Daily Mirror Headlines: 'Tank' Rams and Takes a Factory, Published 18 September 1916

'Tank' rams and takes a factory

Amazing Feats of New British Armoured Motor-Cars.

Annoyed the Germans

The amazing war adventures of the New British heavy armoured cars, or 'tanks' first referred to by Sir Douglas Haig in his bulletin on Friday last, are described by Mr Beach Thomas in his story of the storming of Courcelette and Martinpuich.

Some Juggernauts

The taking of a sugar refinery which was a nest of machine guns by a 'tank' is thus described in a Reuters special message: One of the 'tanks' rumbled up to the entrance coughing bullets as it came, burst open the barricaded door, scattering sandbags like feathers in a chicken fight, and got in among the machine gunners.

Not long afterwards there fell a hush upon which our infantry marched in and took undisputed possession of the place while the ungainly machine - named by the 'Tommies' the 'crème de menthe', and a 'flagship' at that - was clumsily bumping its way out again.

'An Impertinence'

Two points from Mr Beach Thomas's story are as follows: A Bavarian lieutenant colonel surrendered to a tank and was taken inside, and was thus carried through half the fighting. The German officer captured complained that it was 'an impertinence' to use these iron monsters.

Heroes of the Earth

This is Mr Beach Thomas's description of our glorious fighting men: Between them (the Germans) and us lay half a mile of open country well sprayed by 'bullet machines' fixed at a killing height. Today this deadly distance served the defence as little as the barricades. Scotch, Irish and English soldiers all swept across it in more than international form. The wounded, even the twice-wounded, went forward with the hale and met the enemy waiting for them at the first goal line. All Great Britain should feel through every fibre that never in heroic days did men fight more heroically.

Heroes of the Sky

Of the daring British airman he says: The battle in the air has perhaps never been equalled... Village after village just behind the lines was bombed and to complete the work the airman came low enough almost to stroke the backs of the 'tanks', quite low enough to empty their bullet drums at the enemy's infantry.

How We Stand

With regard to the fighting, he says: We are through the third German line from west of Flers to Morval and no other long fortified line is in front of us. We are within striking distance of Morval, Les Bœufs and several other villages.

'Over the whole field,' he says, 'casualties were small, very small in relation to the victory.'

Fantastic Monsters

(From W Beach Thomas)

Soon after 6pm the spasmodic barking of the night-time cannonade (now normal in spite of its intensity) gave place to a 'kettle-drum bombardment'. The 'fun' was 'fast and furious' and two minutes after the orchestra opened our men leaped from their trenches. They were not unaccompanied.

In spite of the harvest moon, we had brought up a certain number of armoured cars which the moonlight transformed into fantastic monsters.

'Autos blindés' is the French term. They looked like blind creatures emerged from the primeval slime. To watch one crawling round a battered wood in the half-light was to think of 'the Jabberwock, with eyes of flame' that: 'Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,/ And burbled as it came!'

Frightened the Huns

The enemy ill-distinguished the guise of these iron monsters, which in truth amused our men rather than encouraged them. They were a jest, cheering hearts, possibly faithful creatures, but no rival to the bayonet.

One German officer I met said it was 'an impertinence' to use them, and some of the German soldiers regarded them with some sort of superstitious terror for the first few minutes, till daylight disclosed their true nature. Even then they were alarming enough. With ludicrous serenity they wobbled across the gridiron fields and shook themselves as if the bullets were flies that bit just deep enough to deserve a flick.

Those who had inspected these saurians in their alfresco stalls beforehand, or followed their lethargic course over impossible roads in the moonlight, gasped with humorous wonder at the prodigy. Munchausen never approached the stories imagined for them by soldiers. But their pet name is 'tanks' and they were chiefly regarded as a practical joke.

Whales, Boojums, Dreadnoughts, slugs, sharks - never were there creatures that so tempted the gift of nicknaming. They were said to live on trees and houses and jump like grasshoppers or kangaroos. But little real reliance was placed in them.

The Germans had brought into warfare many forbidden forces, foul gases and living fire, and the rest. We were to answer them with a British novelty, but one well within the rules of international law and demanding the highest courage in those who used it. The crews had the full pioneer spirit. The courage of the men who took this virgin journey in the Trojan motor-cars was rewarded. The 'tanks' did not make the success of the day, but they did good service.

One was able to pursue a number of Germans some way down the Bapaume road, and took prisoners.

'Great Hun Victory'

Some trenches were enfiladed by 'tanks' and useful firing was recorded of a pair which entered Flers, where it is said to have walked down the ex-high street amid cheers. Several had dashing adventures. One appeared to break into flames and smoke, but was in truth shaking off from pachyderm the petty insults of German bombers. 'We got nothing from them but blue sparks,' said one captured machine gunner.

One or two suffered eclipse. But where they succeeded and where they failed the day was first and foremost the day of the infantry.

One most adventurous Saurian bearing a huge label on its side, 'Great Hun Victory' went on its earwig course through the battered houses - including a cage intended for British prisoners - emerged on the other side, silenced six guns, and then returned 'home' to the village, limping a little.

A captured German said of this form of warfare that 'it was butchery and not fair'. 'Tanks' did equal if not greater service in High Wood, where they knocked out nests and warrens of machine guns.

Wanted to do More

Priest's Story of Selflessness of Corporal Dwyer, VC

At the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, Fulham, a high mass was celebrated yesterday for the repose of the soul of Corporal Edward Dwyer, East Surrey Regiment, the youngest VC in the Army, who was killed on September 4 leading his platoon in the 'Big Push'.

Corporal Dwyer was a native of Fulham. At the age of 18 he won his Cross 'for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty at Hill 60, on 20 April 1915'.

Father Crowley delivered a short address. He expressed to Corporal Dwyer's parents, his widow and relations the heartfelt sympathy of the congregation and of the people of Fulham. Corporal Dwyer was baptised in the church and had been educated in their schools.

On the day that he received his VC, Corporal Dwyer said to the boys at the school were he was educated: 'This is the most eventful day of my life, and it makes me feel I should like to do something more for my country and my religion.'

'This wish has been gratified,' added Father Crowley, 'for he has given all - he has given his life.'

Knobkerrie Knock

How a Canadian Officer Fought the Huns in a Shell Crater

(Canadian Official)

A Canadian communiqué issued yesterday and covering the period from September 5 to September 12 says: The steady training of specialists which has been proceeding for several months is bearing fruit. Sniper Dillson, of a Winnipeg battalion, lay 25 yards in front of our own trenches the whole of one day. The Germans made efforts to locate him, but he was too well concealed. He secured three direct hits and pierced several loopholes.

Defensive patrols are constantly in front of our trenches at night. In one case, Lieutenant Matthews, with three scouts, surprised a party of five Germans hiding in a large shell crater. Lieutenant Matthews threw two bombs among them, killing one and mortally wounding another. He then jumped into the crater with a knobkerrie and had brained another of the enemy when he was himself struck through the shoulder by a bayonet.

Scout Vernon came to his assistance and shot a fourth German. At the same time the remainder of the hostile patrol fired a revolver point blank and then attempted to escape. He was bayoneted, however, just as he reached the German wire.