The First Mass Tank Attack | Battle of Cambrai 1917 [World War One Documentary]

100 years on from the Battle of Cambrai, The Tank Museum presents a documentary on the moment the Tank Corps delivered one of the greatest advances of the First World War. This is the full-length version of Cambrai: The Tank Corps Story.
As the regimental museum of the Royal Tank Regiment, The Tank Museum is using the World War One centenary to draw attention to the struggle, sacrifice and ingenuity of the early tank men.
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[@markhaly7198]

Thank you for this most informative documentary, very well made. My grandfather was tankman that saw action at Cambrai and earned a Military Medal there. He survive the war but died from a tragic accident when back on civvy street.

[@freelancebush]

My great grandfather was declared missing, presumed killed in action at the battle of Cambrai. Walter Stacey. 7th battalion Somerset light Infantry. He was killed in the massive German counter-attack on the 30th November 1917. In 2008 I travelled to his last known position on the flat ground of the slopes outside Masniere, and collected a container of soil which I returned to Somerset. I interred the soil, along with his lost spirit into the grave of his widow Bessie-Kate to whom he never returned. The local newspapers covered the story, and did a center page spread on my journey fromAustralia, and Walters final battle at Cambrai; the article was titled. ‘The Heros return’. Walters name is etched in marble at the nearby Louvravel memorial. Their name liveth forevermore.

[@steelscooter]

Absolutely fantastic production, the equal of anything from the BBC. Thank you Tank Museum.

[@stevedunn5546]

Better than anything on the BBC these days with there very Woke views .

[@richardm3023]

Why would you insult the man by comparing his work to the BBC???

[@DonWan47]

Best KZbin channel. Made by learned professionals for amateur enthusiasts. Thank you everyone.

[@realmontgomeryfan]

I just had to stop and say how great this video was. I thoroughly enjoy the tank chats but this is truly something else. Wonderful documentary!

[@Drrolfski]

Coming from the Great War channel, this is actually a great documentary. Nice to hear original witness stories.

[@luislealsantos]

Exceptional documentary

[@zulubeatz1]

I agree with below. Excellent feature. The Tank Museum is proving to be one of the best youtube History channels available.

[@johnnyzippo7109]

WWI documentaries require nothing less than perfect production value to hold interest . This documentary achieves just that , very well done , I will undoubtedly watch it multiple times .

[@lilPOPjim]

Two years on and it only has 30K views??? This is a proper documentary and only 30K viewers!? advertise this more. This deserves more viewers. Really enjoyable and informative

[@jamesswain2248]

Check now

[@biologicalengineoflove6851]

Thank you all for putting in so much hard work to give us this incredibly informative and inspirational documentary. It felt like I was there, and I've learned so much.

[@friedchicken297]

I'd almost feel bad if I didn't say good job. One of the rare examples of actually informative and interesting tank Documentaries (Or however you want to categorize this) that doesn't suffer from inaccuracy or bias. You'd be doing the community a great service by making this a small series or something examining crucial and interesting tank battles. edit: Re-watched and (again) had to comment. This time on the absolutely stellar production and editing. The bar has been set quite high. Personally, I'd like to see something on the battles of Khalkhin Gol, the tank usage there, and lessons learned (and not learned) about armored warfare for WW2. It's something I definitely hear mentioned more than talked about. If anyone could do it, it's the gents at the Tank Museum. Again, great job.

[@pistonburner6448]

Tanks for this brilliant documentary

[@s.31.l50]

What a well made documentary on one of the most important battles in the history of the Royal Tank Corps.

[@sithdoestat4432]

In all honesty, this is probably the best documentary about this battle that I have ever watched. Would we be able to see more like this in the future?

[@johnmarlin4661]

Thanks to the Tank Museum for this !!

[@stevemolina8801]

OUTSTANDING! A thank you to all involved in this production.

[@thomasdimarco1167]

Finally a complete version! Thanks!

[@JackG79]

All I can really say is .. "wow..." How good was that? David you are not only a british... but a true WORLD Asset!! You keep us informed and keep the lessons learned from history right at our fingertips. BBC, Discovery and History Channels can only DREAM of content this good!! TV, and other Content awards..... eat your dang hearts out!!!!

[@Nick-ye5kk]

"There was a bit of a health risk", classic understatement for petrol falling onto hot exhaust.

[@hamishneilson7140]

Thank you for posting such informative content. I’m a Canadian army armoured reservist and I never realized that Cambrai was the origin of the “pace sticks” (I forget the actual name of them since I’m drinking) our Sgt Maj’s carry.

[@teomanmetehan7469]

Brilliant. This video deserves far more views.

[@wolfhound113]

This is an excellent documentary and David Willey is an excellent narrator.

[@wolfhound113]

What did make me smile was when he is walking along, with a massive Mark IV tank trundling behind him like an obedient pet. It's as if it's taken a liking to him (which, seeing as he is the actual Curator of the Tank Museum at Bovington, sort of makes sense.) :D

[@TheOrbofTime]

Working in those tanks must have been incredibly challenging. Great bravery and skill to do it.

[@SNOUPS4]

This video was perfect! The special effects to make the place names appear in the landscape, coupled with the maps, and recent pieces of information (the excavation of the wrecked tank), are the things that I found best (in addition to the brilliant and charismatic curator of the Tank Museum Bovington) :)

[@paulhawkins221]

Q

[@gaildavies8380]

Perfect comment as well well said 👍

[@dimitrekamenov4401]

Speachis terrible.found same of in or eithdentures

[@signoguns8501]

Got his thumb blown off and his reaction was "this is very annoying" lol. Love that British stoicism and understatement.

[@randyhavard6084]

I would like to see the Tank Museum do more videos with this format

[@heinrichzerbe]

I'm not sure how I missed this episode, but I'm glad to have seen it eventually. Well done on a brilliant documentary.

[@JimWarp93]

Great documentary, fantastic narration, superior production values - I am astonished !

[@benwilson6145]

Thank you fantastic story.

[@AussieWirraway]

that was an excellent quality of video. Keep it up!

[@atticdisorder]

Excellent documentary. As someone already said, David Willey is a great narrator. When I saw David Willey first, in a Great War episode, I thought he was just a very convincing museum guy, but now I think he is THE star of tank documentary genre.

[@spikydipple]

Wonderful, informative film. An actual documentary. Well done. Hope I get to visit the museum again one day.

[@ianmarsden1130]

Superb documentary. Very well done.

[@andrewrobertson3952]

I really enjoyed this documentary, knowing nothing of tanks. Been enjoying more of your Tank Chats and others on your channel, but I hope you get a chance produce more long documentaries like this one! :) Really great!

[@mattheewsumner7840]

My Great Uncle Roy was killed at Cambrai, Corporal Roy James Oldcorn 8th/9th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles. Still have the memorial Plaque and his medals.

[@HRHooChicken]

You never hear of British soldiers looting during their advances. Nice to hear some honesty

[@fuzzydunlop7928]

Yes yes, and it's good to hear people own up to it.

[@jessfrankel5212]

"I just got shot. It's very annoying." Typical British humor in the face of danger. It must have been hell for everyone to fight back then. Esp. facing a tank, slow and cumbersome as they were. Brave men all. Good documentary, very interesting.

[@Gerilac001]

This is a beautiful piece of video material! Great work!

[@outerventure6069]

I cannot believe this stuff is free, i just háve to visit this museum soon too

[@madzen112]

Amazing storytelling, impressive what can be done when the knowledge depths of a museum is given a proper treatment. Brilliant!

[@lorneturner5318]

Thank you. very interesting.

[@proxel96]

Expertly presented and narrated. You guys deserve more subs, and i'll definitely make an effort this year to come down South for my first visit! :)

[@therogueadmiral]

Wait, this is just the three videos put together? Hell, I'll watch it all again...

[@Splodge542]

Soldiers are dreamers. When the guns begin, They think of firelit homes, clean beds and wives. Siegfried Sassoon

[@bigboy3332]

Absolutely amazing , now that's a history documentary!

[@michaelamos4651]

Absolutely superb documentary. So informative and interesting .Thanks

[@d0veta1l0]

Good Video i want more of this.

[@faeembrugh]

Perfect - I am always interested in this battle as one of my great-grandfathers took part in the attack on Flesquires and was awarded the MM.

[@eltigre249]

One of the biggest impediment to any kind of new weapon is the old thinking of the General staff. Like the commandos were used on the line instead of being used for what they were trained to do. I love a general's comment on issuing repeating rifles: "They'll waste bullets."

[@p40148]

To bad the British hadn´t thought about building mobile bridges at this time, a breakthrough at Cambrai could have shortened the war and saved a lot of lives. As a former Tank battallion engineer it would have been thrilling to take part in this offensive. That´s the spirit, carry on lads.

[@olsonspeed]

Excellent presentation, the accounts of the survivors, danger and horror of war should never be forgotten.

[@majorkursk780]

Very informative production..well done!

[@inglebert123]

Great doc!

[@ihcfn]

A like just simply isn't enough to show our appreciation for the men involved in this action and for the tank museum for bringing us their story.

[@zepelin83]

Excellent documentary - really well put together and visually very effective at putting the story accross

[@francescoferrigno2339]

Another fantastic and educational video! You sir need a TV series.

[@dhcrouchmarineltd3049]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Many thanks for the history.

[@Xenuwun]

Personal highlight was the man taking his cat with him into the tank.

[@MaximusAquilas]

Great stuff chaps. Could you maybe do a documentary on the all arms tactics used by the commonwealth forces during the battle of Amien?

[@FranciscoPerez74]

Indy Neidell, of the Great War channel, brought me here. Thanks Indy!

[@mcsmash4905]

25:28 same guy that was in that line of fire documentary back in the late 90's or early 2000's

[@George-bz1fi]

Very good!

[@stevedunn5546]

Thank you. A fantastic documentary to remember some very brave men.

[@langer4602]

Fantastic work 👏

[@nuts4ships]

This is THE best video you chaps have done!

[@his1ojd]

A very interesting subject, which I only knew the basics about before watching your excellent documentary. I think the film you put together is of a television production quality and I particularly liked your use of first hand accounts to illustrate your subject. Very well presented to boot. 👏👏👏

[@ryantuttle5246]

More of these please. I wish I could go to the museum but I live in Americana’s don’t have the means to get there. I hope to be able to go there someday.

[@nigeh5326]

It’s well worth it we Brits are really lucky to have lots of great museums. Would love to visit the US and see the Smithsonian and other US museums myself

[@memikell]

I have been there and it is well beyond anything we have in the US

[@andyreynolds6194]

This really is an excellent piece of work. Very well done to all involved.

[@milkapeismilky5464]

Sounds like a wonderful machine to fight in, so sorry I missed out on it.

[@Mondo762]

Fascinating, thank you very much.

[@camperp195]

A fantastic video,things like this always choke me up,we must NEVER forget what these people did ❤️

[@sadwingsraging3044]

They feared naught and shall never grow old.

[@davidolie8392]

I once played the SPI wargame "To the Green Fields Beyond" as the British. After writing out orders for the preliminary bombardment we started to play. Just at that moment a large fireworks display began a couple of km away as part of a special event. It was the perfect accompaniment.

[@ro2007]

Awesome documentary! Incredibly well done!

[@clydecessna737]

This wonderful documentary implies that Britain has carries on the tradition of Cambrai. Today with less than 200 tanks operational in formations not larger than a Brigade, the country operates less than a token force and frightens nobody.

[@MrTreacletime]

Who are we waiting to frighten 100 years on? Maybe we should be banning football again and making sure all men and boys practice archery on the village green?

[@justsomeofmyfavs]

@@MrTreacletime You don't need to frighten, but you do need to deter. If the original poster is right about the size of the tank force in UK, you indeed need to maintain more machines. For deterrence. Not against other European countries or something like that, but just in general.

[@Kirk1914]

Great video

[@Boric78]

This is fantastic

[@Mynx31]

Fantastic video.

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

Pretty cool with the presenter walking along with a working MkIV!

[@rob5944]

A surprisingly good production, I was very impressed and it did justice to our brave heroes. Will visit soon, it's been too long!

[@Hubbahubba480]

Fantastic Job , Enjoyed very Much

[@joepipito7431]

Awesome video

[@memeking863]

excellent video, thank you for uploading, id love to see more just like it =)

[@zulubeatz1]

'Through Mud, Blood to the Green fields beyond' Lest we forget

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Wonderful production, very interesting.

[@terrystephens1102]

An excellent presentation, thanks. 😃👌👌👏👏👏👏

[@Daniel-S1]

Thanks.

[@KentsPaintShack]

Great video thxs for shearing

[@reubendobbs8011]

That was fantastic, a great tale of heros all.

[@Martina_Vintage_Motorcycles]

David Willey is great, I hope to visit someday (from the USA)

[@PenfoldSmith]

Top job....Brilliant video

[@mossmonaco9061]

Well researched, thank you.

[@carolsalter9002]

What a great documentary very informative

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

VERY professional.

[@TeunisD]

Thank you for this video. This machine seems very rudimentary but revolutionary for the time.

[@Blueboy0316]

Well done

[@babblingbabblator9259]

Great story! So when are they gonna make a movie out of this?

[@cyclesgoff9768]

Superb production . Fascinating story well told. Far superior to the dumbed down documentary guff we get now on BBC 2 and 4.

[@andyrbush]

Amazing stories, of terrifying but heroic actions.