British tanks 1915-18 : manufacture & employment
For far too long it was accepted that the higher echelons of the British Army, that is the War Office and GHQ, France, were reactionary, that they were anti-technology and cavalry oriented. In the past decade historians have gone some way to challenge this view, but not far enough. Much of the ~traditional versus progressive~ school of thought, in regard to the tactical employment of the tank, still survives. This thesis will attempt to continue the roll-back. It will not, however, confine itself to the tactical employment of the tank, but will instead suggest that to gain a more complete picture of the Army's support for the tank development programme in World War One we have to examine the manufacture of the tank too. No one has acknowledged the role of the War Office in pushing for the creation not only of the first Tank Committee, but every subsequent committee thereafter. The original Tank Committee, the ~New~ or ~Advisory~ Tank Committee, The Tank Directorate and the Tank Board were all set up under the aegis of the War Office. True, the War Office had a great deal to gain in establishing these bodies in their attempt to wrest control of the destiny of the tank from ~civilian~ hands at the Ministry of
Childs, David John
History
British tanks 1915-18 : manufacture & employment. For far too long it was accepted that the higher echelons of the British Army, that is the War Office and GHQ, France, were reactionary, that they were anti-technology and cavalry oriented. In the past decade historians have gone some way to challenge this view, but not far enough. Much of the ~traditional versus progressive~ school of thought, in regard to the tactical employment of the tank, still survives. This thesis will attempt to continue the roll-back. It will not, however, confine itself to the tactical employment of the tank, but will instead suggest that to gain a more complete picture of the Army's support for the tank development programme in World War One we have to examine the manufacture of the tank too. No one has acknowledged the role of the War Office in pushing for the creation not only of the first Tank Committee, but every subsequent committee thereafter. The original Tank Committee, the ~New~ or ~Advisory~ Tank Committee, The Tank Directorate and the Tank Board were all set up under the aegis of the War Office. True, the War Office had a great deal to gain in establishing these bodies in their attempt to wrest control of the destiny of the tank from ~civilian~ hands at the Ministry of
british tank manufacture employment far long accept high british_army war_office france reactionary anti technology cavalry orient historian way challenge_view far enough much traditional versus progressive school_think regard tactical employment tank still survive attempt continue roll back however confine tactical employment tank instead suggest gain complete_picture army support tank development programme world war examine manufacture tank too acknowledge role war_office push creation first tank committee every subsequent committee thereafter original tank committee new tank committee tank tank board set aegis war_office true war_office great_deal gain establish body attempt control destiny tank civilian hand ministry