Tanks in the Great War, 1914-1918

When the Great War seemed locked in a deadly stalemate, a bold new weapon emerged from workshops and laboratories: the tank. Written by a senior officer who witnessed its first appearance in 1916, this account follows the daring experiment that promised to break the trench deadlock. The narrative blends technical insight with vivid memories of the machines' clumsy first rolls across the scarred fields of France.

He pays tribute to the engineers who toiled in secrecy, the factories that turned sketches into iron beasts, and the brave crews who learned to steer them under fire. Through detailed descriptions of early trials and the first combat use at places like Cambrai, the book captures both the optimism and the harsh reality of introducing such a revolutionary tool. Readers gain a sense of how this fledgling armoured force began to reshape tactics even as its true potential remained uncertain.