"The new-fangled "land-ship" was nicknamed "Creme de Menthe" and its commander Arthur Inglis, of the Gloucestershire Regiment, helped change the course of military history. He was the first man to lead tanks into battle and his heroic efforts during the Battle of the Somme earned him the Distinguished Service Order medal.
His lead tank C5 was whipped with German machine gun bullets and lost a wheel at the historic face-off at Flers-Courcelette on the Western Front on Sept 15, 1916. But Inglis destroyed the enemy garrison and machine gun nest".
1916 World War I Tank British Records Artist Sketch WWI ORIGINAL HISTORIC IMAGE
-- Edited by Valeriy67 on Friday 17th of January 2014 08:18:50 PM
-- Edited by Valeriy67 on Saturday 18th of January 2014 07:54:35 AM
Here's a photo from the National Army Museum collection which shows two tanks of "C" Company. I would be a bit skeptical of the caption, since the company was still in England on July 30, 1916. I think that the two tanks are C4 and C5, part of the No. 1 Section which supported the attack at Courcelette on 15/9/16. Unlike the other sections of "C" Company, the tanks of this section were not fitted with a grenade roof. I would guess that the photo was taken at the section bivouac on the outskirts of Albert prior to Sept. 15.
I've seen this picture several times and i would agree with Rhomboid that the picture was taken before the Sept 15 engagement around the Sugar beet factory.
What is interesting to me.... And I hope someone has some evidence to this effect.... Is that the name Creme de Menthe has not been painted on the front glacis plate in front of the drivers compartment. C6 Cordon Rouge clearly has its name painted in that spot ( photos of that tank were from after the battle) but I have never seen a picture of Creme de Menthe with its name painted. Has anyone seen a picture of the name painted on C5? Or any of the other tanks in C company that went in front of the Canadian forces at Courcelette??
My Great Great uncle went in with the CEF "The fighting 26th" New Brunswick regiment of the 4th infantry battalion to take Courcelette the day after C Company had retired from battle. He was KIA on Sept 22, 1916, but lived through 13 German counterattacks before a shell got him (According to Canadian war records).
so just so I got this correct... Even those C and D company named their tanks, only a handful actually painted the tanks name on the actual tank? Or is there no photographic evidence of the painted names before the tanks were knocked out?
PS - I have your book on pre order! I am thoroughly looking forward to it!
There are a couple of images of tank names being painted on the horns, close by the crew number, and Campania certainly had her name on the glacis. However none of the images of No 1 Section tanks have any names either on the glacis or horns
Honoured that you have order the book; hopefully you will enjoy the life stories
I believe that my Grandfather was in Crème de Menthe. His name was Ronald Gibson - although he was always known as Roy. I believe that he was a gunner and somewhere we have a copy of a letter that he was supposed to have sent home after one of the battles.
Later he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps and was an observer gunner in a Bristol Fighter.
I"m researching Arthur INGLIS in relation to a village centenary project for Prestbury, Gloucestershire where he lived in a house called Inglisby in New Barn Lane. https://prestburyhistory.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/prestbury-remembers-wwi-memorial-trail-booklet.pdf I'm working on his story to add to the project this year.
I am sorry I did not acknowledge your post but I have only just found it
I was a little distracted as, on 15 September, we were commemorating the First Tank Crews in France
Thanks for letting us know that your grandfather was known as Roy and also that he was an observer / gunner. I have been researching the First Tank Crews and such information is gold to me.
Thanks for sharing and please get in touch if you read this
