Original British WWI Era POW Made Children’s Wooden Tank Model Toy With Officers Tank Corps Badge Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. While most wooden models are often Prisoner made, we do believe this was simply a loving father that made this toy for his son. The tank does not have any moving treads but instead has 3 small wheels on the bottom, obscured by the treads. Now we are unsure as to what type of tank this represents, and could very well date to the Inter-War period when new tank options were being explored. The model is in wonderful condition and still retains most of the original paint, markings and details.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.

The formation of the Royal Tank Regiment followed the invention of the tank. Tanks were first used at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette in September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme in the First World War. They were at first considered artillery, and crews received artillery pay. At that time the six tank companies were grouped as the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps (MGC). In November 1916 the eight companies then in existence were each expanded to form battalions (still identified by the letters A to H) and designated the Heavy Branch MGC; another seven battalions, I to O, were formed by January 1918, when all the battalions were changed to numbered units. On 28 July 1917, the Heavy Branch was separated from the rest of the Corps by Royal Warrant and given official status as the Tank Corps. The formation of new battalions continued and, by December 1918, 26 had been created though only 25 battalions were equipped with tanks, as the 17th had converted to armoured cars in April 1918. The first commander of the Tank Corps was Hugh Elles. The Corps saw much action at the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.