Pic of the Week – A Tiger in Captivity.

[The Tank Museum]

 

As we approach Tiger Day, it is only fitting that this week’s images relate to our star exhibit: Tiger 131.

 

With the capture of the Tiger, following an action fought against Churchill tanks of 48 RTR near Medjez el Bab, Tunisia in 1943, the great beast was exhibited briefly in Tunis for inspection by senior officers and passing VIPs, prior to being shipped back to the UK for evaluation. Amongst the non-military visitors were the King and, as will be seen from our photographs, the Prime Minister, Mr Churchill.

 

Churchill was, at this point, en route for Teheran and a conference with Roosevelt and Stalin which, together with the 1945 Yalta Conference, would go a long way to deciding the shape of the post-war world. The capture of an intact Tiger by 1st Army was an event of such importance that a viewing was added to the PM’s itinerary.

 

In the photographs Churchill, clad in solar topi and with trademark cigar, can be seen taking a keen interest in the vehicle, climbing onto the turret and handling an 8.8cm round. The officer shown standing on top of the turret with his back to the camera is Brig. Cook, an officer from 1st Army HQ, who reportedly had a tense conversation with James Grigg, Minister of War, regarding the ability of German tank guns to “pee through” British tank armour.

 

As Prime Minister, Churchill had a wide range of military experience, enabling him to appreciate the significance of the Tiger; as a young Subaltern attached to the 21st Lancers, he participated in the Battle of Omdurman and the Malakand conflict. Other wars he experienced at first hand as a war correspondent. Re-joining the Army during World War 1, he served, albeit briefly, as a Battalion Commander on the Western Front. Furthermore, as First Lord of the Admiralty in World War One, he played an important role in championing the development of the tank itself.

 

This wealth of experience tended to lead him to interfere with the way his generals conducted the war, but it is fair to say that many of Churchill’s suggestions were beneficial and none had the sort of catastrophic consequences wrought by another veteran of the trenches, Adolf Hitler. The future Fuhrer’s military service as an Austrian volunteer in the German Army terminated with the in the not exactly exalted rank of Corporal.