Lincoln landships, "Flirt II" and Cambrai 1917

Ok. More background for the trip to France on Monday.
In Lincolns Museum of lincolnshire Life there is one of the very few remaining WW1 tanks - Flirt II.
It wasn't made in Lincoln, but most likely at Metropolitan Carriage Wagon and Finance in Birmingham. But seeing as Fosters of Lincoln designed, tested and built these type of tanks, its back at its spiritual home.

Flirt II saw action at Cambrai, which also saw the end of her wartime exploits. I'm going to try and visit the areas of her wartime exploits around Cambrai, which I believe are in and around the villages of Marcoing on 20/21st Nov 1917 & Bourlon 27th Nov 1917.
Also, I've managed to blag a visit to Deborah D51 at Flesquieres on 25th March. Philippe Gorczynski himself, the man who dug her up is taking me around. See here for all the info on Deborah. He's also an expert on all things tanks & Cambrai (he wrote a book about so he should be able to put me right for the areas Flirt II was in. 'Following the tanks (1999)', Jean Liuc Gibot and Philippe Gorczynski.



Flirt II special training for the Battle of Cambrai at Wailly, 21 October 1917(pic from www.iwm.org.uk)



L to R

Captain A Darby MC, Major Inglis DSO commanding 16 company the Tank Corps, 2nd Lt Lennard MC  (The commander of Tank F.4 at Cambrai) with the dog mascot of the tank, Wailly Oct 1917 (pic from www.iwm.org.uk)




F4 "Flirt II" abandoned on the South East outskirts of Bourlon village on 27th November 1917 during Battle of Cambrai. F13 Silenced an MG whilst approaching the village. Then ditched in marshy ground whilst manoeuvring to avoid a wounded man. The Tank was abandoned, having being stripped of Lewis guns, the crew rallied at 1.pm .F4 entered the village at 6.40am after manoeuvring to avoid wounded infantrymen. the tank Ditched and broke down whilst attempting to avoid (or trying to unditch) the ditched F13. F4 was Towed clear by F1 at 8.30, but its big ends were gone. The tank abandoned at 9.55am as infantry retreated.
Note that the card is now 'four of clubs' rather than 'four of hearts' as in the earlier October 1917 pics. It appears its something to do with what section the tank was in at the time - hearts for 1 Section, clubs for 4 Section. (pic from info board at Museum of Lincolnshire Life)

So thats most of my homework done, it gives the trip a bit of focus with the local Lincoln connection and the upcoming centenary interest in all things WW1.

If you're really stuck for something instead of going to the pub and talking about birds,bikes & football then check this website out which I stumbled across whe looking for Flirt info. It contains the war diaries of the units involved in the Cambrai battle. (Flirt II was in 16 company, F battalion)

Jeez I've got to get out more.