Words of encouragement addressed to British tank crews on the eve of the Battle of Cambrai in 1917 were recited during centenary commemorations at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
Second Lieutenant Rob Hornblower stood alongside a replica Mark IV tank to repeat the 90 words of ‘Special Order No. 6’, in which Brigadier-General Hugh Elles announced that he would lead the attack personally.
The Mark IV was brought from the Tank Museum in Dorset for the Royal Tank Regiment’s centenary remembrance service and march-past on 19 November 2017.
Displayed with it publicly for the first time was the Victoria Cross awarded to Captain Richard Wain, a 20-year-old Tank Corps officer killed in the first day of fighting at Cambrai.
Video: Centenary News
Posted by: CN Editorial Team