Found something interesting when reading Major Wilson's A Company of Tanks - he mentions "the tanks which later were paraded through Berlin were not my tanks".
Were there some tanks paraded in Berlin? This quote is referring to a time just after Bullecourt.
One presumes he's referring to F41 Fray Bentos II, which was paraded through Berlin following it's capture at Cambrai in November/December 1917. It was well photographed so he would likely have seen it and been given the impression there was more than one tank.
The story of 2 MkII tanks disappearing into the mist at Bullecourt and turning up in Berlin is a myth. It's fooled a few writers, including A.J. Smithers. No serviceable tanks captured until Cambrai.
Film of Fray Bentos in Berlin here: http://www.filmportal.de/video/nach-der-tankschlacht-bei-cambrai-dezember-1917
Twelve minutes in.
-- Edited by James H on Sunday 8th of June 2014 09:56:48 PM
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"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.
Been reading Fletcher's Tanks and Trenches, and he has an interesting letter from C.E.W. Bean, Official Australian Military Historian, who writes (referring to after Bullecourt) says 'Like most others who heard the report that two tanks followed by infantry had penetrated to Hendecourt...the writer first accepd it as accurate.'
I would assume he is talking about this exact topic, and he also clearly debunks it.
