Tanks on the Somme: from Morval to Beaumont Hamel - 9781848842533

On 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, tanks - one of the decisive weapons of twentieth-century warfare - were sent into action for the first time. In his previous books Trevor Pidgeon, one of the leading authorities on the early tanks, has told the story of that memorable day, but only now has his account of later tank operations during the Somme battle become available. In this, his last work which was completed shortly before he died, he reconstructs the tank actions that took place between late September and November when the Somme offensive was closed down. His account gives a vivid insight into the actions and experiences of the tank crews, and it shows the appalling dangers they faced as they manoeuvred their crude, vulnerable and unreliable machines towards the enemy. His book will be essential reading for anyone who is familiar with his previous studies of the subject and for anyone who wants to follow in the tracks of the tanks as they lumbered across the battlefield nearly 100 years ago. AUTHOR: After a career in the diplomatic service Trevor Pidgeon devoted much of his time to pioneering research into the Great War, in particular into the development of tanks and the operations of the first tanks on the Western Front. His work lead to several books that were milestones in the field, including his classic study Tanks at Flers: An Account of the First Use of Tanks in War at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, the Somme, 15 September 1916. Trevor Pidgeon sadly died in 2008 and this work was completed by his friend Dr Graham Keech. SELLING POINTS: Detailed account of tank operations during the second phase of the Somme battle Reconstructs the actions of individual tanks during each engagement Graphic insight into the experiences of the tank crews Features feild walks of the sites of the major tank actions 30 illustrations