It is likely that Cyril Coles was one of the very first tank crewman to be killed in action. The crew bailed out of the burning tank but enemy machine guns were already directed at them.Ĭoles was shot along with his fellow gunner and both were buried beside the wrecked tank. D15 was struck and disabled by enemy artillery. Coles’ tank went into action on 15th September 1916 at the Battle of Flers - the first ever tank attack. He is pictured in the front row of the one of the earliest photographs the Museum holds of the first tank men (see below).Ĭoles undertook just five months of training before travelling to France in August 1916 where he formed one of the eight-man crews of tank D15. He attended a Church near Poole Quay.Īfter conscription was introduced, Cyril enlisted in the army in February 1916 and went on to join the secret organisation that were to take the first tanks to war. The crew escaped unharmed.Ĭyril William Coles was born at Canford, Dorset in 1893, the son of a corn miller. There were some Germans in the dugouts and I shall never forget the looks on their faces when they emerged and saw my tank.’Īfter this initial success, Daredevil was hit by artillery fire and knocked out. ‘I managed to get astride one of the German trenches in front of the wood and opened fire. Mortimore was tasked to attack enemy strongpoints at Delville Wood and then provide support for the assault on the village of Flers. I’d been very frightened indeed, both before and after the day, but on that particular morning the whole thing seemed unreal, besides which we all had the utmost confidence in our new weapon - the tank.’ ‘Looking back on it, I don’t think I was frightened. Like other recruits to the new tank unit, he was entering a complete unknown. Mortimore, known as ‘Morty’, was 23 years old when he commanded his Mark I tank at the Battle of Flers Courcelette. This was the first tank in history to see action on a battlefield. on 15th September 1916, Lieutenant Harold Mortimore led his tank Daredevil across No Man’s Land.
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