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Early in the morning of 20th November 1917 across rolling countryside in northern France, the rumble of engines could be heard. Moments later, under a hurricane bombardment, German soldiers manning the mighty Hindenburg Line, watched on with horror as hundreds of new weapons of war emerged from the mist to launch the first large-scale tank assault in history.
In this video we follow the incredible story of one tank and its crew and their remarkable legacy which has continued for a century. This is the story of D51: Deborah, at the Battle of Cambrai.
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Written References:
· J. Taylor, Deborah and the War of the Tanks 1917 (2016)
· J. Murland, The Battle of Cambrai 1917 (2022)
· C. McNab, Cambrai 1917 (2012)
· Various Record Sets, War Diaries of the Battalions (2018, Naval & Military Press)
Audio/Video References:
· A. Turner, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCliic2w_C4&t=1812s
· J. Taylor, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzOQMlyvqWw&t=103s
· The Tank Museum, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX_BnN4cWbo
General Sources:
· Imperial War Museum Sound Archive (IWMSA)
· US National Archives (NARA)
· National Library of Scotland Image Collection (NLS)
· Australian War Memorial Image Archive (AWM)
· War Diaries of the Battalions (NMP)
· British Newspaper Archive (BNA)
· The National Archives, Kew (TNA)
· Google Earth Pro & Web Versions
· Memory Maps, Trench Maps of the First World War
· Maptiler Pro (Desktop Version)
· Maptiler Pro
Credits:
· Research: Dan Hill
· Script & Narration: Dan Hill
· Editing: Shane Greer & Linus Klassen
· Thumbnail Design: Linus Klassen
· Music & Sound Effects: Shane Greer
29 Comments
Findmypast is a great tool we use for nearly all our videos. If you want to do your family research, check it out and start your family tree for free: http://battleguide.co.uk/findmypast
A fantastic video 🙂 Thank you.
Outstanding story and video….👊🏻🇺🇸
Well done, thank you.
Thank you for telling 'Debra' s' story.. both fascinating and heartbreaking… Huzzah to the crew of Debra!!
Arretez dutiliser ces voix générées par IA, c'est insupportable !
And what did the invaders gain ? Going down in history as evil. The innocent youth of both sides pay the devils price
Congratulations for this impressive work of archeology and memory for mankind.
I have a personal connection with d51 Deborah, having did some restoration work on her when she was in her previous home , flesquires is a special place for me
Deutscher titel aber das video auf englisch.schade ohne deutsche untertitel.
Amazing research job!
Very interesting and heartbreaking video!!! Those men are very brave, for which they did!!!
No… it's not called "splash" it's called "spalling" when a tank is hit and metal on the inside breaks loose, it's called "spalling".
As a member of 118 Recovery Company Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (V) and an employee of Alvis Vehicles together with Mr Bob Skinner (ex Warrant Officer Class1 REME) also of Alvis Vehicles (formerly GKN Defence) the liaison between Alvis and Phillipe Gorzinzski. After much organising of all manor of logistics and military admin, 118 took a number of pieces of recovery equipment to Flesquieres and moved D51 'Deborah' from Mayor Audrain's farmyard to 'The Barn' within the village of Flesquieres. This was no mean feat due to the physical size of the recovery equipment used and the constraints of the road outside of the barn and the entrance into the barn. Some of those involved were Graham Crow, myself, Steve Nicholson, Mark Richards, Steve Parish, Andy Greenhalf, Terry Neale, Bob Buckerfield, John Collins (Master Chef, an army does perform better if fed and watered), and others whose names escape me. The event was covered live by Sky news. The successful conclusion was celebrated at the hotel of Philippe Gorzinzski, the Driving force behind 'Deborah's' Final Resting Place, in Cambrai.
Many thanks for this great documentary. As an old Royal Tank Regiment veteran, i grew up and matured on the story of the Battle of Cambrai, and the heroism of that battle. This was really well done and much appreciated and as an old "tankie" it brought a tear to my eye.
Why isnt there a movie about this?
I'm glad there was no attempt to restore it! It means so much more as it rests today.
My great uncle fought in World War I, he was wounded, but he would never talk about it. He used to carve me things, I tried to get him to make me a wooden gun, but he wouldn’t have anything to do with that
Amazing, I came across this museum while riding around the area but had no idea of the backstory of the tank
Unimaginable horrors. God give rest to all these brave souls.
Amazing job ! Especially your pronunciation (hello from France !)
Cannon fodder troops , one of my relative got gassed in this war …. Leaders ,politicians should always fight in these wars themselves, no more war
😭😭😭😭
Great video and thanks for sharing. However, time didn't forget this at all, the (by far) most successful Battlefield game is about WW1 and I have thousands of kills in this tank alone
Thank you so much for this, great detail and fabulous film and photos of the time.
Very interesting and thanks also to the Folks that finally located and found and preserved Deborah. RIP to all those brave souls who lost their lives in the War to end all Wars. If only.
Interesting. Thanks
スペイン風邪の流行でWW1は終戦したらしいね 死者が多すぎて戦争どころではなくなった 世界的には数千万人から1億人くらいと言うな
je vie juste a coté de bullcourt
What an amazing bit of history. Their bravery is unimaginable.
The thing that has stuck most in my mind though, is before an infantry attack, the ground was completely destroyed by large ammunitions, and then thousands of men ordered to run through it, at a rather hostile enemy.
Excuse my ignorance, but isn't that a stupid bloody idea?
How horrific could their deaths have been?
Meanwhile, I expect that the people who thought up that idea, all recieved much commendation, and a nice medal.
I am truly shocked.
A very interesting piece though, thank you.