Secondary Sources
Secondary Sources
This is a list of the secondary sources the author has used.
Sources are listed by the source reference then the page Number.
i.e. S1.p347 = page 347 in Trevor Pidgeon's "The Tanks at Flers"
If a photo (or its caption) is referred to the "S" is replaced by an "X" i.e. S1.p347 becomes X1.p347.
OH refers to the Official History, it should be followed by a year, volume and page number. i.e. OH18.V2.p234
OHA refers to the Official History of Australia in the Great War of 1914-1918
SBv BMA
Provisional Tank Identification List.Author A Huygelier
A list held in Bovington Tank Museum made from information held in the Belgian Military Archives (BMA)
S1
The Tanks at Flers (1995). Trevor Pidgeon
Definitive account of the involvement of the Tanks on 15 th / 16 th September 1916.
S2
Tanks on the Somme (2010) Trevor Pidgeon
Definitive account of the involvement of the Tanks on the Somme after the 16 th September action.
S3
Devils Chariots (2001) John Glanfield
An excellent account of the political manoeuvrings needed to get the first tanks into action
S4
Band of Brigands (2007) Christy Campbell
An entertaining account of the tanks in WW1, the first third leans heavily upon Devils Chariots. Some trivial mistakes (i.e. MK IIIs at Arras) but very enjoyable
S5
Landships of Lincoln (2007).. Richard Pullen,
A good account of the work of the Lincoln Factory. Well illustrated. Some mislabelled photos.
S6
German Panzers 1914 – 1918 (2006). Steven J Zologa, Osprey
Superb account of the First German tanks. Lists all of them and their fates. Well illustrated. The inspiration for this site.
S7
British Mark I Tank (2004). David Fletcher, Osprey
An excellent account of the Mark I, II and III. Well illustrated.
S8
British Mark IV Tank. (2005). David Fletcher, Osprey
An excellent account of the Mark IV. Well illustrated.
S9
British Mark V Tank. (2011). David Fletcher, Osprey
A good account of the Mark V, some inaccuracies. Well illustrated.
S10
Armoured units of the Russian Civil War. White Russian (2003) D Bullock and A Deryabin, Osprey
Sister book to S63
S11
The British tanks 1915-19 (2001). David Fletcher,
Excellent, very well illustrated account of the first tanks.
S12
The Somme. The Day by Day Account (1993) Chris McCarthy
A superb book. Factual list of events on the Somme one day at a time. To get a real feeling for the ebb and flow of the Battle start reading on 1 st July and read each days entry on subsequent days.
S13
The Tank Corps (1919), Clough Williams – Ellis
An early account of the tanks participation in the First World war. Written without access to many of the primary sources we now have available, and thus contains some factual errors (MK IIIs at Arras); later historians have clearly leaned heavily upon this work as the errors keep cropping up. Overall an entertaining collection of stories, very readable.
S14
World War I Day by Day (2000). Ian Westwall,
Standard general history of WW1. Very little on Tanks. Included here because of the Photograph on page 4.
S15
Vimy Ridge (2005). Alexander Turner, Osprey
Good account of the Canadians successful assault. The eight tanks allocated did not make it into action as all bogged down. This reference included here because of the Photographs on pages 73 and 80.
S16
Flers and Guedocourt.(2002).Trevor Pidgeon , Pen and Sword.
Covers part of the story told in tanks at Flers. Well-illustrated. Contains some material not found in the earlier work (S1 above), including an account of Storey’s attack on the 26 th September.
S17
Bullecourt. (1999) Graham Keech, Pen and Sword.
Covers the attacks on Bullecourt in April and May 1917. Considers original source material and the account given by Bean in the Official Australian History. Well Illustrated.
S18
Cheerful Sacrifice, The Battle of Arras 1917 (2005)
Jonathon Nicholls, Pen and Sword
The first modern reappraisal of the Battle of Arras. Contains extracts from survivors. Well written and very readable.
S19
Gravelle (2000) Kyle Tallett and Trevor Trasker, Pen and Sword.
S20
Monchy le Preux (2000) Colin Fox, Pen and Sword.
S21
Courcellette (1998) Paul Reed, Pen and Sword.
S22
Thiepval (1995) Michael Stedman, Pen and Sword.
S23
Beaumont Hamel (1994) Nigel Cave, Pen and Sword.
S24
Cambrai The Right Hook (1999) Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave, Pen and Sword.
Lots of tank pictures, Several are of Mk I and II tanks .
S25
Bourlon Wood (2002) Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave, Pen and Sword.
S26
The Experience of World War I (1988) JM Winter
Included here because of the very well captioned photo on page 101
S27
The Pictorial History of World War 1. (1987) GD Sheffield
As the title implies, packed with photos, many very large and well reproduced. Their size allows WD and Crew numbers to be read.
S28
The First World War (2003) Hew Strachan
A good general history,
S29
The World War One Sourcebook (1992) Philip J Haythornthwaite.
S30
The Boiler Plate War (1963) John Foley
S31
Cambrai 1917 (2007) Alexander Turner. Osprey
S32
All the Kaisers Men (2005) Ian Passingham
Very good account of the Western front from the German perspective.
S33
Amiens 1918 (2008) Alistair McClusky. Osprey
S34
The Tank in Action (1920) D.G.Browne, William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh
Written by a Tank commander. Contains first hand accounts of several actions, though is inaccurate in some areas (especially Arras). Downloadable for free:
S35
Passchendaele. The Day by Day Account (1995) Chris McCarthy
A superb book. Factual list of events at 3rd Ypres one day at a time. Lots of maps. To get a real feeling for the ebb and flow of the Battle start reading on 31 st July and read each days entry on subsequent days.
S36
The War on the Western Front (2007) Gary Sheffield (Ed), Osprey
S37
Following the Tanks, Cambrai. (1999) Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorczynski
Unfortunately the website author does not own a copy of this work; only a copy of the Order of Battle, downloadable from landships.com.
S38
Passchendaele (2007) Peter Barton
A superb book, full of excellent photographs, most which are unavailable elsewhere; and some every good maps.
S39
Passchendaele. The Hollow Victory (2005) Martin Matrix Evans
An excellent appraisal of 3 rd Ypres. Describes the tank actions in some detail, mainly using published eyewitness accounts (such as D G Browne, see S35 above). Does not use the original accounts from the PRO. Very readable.
S40
Cambrai 1917. The Myth of the first great tank Battle (2008) Bryn Hammond
S41
Beyond the Green Fields (2008) Richard Pullen
A collection of reminiscences by tank men, contains several uncommon photos
S42
Tanks and Trenches (1994) D Fletcher
A collection of first hand accounts. Lots of pictures, some uncommon.
S43
Tank Warfare (1937) Frank Mitchell
A veteran’s account of his experiences.
S44
Flesquieres, Cambrai (2003) Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave
Pen and Sword.
S45
Amiens 1918 The last Great Battle (2007) James McWillaims and R. James Steel
S46
History of World War I (1978) AJP Taylor (ed)
A general History with a couple of useful photos
S47
World War I (1973) David Sherman
A general History with some useful photos
S48
Great Battles of World War I (1989) Anthony Livesy
A general History with some useful photos
S49
Tanks of the World (2004) David Miller
A general History of tanks. MkI, MkIV and Whippet all included.
S50
WW1 Tank Album Colonel Berkley Miller (DVD with still photos)
A collection of WW1 period photos
S51
First World War Tanks (1986 ) E Bartholomew
S52
Landships. British Tanks in the first World War (1984) D Fletcher
S53
First World war Tanks in Canadian Service (2009) Michael R McNorgan
Nice little 24 page pamphlet with several photos not found in the other listed sources.
S54
British Battle Insignia 1 1914-18 (1986) Mike Chappell (Osprey)
Not directly related to tanks but included as tanks occasionally sported the symbols of their attached divisions.
S55
Poelcapple. A trail of Wrecked Tanks (2007) Robert Baccarne
The most definitive account of the Poelcapelle battles in print, unfortunately (according to the books editor) contains some errors. See link in external sites section.
S56
Tank versus Tank (1991) Kenneth Macksey
S57
A pictorial history Royal Tank Regiment (1989) George Forty
A good general history with some uncommon photos.
S58
The 1917 Spring Offensives (1997) Yves Buffetaut
Almost all the Arras photos can be found here.
S59
Passchendaele (2000) Nigel Steel and Peter Hart
A good balanced account of 3rd Ypres. Gives due regard to the artillery, not much on tanks.
S60
Track Prints (2010) Richard Pullen
Lots of photos many not found elsewhere, some mislabelled.
S61
Rolling into Action (1934) DE Hickey (2007 reprint)
Date of original publication a guess. A good read full of valuable (if sometimes in accurate) information.
S62
A Company of Tanks (????) WHL Watson (???? Reprint)
S63
Armoured Units of the Russian Civil War. Red Army (2006) David Bullock (Osprey)
Sister book to S10
S64
The German Army at Cambrai (2009) Jack Sheldon
Good photos, some not published elsewhere; one or two of mislabelled Mk I and Mk II.
S65
Tanks of the (Russian) Civil War (2001) I Moshchanskiy & S Romadin
translated (2009) Tom Hillman & Craig Martelle
Lots of photos. Written using original Russian Archive documents.
S66
The indiscretions of a Warden (1937) Basil Henriques
Chapter eight contains information, mostly about the formation of the first tank companies in 1916 and Henriques first and only mounted action on 15th September 1916.
S67
Armoured fighting Vehicles of the World. Volume 1. A.F.V. World War one (1998) Duncan Crow Et al
An excellent book packed full of very clear photographs .
S68
A New Excalibur (1988) AJ Smithers
S68a
A New Excalibur (1986) AJ Smithers
A larger size edition of S68, with more and larger pictures.
S69
How the War was Won (2005) Tim Travers
Good account of the last 18 months of the war.
S70
Swansea Pals (2004) Bernard Lewis
My local pals battalion, the book that sparked my interest in the Great War.
Included because two 11th Battalion tanks supported the Swansea Pals on 8th October 1918.
S71
Images of War. The German Army on the Western Front 1917 - 1918 (2007) David Bilton
Includes Several photos of tanks not found elsewhere.
S72
Tanks in the Great War (1919) Brevet Colonel JFC Fuller DSO
S73
Sturmpanzer A7V (2010) Rainer Strasheim and Max Hundleby
One of three excellent books which contain loads of superbly reproduced photographs.
S74
Beute-Tanks Vol 1 (2011) Rainer Strasheim
One of three excellent books which contain loads of superbly reproduced photographs.
S75
Beute-Tanks Vol 2 (2011) Rainer Strasheim
One of three excellent books which contain loads of superbly reproduced photographs.
S76
Passchendaele (1997) Martin Matrix Evans
Contains some large properly referenced photos
S77
Arras (2010) Peter Barton
S78
Tank Action in the Great War. B Battalion's experiences in 1917. (2009) Ian Verrinder.
An excellent through ally researched book.
Only partially referenced on this site so far.
S79
Men and Tanks ( ) JC Macintosh
S80
Mark IV vs A7V (2013) David R Higgins
Not yet referenced
S81
Fighting Vehicles (1972) Chris Ellis, Peter Chamberlain
S82
The Great Tanks (1975) Chris Ellis, Peter Chamberlain
S83
Great War Tank (2013) David Fletcher
Excellent book, lots of Photos, good technical information, the usual mistakes (e.g. 476 tanks at Cambrai)
S84
British infantryman versus German infantryman (2014) Stephen Bull
Tanks mentioned on two pages. (p62 and p63).
The illustration on pages 68 and 69 (drawn by the superb Peter Dennis) incorrectly shows a green MkIV tank in the background; the tank should be a MkI.
S85
The Somme 1916 and other experiences of the Salford Pals (2006) Michael Stedman
e-book with two useful tank photos.
S86
Medium Mark A Whippet (2014) David Fletcher
S87
Fighting tanks (1929) Ed G Murrey Wilson
Not yet referenced
S88
The fighting tanks since 1916 (1933) Ralph E. Jones, George H. Rarey, Robert J. Icks
S89 Michelin Guide:
Ypres and the Battle of Ypres
Four useful photos
S90
Michelin Guide: Battlefields of the Somme Vol 1
Not yet referenced
S91
Michelin guide; Battlefields of the Somme Vol 2
S92
VCs of the First World War, Cambrai 1917 (2004) Gerald Gliddon
S93
Forged By Fire, 7th Somerset Light Infantry (2003) Brendon Moorhouse
S94
Warpaint (2008) David Taylor Not yet referenced
S95
Veteran Volunteer (2014) Frank Vans Agnew
Memoirs of the commander of Mk IV, 2019, "Bandit"
S96
Mapping the First World War (2014) Peter Chasseaud
A couple of useful tank related items.
S97
Tank Battles of World War 1 (1984) Bryan Cooper
Not yet referenced
S98
War Stories of the tankers (2008)
Michael green (kindle edition) The first two accounts are from US tankers who fought with the 301st.
S99
The First Tank Crews (2016) Stephen Pope
A superb book thoroughly researched. As it traces the fates of the first tank crews it includes details of many actions during WW1.
Not yet referenced
S100
The Tanks (1959). Capt BH Liddell Hart
Not yet referenced
S101
1918 (2018) Richard van Emden
A few photographs of tanks not found elsewhere
S102
The Road to Passchendaele (2017) Richard van Emden
Some Photographs not found elsewhere and some good first hand accounts of tank's actions.
S103
The Battle of the Sambre: 4 November 1918 (2016) Derek Clayton
theses pdf download: https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/6799/9/Clayton16PhD.pdf
An excellent comprehensively researched account of this very neglected battle. also available as a book (2018)
S104
The Western Front 1917-1918 (2008) Andrew Wiest