I happened upon a website yesterday evening about WW1 tank battles.
So I decided to contact the owner who it turns out was very knowledgeable and well connected to see if he could locate a photo of my grandfather’s tank that broke down on 24/03/1918.
The War History as I already knew revealed that he had unbolted his gun and set up at outpost outside of the tank to hold the Germans at bay whilst the infantry “extricated themselves from a most perilous situation”. On this day, he was wounded receiving gun shot wounds to his head and neck. I recall as a child seeing what can only be described as a "ravine" on this forehead about 2 cm. wide and 1 cm. across, very much looking like a fresh wound but clearly healed and with a yellow tinge to it rather like a small healed gash.
Today I open an email from him with this photo which shows the gun laid back inside the door of the vehicle whilst waiting recovery.
My cousin thinks the guy on the right is our grandfather but it doesn’t look like him to me.
I am surprised at just how high quality this photo is.
Despite MANY hours trying to find a photo of 8021 I never managed to find one and it's debatable whether this is 8021 or 8022.
And this my friends is why I refer to my Xantia S2 as WarHorse.
In memory of my grandfather and his service to King and Country.
