Yes, modelling, I suppose. Mr. Stephen van Dulken, formerly of the British Library, has compiled a very pleasant list of patent applications relating to toy First World War tanks - the earliest: November 1916, by a Pte. Duncan Rice of Canadian Army Medical Corps. At the time of his application he was attached to Headquarters of the Third Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column. Does anyone know if he would therefore have been in a position to see tanks for himself, in September/October, or would he have had to wait for photographs to appear in November?
*Acc to The Long, Long Trail, the 3rd Canadian Division fought at Flers-Courcelette, Thiepval, Le Transloy, and the Ancre Heights, so it seems very possible that Pte Rice saw a tank in September, 1916.
-- Edited by James H on Friday 28th of August 2015 01:57:44 PM
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