Deborah) at Cambrai Tank 1917 - 53456548130
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Deborah’s crew were: - Tank Commander 2/Lt F. G. HeapSurvived 1st Driver Lance Corporal G. C. Foot, DCMKilled – buried at Flesquieres Hill cemetery Gunner William GalwayKilled – buried at Flesquieres Hill cemetery Gunner Joseph ChevertonKilled – buried at Flesquieres Hill cemetery Gunner F. W. TippingKilled – buried at Flesquieres Hill cemetery Private W. G. RobinsonKilled – buried at Flesquieres Hill cemetery Lance Corporal David MarsdenSurvived ? unknownSurvived
Deborah’s commander, 2/Lt Frank Heap, was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. The citation reads: - “In Cambrai operations near Flesquieres on November 20th 1917, he fought his tank with great gallantry and skill, leading the infantry on to five objectives. He proceeded through the village and engaged a battery of enemy field guns from which his tank received five direct hits, killing four of his crew. Although then behind the German lines he collected the remainder of his crew and conducted them in good order back to our own lines in spite of heavy machine gun and snipers fire”.
Deborah was later towed some 900yds by other tanks and buried as a shelter, using a hole previously dug by the Germans prior to the battle. Later covered over, the tank was long-forgotten other than by villager Madame Marthe Bouleux, who had been a teenager during the war and remembered seeing a tank being buried, as well as the rough location. Philippe Gorczynski, author of “Following the Tanks” had investigated several possible locations in the area without success, but eventually found Deborah buried near the spot indicated by Madame Bouleux. The tank was excavated during November 1998 and was fully exposed by 20th November, the 81st anniversary of the battle, when a ceremony was held. Relocated and preserved ‘as found’ Deborah is now the centrepiece of a specially created museum nearby, where she has an enormous presence and is an incredible memorial. Cambrai Tank 1917 Flesquières, France
13th July 2022
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