Symbols and markings on tanks
A work in progress.
Some tanks displayed symbols and other markings on their hulls.
After May 1918 all British tanks were supposed to carry foot wide white, red, white stripes on the outside of their front horns and on the top of their turrets; this was to distinguish the from Beute Panzers.
At Cambrai "C" Battalion's 9 Company painted 12th Division's Ace of Spade symbol on their sides to distinguish then from tanks operating with other divisions: (X74.p31)
Also at Cambrai two 9 company tanks, C51 and C47 displayed figures painted on their rear hulls, abaft the sponson. (X74.p31 top and bottom, X74.p57)
"E" Battalion's "Ernest" displayed a tusk, tooth or horn symbol on the front of its hull during 3rd Ypres (TM 202/B6), (X76.p93)
"E" Battalion's "Eve" sported two painted flags on its front glacis at Cambrai: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4093643772/in/photolist-7eJZF3/lightbox/
In 1917 "F" Battalion's 16 Company displayed playing cards on their hulls; each section displayed a different suite: 1 section had hearts (H6); 2 section presumably diamonds ; 3 section Spades (X74.p28 and p30) , 4 section Clubs (XXX). Only 1 section's allocation is given in the written sources, 3 and 4 sections' can be worked out from German photographs of the captured F12, and F13 (3 section) and F4 (4 section) .
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2184827639/in/set-72157601074582281/ ; http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8417382818/in/set-72157601074582281 ;
In late September 1918 6th Battalion's whippets fought with 32nd Division, IX Corps and were thus were painted with a large red IX, and four small circles in a diamond pattern. (H6)