The First Tank Crews by Stephen Pope

VINTAGESTAN BOOKS
Title: The First Tank Crews by Stephen Pope. The lives of the tankmen who fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15 September 1916
Summary: This remarkable book reveals the hitherto unknown story of the soldiers who took the first tanks into action on the Somme battlefield in September 1916. Drawing on official records, contemporary newspaper reports and family memories, Stephen Pope provides a fascinating insight into the lives of First Tank Crewmen, covering their recruitment, scant training, rapid deployment and their premature use in battle. He then traces their interconnected lives over the next two years as tanks played a key role in the defeat of the Germany Army in 1918. He reveals the story of their return to civilian life and their often-difficult struggle to build a family life.

Sadly many of the First Tank Crew died young, some due to injuries or illnesses developed as a result of their wartime service. Many of their marriages failed, some as a direct result of the stresses of the battlefield. Many were childless and few lived to see their grandchildren grow up. Amongst the stories revealed are those of the grandson of the social reformer Joseph Rowntree, the champion rose grower Bill Harkness; the Scottish chemist Stuart Hastie who introduced science into the whisky distilling process and the Liverpool school teacher Graham Nixon who tried to teach John Lennon mathematics. None of those who fought in the tanks achieved great fame for their actions and few revealed their wartime secrets to their families. However, many became pillars of their local communities, giving a life of service to those around them.

This book tells the previously untold stories of bravery, determination and dedication by a group of unsung heroes. The author has used his contacts with more than fifty relatives of those who fought at the First Tank Action and used their input to provide a detailed description of their lives after the war, He has also gathered together many, previously unpublished pictures including many of the tankmen in France, and has revealed the backstory to several well-known photographs. Above all, he has linked individual lives together to create a fascinating story of ordinary men who took part in extraordinary events. The story of the First Tank Crews is one well worth reading.
Author: Stephen Pope
Publisher: Helion & Company Limited. Solihull, England. 
Year Published: 2016
Edition: 1st Edition 
Dimensions: 25cm x 17.5cm
Binding type: Hardcover. 
ISBN: 9781910777770
Notes: 
SKU: VSS / 238b / H / 7644 / 6014
Condition 
Dust Jacket Condition: Good. Creasing, rubbing, closed tear, handling marks, marks. 
Book condition: Near fine. 
Binding: Intact. 
Pages: 420 pages
 
Postage
Postage weight: 1.6Kg
Package size: Parcel. 
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Grading explained
As New: Same condition as a new, unread book. In perfect condition
Fine: Book or dust jacket that is not quite a crisp as a as new book
Very good: A read book. Minimal wear to book / dust jacket. No tears on either binding or paper. No marks or highlighting of text, may have identifying marks on inside cover. 
Good: Describes the average used book that has all its pages or leaves. Light foxing or age toning may be present. Dust jacket may be missing, cover and binding may have wear. Majority of pages are undamaged. May have creasing or tearing and pencil underlining of text. No permanent highlighting to text or writing in margins. 
Fair: Describes a worn book that has complete text pages (including those with maps or plates), May lack end papers, half title page, etc. Binding and jacket may also be worn
Poor: Book shows considerable wear, only merit is as a reading copy. Book or dust jacket listed as poor may be soiled; scuffed, stained, book may have loose joints, hinges, pages etc.  
Ex-Library: Former library copy. May have marks and stamps.
From library of: From a privately owned library.
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