The Story of First World War Tank That Fought During WWII

In the heart of Birmingham, back in 1917, a formidable steel beast was crafted: the heavy Mark IV tank, number 2324. Unlike many of its counterparts, this machine did not rumble through the trenches of the Western Front in France. Instead, as a training vehicle, it shaped new recruits until 1919. Distinguished as a male tank, it was furnished with weighty naval guns and machine guns, a feature that set it apart from female tanks which were armed solely with machine guns.

From Memorial to Defender: The Revival of a War Machine

After the end of the conflict, marking the gratitude for the Navy’s resolution of a tank gunnery issue, 2324 was gifted to HMS Excellent, the Royal Navy’s gunnery school on Whale Island, Portsmouth. There, it served as a remembrance, immobilized for display under the open skies.

Fast forward to 1940, with Britain’s air facing a relentless assault, Portsmouth’s strategic significance drew fiery bombardments. The evacuation from Dunkirk had wiped away much of Britain’s armor. Thus, when a resourceful army officer laid eyes on the silent steel giant on its pedestal, a spark of an idea was born. The officer proposed to the naval base’s commander: could this old war machine be revived for defense?

The task was daunting; 2324 had withstood more than two decades of coastal weather, a behemoth anchored in repose. However, determination and ingenuity led to the salvaging of parts from another commemorative tank to revive Excellent’s weary heart. With bated breath, mechanics watched as the engine, once cold, roared to life, stitching old glory back into the fabric of wartime Britain. Reinforced with two 6-pounder guns and a pair of Lewis machine guns atop its frame, Excellent reemerged from retirement.

The Tank’s Second Life

Donned in new camouflage, the ancient tank, propelled by Royal Navy sailors, embarked on daily patrols from Whale Island to Southsea Common. Despite its lumbering pace, spewing smoke and thundering at a mere three miles per hour, it struck a reassuring figure against the backdrop of war.

The calm of 1942 signaled Excellent’s return to its ceremonial duties as it was once more stationed on Whale Island. Many thought this was the tank’s final chapter, but history had more in store for this old warrior. In 1969, the Navy began its restoration, a task that proved to be a protracted endeavor. It wasn’t until the tank was handed over to the Army in 1971 that the restoration process gained momentum under the adept hands of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Bovington Camp.

Remarkably, three years later, number 2324 once again embraced mobility, powering through Bovington Camp, defying the silence of over three decades.

For those who wish to witness this grand machine, Excellent stands proudly at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset. Surpassing a century in age, this tank is not just an exhibit but a living relic of history, meticulously preserved and operational, a true marvel of a bygone era.