Landships II

OK, I'll tell you the story. After a break of 30-odd years, I went to Bov in IIRC 2004. By that time all the WWI tanks were in the big hall, you could still fire the Vickers gun, and so on. There were showcases, dioramas, and models all round the room.

The next time was in January 2013, after the big makeover. The WWI exhibits had been divided into two lots, some incorporated into "The Tank Story" and the rest rearranged in the old big hall. A lot of the models had disappeared or been cannibalised to fit into new configurations. There had been floods in Wool, and I've got a photo of the memsahib standing alone in a deserted, rainswept car park at the Museum. We were outnumbered by museum guides who wouldn't stop talking to us. Now, our friend Marienwagen had asked about the strange vehicle supposedly designed by the Kaiser, so I asked if it was still on view. It wasn't, but a very kind guide (I think they just wanted something to do - the place was almost deserted) took us into the archives office and the charmng Ms Sweetenham, the archivist, dug it out and let me take some photos. See the outcome here: https://landships.activeboard.com/t52286589/the-kaisers-pullman-for-marienwagen/  We were also invited to sit in the Mark IV, and we had the place pretty much to ourselves.

Next was a flying visit earlier this year, because we happened to be in the area and the weather was terrible.

But my birthday gift from the memsahib, who is very understanding about these things, was an Access All Areas Day at the Museum, on November 4th. It included - as well as breakfast and lunch - tours of the workshops, the library, "The Tank Story," and, most importantly, the archives. That is where the models seem to have ended up, lots of them on shelves. Also, a torpedo spud, William Tritton's huge plaque of a tank, original uniforms - I can't remember everything, but I took plenty of photos. Didn't actually see the Kaiser tank, but I mentioned it to Ms Sweetenham, and she said it was packed away somewhere, along with, amongst others, the Batter Tractor.

So that's where the models have got to. Sorry can't give you more details. There don't seem to be any plans to do anything with them at the mo. If there's a demand I'll post some of the photos.

Spontaneous free entry to the Mk IV is a thing of the past, it seems. By appointment and admission fee only.

I still can't understand why I didn't see the models described in the article. Whereabouts in the museum are they?

(BTW, there's a showcase of similar models at Saumur, but when I went there it couldn't be opened because Colonel Dubois was elsewhere, and he had the keys.)

 

What a shame Mr Pickering's old models have been packed away. They don't take up much space (just a glass cabinet as I recall twenty-odd years ago) and are a fascinating part of the story of tank development, as well as being beautiful objects in their own right. I presume with changing fashions in museum display, they are no longer seen as playing a role.