Discovery
The circumstances which led to the discovery
The hunt for the tank at Flesquieres was inspired and led by
Philippe Gorcynski, an historian of the Battle of Cambrai, and
author of the book ‘Following the Tanks’.
Philippe
knew there were persistent stories of a tank abandoned and buried in
Flesquieres. He was convinced it should be possible to find it, and
make it a centre-piece of a monument and museum to commemorate the
historic battle.
Local reports about the likely burial
place were confusing. A villager, Madame Marthe Bouleux, a teenager
in the war, remembered seeing Russian prisoners being ordered by the
Germans to push a tank into an enormous hole near a café run by her
parents. But early investigation with electronic detectors proved
negative – and Philippe’s search was handicapped by the needs of
farmers and hunters.
Battle History Sheet
Philippe and his colleagues studied documents in British and German
archives, and explored other possible burial sites, in other parts
of Flesquieres and in nearby Ribecourt, Villers-Guislain, Bourlon
and elsewhere. Some sites were promising, but Philippe’s instinct
kept drawing him back to the area indicated by Madame Bouleux.
After more than six years of difficult research, documents
suggested that the tank might be one from ‘D’ Battalion. Studies of
original and modern aerial photographs, together with infra-red
photos and powerful metal detection tests, showed there was a large
metal object buried in a field belonging to Mesdames Cagnion and
Queulain.
Excavation began on 5th November, 1998. The three-man team present
comprised Yves Desfosses, responsible for the Regional
Archaeological Service of the Nord Department, the excavator driver,
and Philippe Gorczynski. After one hour of digging, the roof hatch
was revealed. It was obvious the tank had been used a shelter by the
Germans or the British. That day nothing more could be achieved, and
after entering and exploring the tank interior a number of times,
Philippe decided to reseal the entrance for safety.
After a few days, the town of Arras, together with Institut
Nationale Recherches Preventives, provided a team of professional
archaeologists. By 20th November, the 81st anniversary of the
Battle, the tank was fully exposed. Many dignitaries and media
arrived from all over the world. A special ceremony was held and a
wreath laid in memory of those soldiers from the Tank Corps who were
killed in the Battle.
See
the video:Deborah is revealed in the ground(Skynews)
Next: The identification