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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[@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.

[@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.

[@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???

[@Drrolfski]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@DonWan47]

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

[@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.

[@Nick-ye5kk]

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

[@s.31.l50]

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

[@thomasdimarco1167]

Finally a complete version! Thanks!

[@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 .

[@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.

[@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?

[@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!!!!

[@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

[@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

[@AussieWirraway]

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

[@stevemolina8801]

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

[@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.

[@luislealsantos]

Exceptional documentary

[@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.

[@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.

[@signoguns8501]

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

[@TheOrbofTime]

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

[@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 !

[@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.

[@spikydipple]

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

[@teomanmetehan7469]

Brilliant. This video deserves far more views.

[@madzen112]

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

[@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.

[@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."

[@Gerilac001]

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

[@pistonburner6448]

Tanks for this brilliant documentary

[@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!

[@zepelin83]

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

[@Splodge542]

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

[@johnmarlin4661]

Thanks to the Tank Museum for this !!

[@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.

[@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! :)

[@bigboy3332]

Absolutely amazing , now that's a history documentary!

[@benwilson6145]

Thank you fantastic story.

[@therogueadmiral]

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

[@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.

[@stevedunn5546]

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

[@randyhavard6084]

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

[@andyreynolds6194]

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

[@michaelamos4651]

Absolutely superb documentary. So informative and interesting .Thanks

[@olsonspeed]

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

[@camperp195]

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

[@nuts4ships]

This is THE best video you chaps have done!

[@Xenuwun]

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

[@dhcrouchmarineltd3049]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Many thanks for the history.

[@ianmarsden1130]

Superb documentary. Very well done.

[@d0veta1l0]

Good Video i want more of this.

[@francescoferrigno2339]

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

[@ro2007]

Awesome documentary! Incredibly well done!

[@memeking863]

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

[@Mondo762]

Fascinating, thank you very much.

[@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!

[@majorkursk780]

Very informative production..well done!

[@outerventure6069]

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

[@lorneturner5318]

Thank you. very interesting.

[@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. 👏👏👏

[@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?

[@inglebert123]

Great doc!

[@Hubbahubba480]

Fantastic Job , Enjoyed very Much

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Wonderful production, very interesting.

[@Mynx31]

Fantastic video.

[@langer4602]

Fantastic work 👏

[@Boric78]

This is fantastic

[@KentsPaintShack]

Great video thxs for shearing

[@mossmonaco9061]

Well researched, thank you.

[@mcsmash4905]

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

[@FranciscoPerez74]

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

[@reubendobbs8011]

That was fantastic, a great tale of heros all.

[@terrystephens1102]

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

[@PenfoldSmith]

Top job....Brilliant video

[@carolsalter9002]

What a great documentary very informative

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@joepipito7431]

Awesome video

[@Kirk1914]

Great video

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

VERY professional.

[@George-bz1fi]

Very good!

[@TeunisD]

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

[@Daniel-S1]

Thanks.

[@andyrbush]

Amazing stories, of terrifying but heroic actions.

[@Blueboy0316]

Well done

[@zulubeatz1]

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

[@milkapeismilky5464]

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

[@DefiantSpurr]

I had a relative who was in the Motor Machine gun Service. He served in Europe early on in ww1, and was moved into the "heavies". He rejoined the mmgs, and ended the war in India. He never recovered from his time in a tank, and described it as hell.

[@Martina_Vintage_Motorcycles]

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

[@wooden5c]

Awesome

[@cyclesgoff9768]

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

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

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