DEBORAH D51 THE FLESQUIERES TANK

The discovery and recovery of Deborah D51 – a British Mark IV tank which took part in the historic Battle of Cambrai in 1917 – is one of the most remarkable achievements in battlefield archaeology on the Western Front.

Deborah D51 was buried on the battlefield and was lost for almost 80 years, until it was traced by historian and author Philippe Gorczynski, and installed in a barn in the village of Flesquieres. Deborah’s commander, 2/Lt Frank Heap, won a Military Cross; five of the crew are believed to be buried in the military cemetery. Relatives of the crew are pictured above, beside Deborah.

Deborah D51 will be the centre-piece of a new museum to be opened in Flesquieres in time for the centenary in 2017. This will tell the story of the 1917 AND 1918 Battles in Cambrai with particular attention to the Tank Corps.

Now YOU can help tell the story about the many thousands of other men also fought at Cambrai.

Do YOU have any information about the 1917 and 1918 Battles of Cambrai? Was one of your relatives there?

Often a single soldier’s name can fill a large gap. Photographs, medals, letters and associated artefacts can help tell the story.

We’d like to hear about members of the Tank Corps, but also about anyone who fought alongside them in the infantry, artillery, cavalry, or any other unit – as well as from the families of German soldiers.

If you have details which might help honour these brave men and commemorate these historic battles, please contact: deborah@tank-cambrai.com

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