No accounts that I've read explain precisely how Estienne came to be informed of and an observer of British tank development. AJ Smithers doesn't mention him until Stern, Swinton, & Gen. Butler visit him after Sep 15th 1916; he's not present at trials until Oldbury in March 1917. Ramspacher says he was sent to England on June 25th, 1916 to assess British progress. Glanfield says he was at Elveden in June. One account says Foch sent him to England, another that invitations were sent to the French military attaché. None of this is very clear.
Anyone know how the French became aware of what was going on and how Estienne became involved?
__________________
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Leon Dutil ('Les Chars D'assaut' 1919) says that GHQ informed GQG of the British tank programme at beginning of June 1916 - Estienne was sent by GQG (ie Joffre not Foch - the latter being still in charge of GAN at this date if memory serves me correctly) to England for two days and then went on to his post at 3 Army. There is nothing in the French Official History about this, although there are a number of documents about the British visit to France; for example a note from Albert Thomas to Joffre about the visit dated 20 July 1916 (AFGG IV/2 Appendixes 3, no 2507). Incidentally, Ramspacher lifted great chunks of text verbatim from Dutil - naughty. It would take some trawling but you might be able to find the original letter from GHQ at the National Archives at Kew - I've had a quick look on the NA site but couldn't find it. I'm going to Vincennes next month and will let you know if I find the document there.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
