WW1 letter reveals courage of fallen tank gunner

The Mark IV tank, the first to be mass produced, entered service in 1917

A newly-unearthed letter has revealed the courage of a World War One tank gunner during the final days of his life.

L/Cpl G S Hopkins was in two tanks which were badly damaged by shells over the space of a few days, later dying from his injuries.

His commanding officer wrote to a grieving relative that the gunner "was as badly smashed as anyone but he remained at duty".

The Tank Museum, in Bovington, Dorset, said the donated letter was a rare first-hand account of the early use of tanks in battle.

So-called "landships" were developed by the British military to break the deadlock of trench warfare.

The first tanks saw action on 15 September 1916 at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette.

Most were stranded or knocked out but some reached German lines to devastating effect.

The museum said the letter was a poignant addition to its collections

L/Cpl Hopkins was fatally injured on 31 July 1917, by which time mass production of tanks was under way in Britain.

His commander, Lt D A Palmer, described how they were attacked by gas shells, high explosives and burning oil for three hours on the night of 29 July.

He wrote: "My tank in which your brother was, was hit by a gas shell which exploded inside.

"No-one was injured but that tank was useless, and all of us were more or less gassed.

"Some went to hospital on the following day but some of us, although pretty bad, remained at duty and went into action on 31st."

On the morning of 31 July, British tanks were suffering heavy losses, the commander wrote.

"We went in and almost immediately came under heavy fire from machine guns, which sprayed us on all sides with ordinary and armour-piercing bullets. H.E. [high explosive] was dropping everywhere around.

"When making for an enemy strong point, (and when about twenty yards in front of our own infantry) we were hit by an enemy shell, which killed one of our crew instantly and wounded your brother and another gunner, besides putting the tank out of action.

"We managed to get the wounded outside, and into a little bit of trench – virtually in No Man's land. L/Cpl Hopkins had his left leg broken above the knee and had his right shin bone damaged.

"Your brother made no complaint, although his pain must have been pretty bad."

The injured crew waited for two hours before stretcher bearers arrived to take them away, the letter recorded.

The Tank Museum said the letter offered a glimpse of "the bravery and resilience of tank men facing the horrors" of World War One.