Tank Bank - Tank No.130

Tank Banks were an ingenious way of raising funds to support the war effort and purchase more tanks for the front.

It all started in November 1917 when two Mark I V tanks made their debut at the Lord Mayor Show in London, this was the first time the public had seen the new "wonder machine", because of this success the Government decided to use the tank to raise money and support from the sale of War Bonds and War Savings Certificates.

Six Mark IV male tanks "Egbert" No141, "Nelson" No130, "Julian" No 113,"Old Bill" No 119, "Drake" No 137 and "Iron Rations" No 142 toured England, Wales and Scotland in 1918 raising Millions of pounds through "Tank Bank Weeks"

At the End of the War it was decided to release tanks to City's and Towns in England and Wales. They stood in parks and other places all were scrapped in the 1920's and 1930's except for the Ashford tank in Kent.

Eastbourne received her tank in 1919 and for many years it was in Gildregde Park near the Town Centre. The tank was eventually sold for scrap metal in 1933.

This article appeared in the Times on 27th December 1917 and related to Tank no. 130 “Nelson” that had started its week from Trafalgar Square.

“WE WANT MORE TANKS

Corporal “Billy” Brandon, the driver of Tank 130, who returned to his home at Holloway after the closing of the Tank Bank at Leeds, addressed audiences on Christmas and Boxing nights at the Ideal Cinema Theatre, Holloway and sold his poem on behalf of the wounded soldiers at the Great Northern Central Hospital.

He made some stirring addresses during his short leave, in which he said. “All the boys at the front are hungry for peace, but, if it is to be peace branded with the words ‘Made in Germany,’ the lads in the trenches will try to forget their hunger and fight on, since no other than a British peace will suit them.” He said that he left the Cambrai sector he had one message to bring from the boys to the British public. “We want more tanks.” One had only to look to the record of Tank 130 since it left Trafalgar Square to see that he and his colleagues were doing their best to get these tanks.”

For more information: Friends of the Lincoln Tank