Landships II

James H · Legend

What and where are this tank and these figures?

mad zeppelin · Commander in Chief

"Les géants de Cambrai devant 'Black Prince'" according to "En suivant les tanks". Mk.IV 2005 'Black Prince' - part of the registration number is visible to the right of the righthand giant's hands.

James H · Legend

Thank you very much, MZ. How curious. Research reveals that the parading of giant - truly massive - figures is an ancient custom in Douai and Cambrai. They take many forms, including what I think is a WWI Australian soldier.

I haven't yet found more photos of the figures with the tank, but I'm looking.

This is remarkable. I'd never heard of it before. If you google "géants cambrai douai" you'll get lots of astonishing images. Some must be 10 metres high.

Ah. Just found this. Martin et Martine.

Martin et Martine.jpg

This is quite complicated now. Some of the Cambrai figures are clockwork - what are called jacquemarts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquemart_(bellstriker) that strike the bells on the town hall. Not politically correct nowadays. I think this is the giant version, the actual clockwork figures can be seen in the background.

I realise this is wildly off-topic, but would offer the defence that it's quite interesting. Please google away.

mad zeppelin · Commander in Chief

2005 seems to be a rare beast indeed. I've not been able to find any other picture showing it. - It's said to have been exhibited at the Cambrai local museum for some years. Most tanks dumped at French towns and villages were derelict L-Battalion vehicles. "Black Prince" would be a remarkable exemption from that rule of thumb (though not the only one).