved and spent many hours here.” On the front of the seat is an added line: “And his wife Mary Frances 1907-2003 Together at Last” It was seventy years ago this morning that Ronald Essex was killed in his Valentine tank by German anti-tank guns as the Battle of El Alamein raged. He has no known grave but is recorded on the Alamein memorial to the missing in Egypt. We would like to know more about Ronald Essex – whose memorial sits so near to the Museum and whose sacrifice we remember at this time of year. If anyone has any further information please contact us.
  20. The Tank Museum is hosting a temporary exhibition to display some of the finest paintings in its collection of artwork. As the Museum enters its `War Paint` themed Half Term week, the exhibition aims to provide a unique insight in to the artistic endeavours of tank men and their experiences of war. Engaging in combat and the day-to-day existence of a soldier will all be examined in this specially assembled and rarely seen collection of paintings. To coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Allied victory at the Battle of El Alamein, one part of the exhibition will focus particularly on scenes of desert warfare from World War Two and beyond. One group of artists took their inspiration directly from their time serving during the North Africa campaign; Barnett, Ingram and Manning’s artwork exemplifies the many different facets of war. Manning’s pen and wash sepia drawings shows scenes of entertainment, and the practicalities of war. And whilst Barnett focuses on the beautiful and unusual foreign landscapes, Ingram’s art comes from the heart of the action. Above: Works by Manning, Barnett and Ingram. Renowned military illustrator, Malcolm McGregor’s drawings give an excellent insight in to the uniforms that would have been worn in the desert on all sides. His illustration of a Gefreitor in the Afrika Korps, for instance, shows the high-laced boots and tropical field blouse that made up the typical basic uniform worn by the German soldiers throughout the desert campaign. Matthew Cook, who went on tour as part of the Territorial Army during the war in Afghanistan, has also produced a thought-provoking collection of illustrations which gives the spectator an insight in to a far more modern kind of tank and desert warfare. Above: Works by McGregor, Kennington (x2) and Cook. Another art installation will take a look at the men behind the tanks. The exhibition consists solely of portraits, featuring men of all ranks and fame. Famous war artist Eric Kennington features prominently here, and particularly poignant is his so-called ‘ghost-portrait’ of Lawrence of Arabia. His impressive portrait of Sir Ernest Swinton, credited with influencing the adoption of the tank during World War One, will also be on display.
  21. To mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein, author Julian Francis is launching his new title on the life and art of Captain Tom Chadwick MC. Chadwick, who served in the 3rd Hussars, kept a beautifully illustrated diary during his service, which is made more poignant as it recorded the death of his brother (also of the 3rd Hussars) just two days before his own death during the Battle of El Alamein on this date seventy years ago. In this lecture, Francis shares the artwork and memories Chadwick recorded in his moving diaries. TICKETS & INFORMATION: Tickets cost £10 each. Call 01929 462359
  22. A concrete armoured lorry! By 1940, Britain's defences were in a desperate state; the Bison was an exceptional improvised armoured vehicle, being protected with concrete. These vehicles were really no more than mobile pillboxes. Click on the image for more info...
  23. In just over a month’s time, you can help us kick off the fundraising for our VCC Appeal by bidding for this once in a lifetime experience! Who’s going to bid? Click on the Picture below for more information...
  24. One of the worst tanks ever built!! It was ordered as an infantry assault tank for service in the far east and the designers were instructed to keep the weight down but to apply the thickest armour. Two prototypes are believed to have been built however, it never went into production on the basis that no new designs should be built if they could not be completed before hostilities ceased...Click on the picture below for more information...
  25. Confirmed for 2013 - TIGER DAY 3. Just 100 Premium tickets - on sale now! Essential for Tiger Tank fans! So…Who's coming? Click on the image below to find out more...
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