(Cross-posting this nugget from r/DestroyedTanks )
*Narrative courtesy of the Blarney and District Historical Society:*
On Friday, 23rd November 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, in Fontaine – Notre Dame, which is located about 4 kilometres to the West of Cambrai, a British Mark IV ‘female’ tank of 6 Company, 12th section, B Battalion, was knocked out by German artillery. The name painted on the side of the tank read: ‘**BLARNEY CASTLE**’.
It was destroyed, along with six other tanks, by K Flak Batterie 7, a truck-borne anti-aircraft gun-crew, firing an armour-piercing round through 6.1 mm to 12 mm (about half an inch thick) armour which turned the tank’s interior into a blazing inferno within seconds, incinerating the eight-man crew. It is reputed to have been the first time this type of gun was used in an anti-tank role. Apart from one, all the tank commanders and most of the crews were killed. All have no known graves and are honoured on the Louverval memorial.
**The 27-ton tank (serial no. 2873) could be under the command of either 2nd Lt. Julian Cecil Lazonby or 2nd Lt. Thomas Henderson but on this tragic occasion it was commanded by Lt. Lazonby. B 57 was the crew number. ‘B’ was this battalion’s letter and tanks usually had their names, which began with the battalion letter, chosen by the commander. 2nd Lt. Henderson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Henderson, land owners of Ardrum, Inniscarra, Co. Cork. Ardrum was a home of the Colthurst family, owners of the famous Blarney Castle so it is easy to see why the name Blarney Castle was chosen. It was armed with 5 Lewis machine guns plus 1 spare, making it a ‘female’ tank. A ‘male’ tank had 2 six-pounder guns plus 3 machine guns.**
It was to become one of the most famous and most photographed tanks of WW 1. Lt Henderson also lost his life on this day while in command of tank B54 ‘BEHEMOTH II’ (serial no. 4516). Both tanks made it to the east side of the village where they were hit and knocked out. Lt. Henderson’s tank B54 also caught fire and all the crew were killed either inside the tank or trying to escape the inferno.
I thought we had some new graffiti artist called the Kaiser. I’m so happy we dont.
2 comments
(Cross-posting this nugget from r/DestroyedTanks )
*Narrative courtesy of the Blarney and District Historical Society:*
On Friday, 23rd November 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, in Fontaine – Notre Dame, which is located about 4 kilometres to the West of Cambrai, a British Mark IV ‘female’ tank of 6 Company, 12th section, B Battalion, was knocked out by German artillery. The name painted on the side of the tank read: ‘**BLARNEY CASTLE**’.
It was destroyed, along with six other tanks, by K Flak Batterie 7, a truck-borne anti-aircraft gun-crew, firing an armour-piercing round through 6.1 mm to 12 mm (about half an inch thick) armour which turned the tank’s interior into a blazing inferno within seconds, incinerating the eight-man crew. It is reputed to have been the first time this type of gun was used in an anti-tank role. Apart from one, all the tank commanders and most of the crews were killed. All have no known graves and are honoured on the Louverval memorial.
**The 27-ton tank (serial no. 2873) could be under the command of either 2nd Lt. Julian Cecil Lazonby or 2nd Lt. Thomas Henderson but on this tragic occasion it was commanded by Lt. Lazonby. B 57 was the crew number. ‘B’ was this battalion’s letter and tanks usually had their names, which began with the battalion letter, chosen by the commander. 2nd Lt. Henderson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Henderson, land owners of Ardrum, Inniscarra, Co. Cork. Ardrum was a home of the Colthurst family, owners of the famous Blarney Castle so it is easy to see why the name Blarney Castle was chosen. It was armed with 5 Lewis machine guns plus 1 spare, making it a ‘female’ tank. A ‘male’ tank had 2 six-pounder guns plus 3 machine guns.**
It was to become one of the most famous and most photographed tanks of WW 1. Lt Henderson also lost his life on this day while in command of tank B54 ‘BEHEMOTH II’ (serial no. 4516). Both tanks made it to the east side of the village where they were hit and knocked out. Lt. Henderson’s tank B54 also caught fire and all the crew were killed either inside the tank or trying to escape the inferno.
I thought we had some new graffiti artist called the Kaiser. I’m so happy we dont.