a WW1 tank and Canadian Infantry soldiers in 1918 courtesy of the Canadian War Museum
Toronto. Did you ever wonder about tanks – military, not photographic? The tanks of WW1 were much different from those of WW2. And again, without photography we would have to rely on words and sketches.
The Canadian War Museum has memorable objects and photographs of the first world war, the men, the equipment, and the ideas.
My good friend, George Dunbar, came across the photograph at left titled “Returning on a Tank” showing men and a WW1 tank in France from the “George Metcalf Archival Collection, article CWM 19930012-528” at the War Museum’s online photo archive.
The cut line under this photograph reads, “Members of the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles return from combat piled on a tank in this posed August 1918 photograph. At the Battle of Amiens, where this photograph was taken, Canadians experimented with transporting infantry to the front inside the tanks, but carbon monoxide exhaust and the crippling heat left most of them vomiting and unable to fight.”
Well, it seemed like a good idea …
Perhaps you who collect photographs or war memorabilia have similar photos in your collection. Remember war photographs and other goodies turn up at our auction and fairs – drop in and see what is offered that augments your personal collection! See dates and places in our RH sidebar. I will put up a poster as we near a given event.
