Tank Action in the Great War The Moon at Fontaine

Book Code:  AW0885

Tank Action in the Great War The Moon at Fontaine

 

Harry Moon and eight fellow members of the Royal Sussex Regiment all volunteered to transfer to B Battalion Machine Gun Corps in January 1917, (later the Tank Corps) to serve in the revolutionary MK IV Tanks. After describing his experiences, training and fighting on the Somme, with the Royal Sussex the book concentrates on service in tanks. The first action was at Messines in the MKIV and Harry's story is embellished with accounts of gallantry by others and anecdotes. After the battle he took part in two tank demonstrations for Royalty.

 

The 3rd Battle of Ypres followed in July 1917 resulting in the death of one of Harry's fellow volunteers. A full and thrilling account of the mass use of armor at Cambrai follows after descriptions of trials of fanciness and barbed wire clearing equipment. The Battalion successfully achieved their first, second and third objectives. This was celebrated with a white table cloth lunch on the Hindenburg Support Wire!

 

Disaster was to follow at the attack on Fontaine-Notre-Dame on 23 November where there were 70% casualties. This debacle is analyzed in detail.

 

Ian Verrinder

Hardcover 224pp.