I noticed an ebay auction for a Savoy crestware WW1 tank, with the crest of Hastings. Interestingly (for me at least) the piece has a number on the side - 515, and a name - Donner Blitzen. The auction item number is 180205718531.
My data base of Mark I tank names and numbers has very few D Company details. I believe 515 fought at Arras in Sep 17, but thats all I have on her.
I wondered if others more expert than I might have views on how reliable this source of information might be as to the name of 515.
David Fletcher kindly sent me this photo which identifies 515 as HMLS Donner Blitzen. I havn't been able to track down any info regarding its use on the Somme/Ancre or at Arras. From its battalion number, which appears to be D15, I would suspect that it belonged to 10 Co. at the time of the Arras fighting in April/May 1917. It must have survived Arras, as this photo appears to have been taken in the summer of 1917.
I was interested to see your post and in particular the fact that you have a database on Mk I's. I am interested in Lincoln produced machines. Lincoln produced Mk I machines with production numbers 739-775 inclusive. Do you have any info on these machines that you may feel you are able to share with me?
Tanks3, I'm happy to share what I have, but its not all that clever. Its just a collation of the information available from Trevor Pidgeons book and the other major readily available sources.
515 didn't fight at Arras, in fact this is the only evidence of her I've found.
If the picture was taken in Summer 1917 then she may have been in use as a training tank with D Battalion. No.2 Field company's war diary records MKIs being salvaged from F and G Battalions Tankodromes in August of that year.
Perhaps she was one of the dozen or so replacement tanks D Company received in October / November 1916; hence the number D15. The original D15 (2Lt Bagshaw) was detroyed on the 15th September.
She may have seen service as a supply tank in Summer 1917, we have very little information on these.
