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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[@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?

[@thomasdimarco1167]

Finally a complete version! Thanks!

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@spikydipple]

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

[@Gerilac001]

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

[@therogueadmiral]

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

[@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.

[@ianmarsden1130]

Superb documentary. Very well done.

[@olsonspeed]

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

[@benwilson6145]

Thank you fantastic story.

[@mcsmash4905]

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

[@lorneturner5318]

Thank you. very interesting.

[@camperp195]

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

[@inglebert123]

Great doc!

[@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.

[@ro2007]

Awesome documentary! Incredibly well done!

[@timaddison707]

Fantastic documentary well done to all concerned

[@babblingbabblator9259]

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

[@haroldgodwinson832]

Yes, the old "all arms tactics" (aka combined arms) aka 'Blitzkrieg'.

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Wonderful production, very interesting.

[@kellyfreas]

18:33 Look at that lad with the screwdriver. How old is he? I wouldn't say more than 16.

[@vinm300]

My Grandfather was 16 or 17 when he volunteered. He'd driven a butcher's cart up York Rd at 12yrs. That's a horse drawn cart. He was always good with animals and said "However thirsty the horses were in France they wouldn't drink dirty water"

[@josemariamoar5468]

@@vinm300 marchadedsantiago

[@terrystephens1102]

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

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

VERY professional.

[@joepipito7431]

Awesome video

[@woodrowpreacely7521]

The second place got to go when in GB - but behind Imperial War Museum. U guys make great documentaries - but ur cuisine over there needs improvement!

[@martentrudeau6948]

It's bizarre, the British didn't take advantage of the huge tank victory? I guess it was an unexpected success.

[@gordonhorn8867]

Would gasmasks on the crews have prevented carbon dioxide poisoning?

[@ALA-uv7jq]

Good video, but only half the story. In reality the tanks didnt achieve much, considering their losses. At the end of the battle it was another British defeat and they were forced back to their starting positions.

[@salus1231]

It wasn't a defeat. They had broken through the Hindenburg Line advancing almost 6 miles in a day, that's an enormous advance by WW1 standards, but there were few reserves to exploit such a break in, because they had been all used up at Passchendaele .Yes the German big counter attack pushed them back , but not to their starting line, and casualties were almost even, but it proved that working together, artillery, infantry and tanks could break through any defence, which was proved spectacularly at the battle of Amiens, the beginning of the end for the German army. So there

[@majorcritic6677]

So the British used 400 tanks nearly lost all of them, didn't achieve anything and celebrated the conquer of a single cheap budget field artillery, congratulations.

[@jimboll6982]

Cnut

[@fusiliers1]

So all crews died from carbon monoxide poisoning Or died from the trenches Either way your DEAD

[@jumi9342]

I love the storytelling but I hate the story.

[@1234-b6n]

nothing like honoring men who fought and died like having a anime girl voice the whole time. i have been saying for years that schindler's list needed more anime comedy scenes. Do we honestly have to tell you that that voice made it unwatchable.

[@Drrolfski]

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

[@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???

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@Splodge542]

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

[@AussieWirraway]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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! :)

[@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.

[@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?

[@d0veta1l0]

Good Video i want more of this.

[@s.31.l50]

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

[@JimWarp93]

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

[@stevemolina8801]

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

[@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."

[@luislealsantos]

Exceptional documentary

[@pistonburner6448]

Tanks for this brilliant documentary

[@Nick-ye5kk]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@zulubeatz1]

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

[@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!

[@snowwhite7677]

The Old School Cav didn't like the Tanks and were looking for any way they could Sabotage and get rid of them. Battlefield Egos...

[@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!!!!

[@signoguns8501]

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

[@Nounismisation]

Hmm, yes; distorted high pitched piano introductios are unpleasant, yes. But then it gets better, because it stops.

[@DonWan47]

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

[@ITOWords]

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. 👏👏👏

[@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.

[@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.

[@randyhavard6084]

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

[@cyclesgoff9768]

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

[@teomanmetehan7469]

Brilliant. This video deserves far more views.

[@michaelamos4651]

Absolutely superb documentary. So informative and interesting .Thanks

[@zulubeatz1]

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

[@picardbs]

Tha wasn't a tank. It was an Infernal Machine designed to be more dangerous to its own crew than to any enemy!

[@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.

[@AmerigoMagellan]

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

[@johnmarlin4661]

Thanks to the Tank Museum for this !!

[@1339LARS]

I won't have liked to be a tanker in those days!

[@bigboy3332]

Absolutely amazing , now that's a history documentary!

[@Hooibeest2D]

Hearing a town with a Dutch name changed into French and pronounced in English is the only fun part about this story, same goes for Dunkirk, duinkerken and Kamerijk for cambrai. If the French weren't over nationalistic they would still speak flemish in the region.

[@MrTreacletime]

London is Londinium.......it’s called History.

[@fortissimolaud]

You such a charismatic presenter! (KZbin hint: you get better views/trending/youtube optimization if you concentrate ppl onto either a 3 parter or a single but not both.)

[@importantname]

combined arms won the battle, tanks are merely part of the whole, each part of the combination doing its part, true then and still true. Here then is one part.

[@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.

[@madzen112]

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

[@zepelin83]

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

[@mattskustomkreations]

How terribly British: “My thumb was shot in two; how annoying.”

[@bencollins2634]

For anyone wondering why they say "perhaps the first all arms battle" its because it isnt. Take a look at the battle of Hamel, though it does involve Australian and American troops so perhaps that will make you feel sad. If you would prefer to believe that Douglas Haig suddenly had a good idea then carry on.

[@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 .

[@George-bz1fi]

Very good!

[@memeking863]

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

[@brixandstuff7952]

Hi-- I am doing a school project for the history fair, which you could choose any topic you wanted. I am interested in military history and chose the battle of Cambrai. Can someone please share some primary sources from the battle with me? Thank you so much.

[@thetoiletinspector6878]

3:12 I wouldn't be able to say that without laughing. Yes, I am a 39 year old with a 10 year-old sense of humour.

[@JCStaling]

It was only the arrival of the Americans in sufficient numbers in late 1917 and 1918 which won the war for the Allies not the tank. Hate me if you wish. There is no hate. There is no world.

[@dhcrouchmarineltd3049]

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Many thanks for the history.

[@milkapeismilky5464]

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

[@tertommy]

Question remains, are tanks as useless as battleships in WW2?

[@TheOrbofTime]

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

[@francescoferrigno2339]

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

[@Martina_Vintage_Motorcycles]

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

[@TheLoyalOfficer]

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