The Tank That Time Forgot: The Story of Deborah (WW1 Documentary)

[@BattleGuideVT]

Findmypast is a great tool we use for nearly all our videos. If you want to do your family research, check it out and start your family tree for free: battleguide.co.uk/findmypast

[@KevinJones-xh5yk]

An amazing story, as a former member of the tank regiment, this has done justice. Could you perhaps cover the story of Fray Bentos. The inspiration for the film Fury.

[@johndodd2157]

My wife, Jennifer, was the granddaughter of Frederick William Tipping. We knew from commonwealth war graves that he was buried in Flesquieres. Thanks to a SKY reporter, Rob Kirk, and many enthusiastic researchers of Deborah, we were informed of the detail of Frederick’s death. At this time of remembrance this video is a very worthy tribute to Deborah D51 and her crew. Sadly this year we won’t be able to join Philippe for the annual commemoration in Flesquieres but our heats and minds will be with them on the 20th November.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@StevenG222]

What a great story, although tragic! The fact the tank remains and is on display is a great honor to those men, whose story will never be forgot! I appreciate you telling it!!

[@BobBob-yd8xf]

Well said!!

[@jp-um2fr]

Excellent video. My grandfather was wounded twice, once a bullet and then gas. He died in the 1930s coughing in the main street of Oxford. My dads mother had died during the flu epidemic, and he then married the nurse who had looked after him. I worked for the British MOD as an engineer where the Challenger 1 was designed and the prototype built. Grass grows in the car park now. As you can well imagine this video means a lot to me on many fronts - well done that man, well done and thank you.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for the kind words.

[@chrisloomis1489]

War is so brutal , the dead in action are rarely remembered except for their headstones and the surviving wife and children or parents. War is brutal.

[@douglasspencer745]

No head stone for my great uncle born in Eastwood Nottingham and migrated to Australia in 1912. Served in Gallipoli, landed in the second wave at ANZAC cove. Wounded in action and the only survivor of his section, lay in no man’s land for twelve hours. 1916 serving inn France. He was a sergeant in the 16 Battalion of the Australian Army and died aged 22 years at Mouquet farm on the night of 29/30th August 1916 and was buried in a trench were he fell. the trench was destroyed by an Artillery barrage and he is lost. Lest we forget 🇬🇧🇦🇺

[@cameroncashatt692]

definitely when they were using corpse arms to hang their canteens on. due to their being so many corpses imbedded in the trench walls.

[@hitsquad2149]

I get a lump in my throat watching these videos. Because of channels like this one, we get to remember the forgotten.

[@ChriChri-f7v]

The sadest thing is that war is a human exception...brutal beast

[@fonziebulldog5786]

It's the BIGGEST failure in this humanity.

[@navnig]

Utterly refreshing to see & hear a video that isn't AI generated & robot voiced! 👍

[@elgatoloco727]

Have we seen and heard the same video? O_o The voice is way too fast and the intonation is also creepy.

[@n0t_the_plague_doctor343]

@@elgatoloco727 this is definitely a real person talking. are YOU watching the same video?

[@elgatoloco727]

@@n0t_the_plague_doctor343 That´s a really good question. The video I saw was definitely not a real person talking. Or the person that was talking wanted to sound stupid.

[@Willheheckaslike]

Excellent video. Refreshingly accurate, not sensationalised and very well delivered. I was particularly impressed by the accurate pronunciation of French towns and villages - a rare treat.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you very much!

[@theeaselrider4032]

Awesome. A very moving story. Maybe one day I'll have the honour of visiting Deborah in person, and remember her crew. It's the stories of the individuals, that make your videos so worthwhile. This one was a perfect lead-up to Remembrance Day. Thanks.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you so much.

[@everactivedad]

Dude this one is super well done. Kudos for the depth. as someone who’s seen a lot of World War I and World War II documentaries and KZbin videos. I find years to stand out these days. So great work, sir.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you so much for your feedback! I’m glad you found the depth of the content engaging, especially as someone who's seen so many documentaries on the subject.

[@Sniper_Cat_71]

The content of this channel continues to be beyond impressive, thank you!!!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Wow, thank you!

[@_RandomPea]

​@@BattleGuideVTditto the comment tbf. I'd love to see this level of content quality on netflix... Can only dream 😂

[@davidgood1072]

Beautifully done! Love the graphics and the telling of this heroic tale

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you liked it!

[@EdOeuna]

I visited that museum a few years ago. Very well presented whilst being basic and not overwhelming.

[@Spitsz01]

Well done man! You and Mark Felton would make a great team! Best vid yet on WW1 tank battles by far.

[@manisteerocks7092]

Never thought about getting Felton involved, great idea!

[@majorbloodnok6659]

Thank you for this, I had the privilege of researching, for his family, the story of another man killed at Cambrai, John Rimmer, who fought in tank C.47.

[@BattleGuideVT]

It's wonderful to hear that you had the opportunity to research John Rimmer's story. Every soldier's tale deserves to be remembered and honored.

[@majorbloodnok6659]

@@BattleGuideVT Absolutely, they deserve to be remembered.

[@Gerhard_Schroeder]

Great story, as always great presentation- Thank you!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Our pleasure!

[@joshjosh3040]

Неймовірна деталізація! Дякую,за проведену роботу. Надзвичайно цікаво дивитись ваші відео

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@bikenavbm1229]

thank you so much for bringing this story to us, will visit this next time i am near. More importantly thank you for keeping these Mens Story in view for all to see hopefully for a longtime to come.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bradweston5342]

Such a concise and informative telling of what is a tragically moving story, not just of "Deborah" and the men within, but the shocking sacrafices made by so many on both sides

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for your kind words.

[@AW-Services]

Guy Martin, JCB and the team behind the tribute build was phenomenal

[@MattsModelMayhem]

Phillipe and the members of the association are incredible at keeping the memory of Deborah and her crew alive. As the Great Grandson of Fred Tipping, I have been lucky enough to have visited the site during the commemoration weekend and spoken with many involved in Deborah's finding, preservation and story. The video gives a great overview of the battle and has helped me understand more about what my Great Grandfather would have gone through. Thank you

[@seanbigay1042]

What horrified German soldiers the most when they first encountered tanks was the steady, implacable advance of the metal monsters as they apparently shrugged off all the machine gun fire the Germans could lay upon them. Their horror only grew when they saw the iron beasts trampling, and in many cases uprooting wholesale, the barbed wire they'd so carefully emplaced as if it were just so many weeds.

[@BattleGuideVT]

One of the advantages of the tank.

[@MrRedberd]

Like big lumbering zombies

[@bulldogstrut1]

Great documentary. I enjoyed it very much on this Armistice Day. I, too, was a tanker (in the US Army), albeit, in a much later time period. My wife and I visited Cambrai and other WWI battlefields in the mid-1970s while stationed in Germany. God bless the bravery of all who participated in the Great War. May they rest in peace.

[@rooster4293]

Always love the degree of detail you put into these videos. Thanks for sharing!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you!

[@englishrupe01]

Many thanks for this great documentary. As an old Royal Tank Regiment veteran, i grew up and matured on the story of the Battle of Cambrai, and the heroism of that battle. This was really well done and much appreciated and as an old "tankie" it brought a tear to my eye.

[@camhester357]

Best battle breakdowns on KZbin by far!! 👌🏻

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks a ton! Glad you think so! More epic battles coming your way!

[@camhester357]

@@BattleGuideVT looking forward to it!! Always a great day when y’all upload a vid!!

[@stefedwards2934]

I agree totally. An amazingly detailed account. We owe everything to those brave men.👏🏻🇬🇧

[@garage3022]

My favorite content on youtube by a country mile. Well done again

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you so much.

[@connordeck8457]

My great great grandfather was a surgeon with the BEF at Cambrai, he treated both axis and allied troops during his service in the battle but he remarked that the tankers suffered some of the worst wounds. Burns, loss of limbs, loss of hearing, and other horrors.

[@johnschofield9496]

I'm glad there was no attempt to restore it! It means so much more as it rests today.

[@MilitarySummaryChannel2024]

*Imagine never seeing a car in your life and all of sudden you’re looking at 20 ton tank heading your way*

[@BattleGuideVT]

How terrifying!

[@JohnLinares-g7v]

What a slick advertisement! It blended seamlessly into the video. Thank you for making that hassle more bearable.

[@vwtransportersandmotorcycl3729]

That, like many others during the war,is such a sad story, to see Deborah gain so much ground on her own with no support and then meet her tragic end! 😢

[@paramarky]

Just found this channel - very impressive - I won't be going anywhere and may well join once I look at more content - Bravo Sirs I salute you.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Welcome aboard!

[@LouisLouis-u6b]

Bonjour, magnifique reportage. Faire revivre un moment ces hommes et leur histoire, c'est génial. Merci

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you!

[@danmeek928]

My great uncle fought in World War I, he was wounded, but he would never talk about it. He used to carve me things, I tried to get him to make me a wooden gun, but he wouldn’t have anything to do with that

[@dansavident6650]

Our family's battlefield. My Grandfather (RGLI) lost a leg on the 20th of November; he credited the Germans for saving his life when he was captured. and my wife's Great Uncle (SWB) who died a mile away on the same day, both 29th Division. I was there when D51 was dug up in 1998, quite a sight.

[@_stoatchaser]

The museum in Cambrai where Deborah is 😊is fantastic. Not.big at all but well worth a visit. We stopped off on our way back from a ski holiday. Well worth it

[@ANotSoBoringGuy]

This is the best WW1 video I've ever seen. The trench maps overlayed with the modern terrain are super interesting to look at and the accuracy at which you explain the troop movements is incredible!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you!

[@garryexley6002]

Beautiful sad story, absolutely fascinating though.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@robhill5169]

very good documentary about Deborah I myself am a volunteer at the Norfolk Tank Museum home of Deborah 2 the so called Guy Martin Tank and has helped to drive her on several occasions it gives you a little bit of an idea what it was like being shut inside while it was moving

[@dondouglass6415]

Thank you for telling 'Debra' s' story.. both fascinating and heartbreaking... Huzzah to the crew of Debra!!

[@TheTones1973]

Visited the museum in June this year. Fascinating history. Lest we forget. Their name liveth for evermore.

[@alexrobertson1472]

ive lived in cambridge my entire life, crazy to think ive walked past Joes front door hundreds if not thousands of times.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thats mad... small world!

[@royalirishranger1931]

Private Gallway was a Belfast / Hollywood man and a Irish Rifleman, and good son of Ulster. Lt Heap thought very highly of him , letters still exist that heap wrote to his family.

[@joebryant5722]

Excellent story and fittingly sad but heroic in equal measure, on this remembrance Sunday.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you.

[@BrianCulbertson-cy2rb]

Perhaps one of the best well documented videos.I've ever seen your narration is fantastic.What a educational and stirring story.Thank you

[@clementaut7287]

Thanks for this video, you really did it well. The museum is quite a beautiful one, may be small but Deborah being the major piece and being well enlightened by the display this sure worth the visit. For the anecdote in the beginning of October 1918 the tanks will one again rolls in the Cambrai fields. This time in the town of Niergnies where British tanks would face German A7Vs and even BeutePanzer (Captured British MkIV). The story is quite know among specialists you can easily find informations on it ! Concerning Flesquières the village will sadly see fights in 1940 and 1944… Almost 20 French soldiers coming from the East of Cambrai after facing the spearhead of the 7 PzDiv would to try to reach friendly lines before facing other German in Flesquières. After shooting 2 german motorcyclists, a tank would shoot the majority of the French soldiers… The 2nd of September 1944 the US soldier Johannas Bergman would die in an ambush after liberating the village. I am currently doing deep researches and writing a book about the 1940´s fight in the Cambrésis (from the Sambre to Canal du Nord). If you have any question about this area I would gladly help ! Cheers, Clem

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for sharing such detailed insights! It's fascinating to hear about the history surrounding the museum and the significant events in the Cambrai area. Your research sounds incredibly important!

[@robofclanlennox]

Binging history and its heroes to life. Thank you.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thanks for watching!

[@slacko1971]

Very surprised to learn that these tanks had a Daimler engine. This was an extremely interesting and well presented documentary, thankyou.

[@teenboy661]

May the crew of D5 Deborah may rest in peace 🙏 🪦 ⚘️⚘️🥀🌹thank you for your services, brave heroes 🙏 🪦⚘️🥀🌹

[@duncandomey8199]

Very well presented. Thank you.

[@HeidiHennessey]

There is a full size, working recreation of "Deborah" at the amazing and interesting NORFOLK TANK MUSEUM. The documentaries don't give a true idea of how cramped Deborah and others really were. Until you get face to face with Deborah you don't get and idea, once you get to see her in reality it really brings it home at how brave theses boys and men really were (and of course all other tank crews throughout the wars on all sides)

[@stevehill4615]

Very true, when I looked round the WW1 tank (can't remember which mark it was) with that big Daimler engine in the middle at Bovington tank museum and you realise 8 men had to operate and fight in that noise, heat and fumes you appreciate how brave they were.

[@MrButtonpresser]

Brilliant job sir. Most excellent. And a very enjoyable and effective advert placement too.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you!

[@davidpowell7614]

Excellent narrative. The battle brought to life and understanding. Thank you.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@earlatkins9559]

Thank you for posting this video. I have just finished reading Pierre Berton's Vimy, And R.H Thompson's By the Ghost Light. Watching this video puts into pictures what it was like on the battlefields of France

[@BattleGuideVT]

Wonderful!

[@MattiAceGaming]

Great video and thanks for sharing. However, time didn't forget this at all, the (by far) most successful Battlefield game is about WW1 and I have thousands of kills in this tank alone

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Thanks you for this post, much apricated and very emotional.

[@derekstocker6661]

Thank you so much for this, great detail and fabulous film and photos of the time. Very interesting and thanks also to the Folks that finally located and found and preserved Deborah. RIP to all those brave souls who lost their lives in the War to end all Wars. If only.

[@Rostov_red_beard]

touching story and first rate video. the great war is just unfathomable to comprehend in terms of suffering and loss.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you.

[@HowlingWo1f]

Incredible, I found myself at the edge of my seat listening to it. Really well made Ty.

[@stevenstiles5112]

Thank you so much for sharing this unbelievable bravery.

[@MC-nb6jx]

Awesome 👏🏻👏🏻 Well done as usual..

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you so much 😀

[@JUNIsLuke]

It’s always this type of stuff that gets me teary eyed

[@BradHawthorn12]

Very good presentation! Well done! Subscribed.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Welcome aboard!

[@moobaz8675]

Brilliant. Well told and explained as always.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you kindly!

[@JanusTheOld]

Congratulations for this impressive work of archeology and memory for mankind.

[@dunbar555]

Awesome video. Respect to the heroes of ww1

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@JeffreyHinton-s7c]

So many horses were lost in the Big One. It was a real heartbreaking shame. Spielbergs movie War Horse did a fair job bringing it to the forefront.

[@quakerjohn44]

What a great bit of luck. I was looking to check her out tomorrow, as I'm in the area. Cheers.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@jikio3926]

I couldn’t take my eyes off this video. The content is so interesting and you present it so well!

[@manisteerocks7092]

I'm glad i found this channel. I just subscribed. What caught my attention was the Deborah Tank. This video was very well done. All the way down to its crew and where they were from was amazing. The attention to detail on every level was superb! I enjoyed this video so much i may watch it twice, just to see if i missed anything. I forwarded it to some other friends of mine that are history geeks about ww1,ww1..ect. Thanks for making this video!

[@douglaslangella7782]

I actually have a piece of armor plate and a bolt from a MK IV that was unearthed from the battle area of Pozières. I don’t recall the name of the tank, but somewhere I have a coa from the gentleman that helped excavate it that has the name. It doesn’t look like very protective plate.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Yeah the arnour certainly was not very thick in these first tanks. Can you imagine how slow they would be if their armour was even heavier?

[@MrRedberd]

It's crazy to think just small arms fire created metal fragments flying around the interior of a tank.

[@michaelpatrick895]

i strongly recommend visiting the museum where Deborah rests. It is a fantastic insight into the battle and the crew.

[@liamgoggs3665]

I'm watching this on 11/11/24, reminds me of the story i heard of my great grandfather, John William Mantle and his team, they were surrounded by Germans in every direction whilst him and his team manned and defended from all directions a British artillery battery, for hours they fought the Germans off, eventually sending them into retreat and he lived to tell the tail. May his soul and the soul of all those lost in these bitter wars over the years rest in peace.

[@jdhart111]

in this age of incompetant, lazy ai trash which is saturating everything it is refreshing to see this amazingly high standard of video!!!thank you!!

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you so much.

[@Jonas-jq9qo]

Great documentary! My friends and i plan to visit the city early next year!

[@BattleGuideVT]

You should!

[@jimmycakes7158]

Amazing, I came across this museum while riding around the area but had no idea of the backstory of the tank

[@alex4833]

Great video, Battle Guide team! I hadn't learned much about the Battle of Cambrai. I also don't remember learning much about the Deborah. The video was concise but also quite informative. Not only were the maps helpful, but also so were the images and descriptions of the struggles that the crew of each tank faced and descriptions of the tactics used. Awesome job once again :) take care.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@alex4833]

@@BattleGuideVT :) Keep up the wonderful work! Your videos and podcast episodes are excellent resources :). Kudos!!

[@huibertlandzaat1889]

Thank you for uploading.

[@MurphZx501]

Thank you!

[@walkingdad6978]

Fantastic work guys, both here and on the podcast. Always well narrated and well researched. Thank you for sharing your hard work, highly recommend your channel and the podcast (Not So Quiet On The Western Front)

[@BattleGuideVT]

Much appreciated!

[@Vejlespur]

I have been to that museum and seen that tank.Thanks for the video,it helps knowing the tanks history.

[@Bayomeer]

Fascinating story.

[@BattleGuideVT]

Imndeed.

[@seanlander9321]

The tank was invented by an Australian, Lancelot deMole, who the British government credited and paid him for after the war. It was also the Australians who worked out how to use tanks, that most of the infantry followed them, after a smaller number had taken out the enemy artillery. They proved the tactic at Hamel, after which every officer was given emergency training on, and then they made the breakthrough on the 100 days advance, capturing more ground and guns than any allied army until the Armistice.

[@BattleGuideVT]

That's a very australin-centric view. They certainly were an elite force and justly regarded as one), but we're not pioneers in tank tactics, far from it in fact. We have a whole series coming soon about that :)

[@seanlander9321]

@ However the first successful use of combined arms was Hamel, and you have to admit the deficiencies of the British command at Cambrai to leave the tanks as sitting ducks for German artillery really showed an incapacity to plan. But, only fair to credit Lancelot deMole with the invention of the tank, the Mark 1 is almost an exact copy of his drawings, and after the war he was acknowledged as the inventor.

[@EsherAcademy]

The book is fascinating! This was such a pioneering event. You haven't mentioned that there were opportunities for the cavalry tom come through and exploit the gains but they were held son far back behind the front line - with no radio - that they could not be called forward when needed. That failure led to the development of the Whippet which was so successful at Amiens in 1918.

[@bigmac60]

We have visited Deborah. And paid our respects in the graveyard. A very sombering day.

[@denissharp2471]

An absolutely brilliant story of Deborah, just a piece of machinery bought alive by those brave courageous men who manned her, and died in her. 'We Will Remember Them'

[@sovpha]

Amazing. Thank you very much for this great documentary.

[@ressusfrpixinc4317]

Amazing job ! Especially your pronunciation (hello from France !)

[@BattleGuideVT]

Thank you!

[@clementaut7287]

Let’s gooooo my hometown

[@harrybrass007]

Very interesting and heartbreaking video!!! Those men are very brave, for which they did!!!

[@freedomordeath89]

Amazing research job!

[@magnusdunning6113]

Great story. Thank you

[@14rnr]

Thank you ever so much.

[@JobeCouture]

Love your videos

[@sav2236]

Thank you for great work!

[@aaronbyers1391]

Well done, thank you.

[@laurentbrillet6020]

J'ai visité le musée où est exposée Deborah, très émouvant. Déborah est l'un des rares MarkIV à avoir survécu à la Grande Guerre et échappé aux férailleurs

[@sagecouncil]

Thank you for this excellent video.

[@trainfire28]

Amazing, well done!

[@g-man2228]

Outstanding story and video….👊🏻🇺🇸