David Fletcher's Tank Museum History | The Tank Museum

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Discover the history of The Tank Museum with Historian David Fletcher.
00:00 - Intro
00:44 - The original collection
10:55 - How the School of Tank Technology changed the Musuem
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[@LazyLifeIFreak]

David Fletcher: I could talk about this for hours. *EVERYBODY WANTED AND LIKED THAT*

[@AlexHR5459]

3hrs extended directors cut please.

[@Kellen6795]

@@AlexHR5459 3???? You mean 3 days worth yes?!

[@tiberiusbrain]

Exactly. Can we get that version pretty please

[@matictelic]

Well, 30mins is all we have really

[@anumeon]

"This photo was taken by a chap in a helicopter. He couldnt fly by himself so he had to have a helicopter" - David Fletcher.. Ohh, how i adore that man. :)

[@jonny_codphilo7809]

still laughed even though this spoiled it

[@anumeon]

@@jonny_codphilo7809 Apologies, i never intended to do spoilers.. Just to share the love.

[@books742]

Safe to assume the chap in the helicopter was in fact the then Assistant Curator of The Museum. Appears to me to be photo taken during one of the early Tank Jumbles, c 1985/6. Tank Jumbles being a precursor to Tankest. It could also be argued that that the Bovington Camp Open Day (first Sunday in August) was another seed to the present day Tankfest. The Open Day featured a mobility display at Gallows Hill. The Museum's Mark V was a regular running feature in the 1950/60's together with a 'flying' Cromwell, well more of a leaping Cromwell. Happy Days!

[@joezephyr]

I took that as "he could not fly and take photos at the same time so somebody else was the pilot"

[@sfjp1]

A legend.

[@HebaruSan]

"Whatever David Fletcher feels like talking about today" is a great format tbh

[@johndoe-so2ef]

I'll watch every day!!!

[@anthonykeane4984]

Agreed

[@unprofessionalreviews26]

This man is NOT a national treasure. He is INTERNATIONAL treasure. Long life and good health, and happy holidays!

[@carlnietoweise4653]

Hear, Hear! Well said!

[@maxkronader5225]

I can imagine David Fletcher's retirement party: Thank you Mr. Fletcher for your many years of wonderful service here at the Tank Museum. Oh, you're quite welcome. Happy to have worked here. See you tomorrow? Yes indeed. See you then.

[@kerrydennison7947]

We love David here in America I prefer his video presentations to any other presenter at least a man is historically accurate and he is down to earth which is something you do not see what the other presentators

[@derekmills1080]

'Kipling .... it's not the mythical chap who made cakes.' Absolutely priceless.

[@derekmills1080]

I first visited the tank museum in 1969 after graduation. I had been to see a fellow graduate and friend who lived in Poole. It was fascinating then, but much improved now.

[@Masada1911]

Just putting this out here for the staff. Some more videos about the museum itself and its functioning would be interesting.

[@matthayward7889]

If you haven’t already seen them, the tank Workshop diaries feature a lot more of the staff, and talk about the apprenticeship program

[@markfryer9880]

@@matthayward7889 Definitely. I for one dig the Workshop Diaries and getting to really see the workings of any armoured vehicles that they are working on.

[@pixelkatten]

It would be nice to have a video overview of the museum for those of us who can't go there yet. The different halls and what is in them, and what themes are present.

[@Masada1911]

@@pixelkatten something very close to that is on chieftains channel. He calls it unofficial high speed tour. He did one of Bovington

[@hyfy-tr2jy]

"he couldn't fly by himself he had to have a helicopter" Priceless

[@the51project]

We were very poor after the war. Mum often bought us cheap clothes from the military-surplus shop. I was often sent to school dressed as a Japanese Admiral.

[@Masada1911]

Quite distinguished!

[@dylanmcwhirter9844]

That's great

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

I was cleaning out the attic the other day with my wife, filthy, dirty, covered with cobwebs but she's good with kids.

[@dylanmcwhirter9844]

@@yereverluvinuncleber ?

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

@@dylanmcwhirter9844 My auntie used to say - What you can't see can't hurt you. She died of radiation poisoning a few months back

[@tonyrigby7948]

As a newly qualified tank gunner in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps, I visited Bovington in summer 1980. And I quietly 'strap-hanged' on the back of a RAC Crew Commanders Course as the Curator took them through the collection at Bovington. On return to Australia, I did my Crew Commanders Course in 1981. 40 years on in 2021 and still in the Australian Army, the Curator's words from 1980 show me what passion and close contact with equipment can display to young people whose 'career, mission, role and job' relies on not being about 'equipping men' but 'manning equipment'. (1970s terminology) Use the technology to its best advantage. 'Through the mud and the blood, to those green fields beyond.' Paratus

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

David is a national treasure. Great to hear his insights and knowledge. Happy Christmas to David and all the Tank Museum staff.

[@gurana6339]

Just about making the same comment. Please take care of your national treasure. Regards from Sweden.

[@the_bunse]

Christmas has come early, please let David do a longer talk he has so many insights and it is always facinating the way he tells history

[@richieb7692]

Could David Fletcher please do an audio guide going around the museum??? I would happily pay good money to wander around, listening to David talking about all the exhibits

[@Splodge542]

I didn't even notice it was half an hour. Seemed more like 10 minutes. DW and DF. Could listen to them all day.

[@FulviaFiend]

Was proud to call Col George Forty a friend back in the early 90s when I used to work with him producing the Royal Tank Regiment Journal and promotional material for the The Tank Museum itself. Agree with other comments that a few more videos on the history and day to day running of the museum would be of great interest. :)

[@Invicta556]

Thats incredible, George has done some great books. I really enjoy his handbooks. Some incredible people are involved in the tank museam for sure.

[@06colkurtz]

David is a true treasure. Take good care of him

[@BigMeechEJ25]

I hope they feed and water him daily.

[@tomsemmens6275]

I remember visiting the tank museum in circa 1984/85 on my big OE from NZ. Back then if you phoned ahead and got there early they would open up any tank you wanted to crawl around. So up early and on the train from London and it was quite the walk along hazardous narrow lanes - no Google maps to tell you if you were going the right way - and I was feeling a bit lost when suddenly enormous, loud Chieftains roared past so close I could almost touch them. I was so excited; coming from NZ they were the first tanks I had ever seen and the smell, noise, size and powerful presence made quite the impact on a youngster! Anyway, got to the museum and kinda wandered around until I found someone to give me permission to wander around and then spent a few hours climbing in and out of a Sherman, a T-55(?) a Panther, a Pz IV. I almost got stuck in the Russian tank, leading to momentary panic! I then went walkies and found some men in oily overalls coaxing an interwar Vickers light tank into life with a shimmer of blue smoke haze and clank of tracks. I will never forget that day. It sparked a life long love of tanks as machines for me. PS unless my memory is playing tricks on me, the person who found me wandering and gave me permission to wander about was David Fletcher.

[@hazza_1978]

If David Fletcher reads this you are a lovely person and a fellow tank fanatic thank you for being so very nice to us and talking about tanks and giving us a great watching

[@joeschenk8400]

Why is it every time I watch David Fletcher I want to have a cup of tea??? And I am an American! The most enjoyable 30 minutes of this day.

[@gunner678]

I met David Fletcher during a casual visit between lectures on the old battlegroup trainer in Bovington 1984. He hasn't changed much. A thoroughly nice chap and the font of all tank knowledge. Oddly enough I'm presently reading Liddel Hart's History of the Great War.

[@trevortrevortsr2]

I could listen to David for hours - he is like the grandad I never had

[@recce8619]

15:16 - Don't think you could find a more historically interesting Pz IV. Would be great if its entire service history were known. 17:25 - Haven't seen the BTR-60 at Bovington. Think it would be great to have it displayed along side the Imperial War Museum's BMP-1 19:36 - Nice to see the Hetzer and Jagdpanther together. Whenever I see them next to each other I imagine the Hetzer the following his big brother around the place, telling everyone he's going to be a Jagdpanther when he grows up

[@PAKoffee10]

I like museums. But the Tank Museum is on my bucket list so I can somehow get a tour by Mr. Fletcher. It feels like he has forgotten more history than I have ever known. Add in the dry wit, and this might be the most memorable tour of all time for me.

[@johnhargreaves3620]

My uncle was a serving REME training officer in 1962 and when I visited him in 1962 he took me down the road to visit the tank museum, I remember vividly the rather untidy collection of vehicles which was a very British museum, I don't think young David Fletcher was there but his talks have brought back many happy memories. regards

[@Dank-om2xc]

This shows that the museum itself is now a historical artifact along with Mr. Fletcher. Excellent history and biography in one story!

[@ada42klm]

David Fletcher is an icon at the Tank Museum. God Bless him, and may he feed us with much information on armor for many years to come. Kudos to you Mr. Fletcher.

[@stevedilucido3060]

David Fletcher is the greatest tank chat narrator ever. All will bow before his greatness.

[@VikingTeddy]

I'm poor and don't live in Britain, so I'll never get to visit. Listening to David is the next best thing, he's a treasure. But it's still on my bucket list to see these beauties. Maybe some day I'll win the lottery or inherit an unknown uncle :).

[@roeng1368]

"Everytime we went round a corner the sides came off" LOL.

[@MoonTVfi]

We still want a David Fletcher plush toy to the shop!

[@redknight6077]

Always a pleasure to listen to David. Here's to one day buying him a pint if I am ever so privileged.

[@johnphillips4708]

the more I watch of Mr. Fletcher the more I appreciate him

[@ernestpaul2484]

Mr. Fletcher has lived a life that would fill many lives. It is amazing the amount of experiences and knowledge he is able to contain in his short stature. People should be grateful for his persona and his willingness to share his subdued passion and humor with the world.

[@andrewwoodhead3141]

I only realized recently that David fletcher was the author of many of my favourite books. I never made the connection ! Great guy.

[@Chiller01]

Amazing recitation of the museum’s history in Mr. Fletcher’s singular style.

[@Spitsz01]

Went to Overloon as a child and adult many times. All the armor was outside in the early years, used to be be able to climb all over and in tanks and even a Biber 2 man submarine. Later went to Portsmouth and Bovington on a trip with my dad. I must say being able to climb all over the armor was really awe inspiring., although its good these treasures are now presurved indoorrs. Just feel lucky and old enough to have been able to see these monsters "in the wild".

[@nigeh5326]

Thanks to all concerned for a fascinating story told with charm and wit by David Fletcher. I find sitting in a comfy chair with a hot cup of tea (and a shot of whisky added on occasion) is the perfect way to watch David’s videos. Loved the little joke about the chap filming from the helicopter by the way had to chuckle. Roll on next summer and a visit to the museum

[@WreckItRolfe]

Not watched a Tank Museum video in a while. I'd forgotten just how wonderful David Fletcher is.

[@chrisjordan4210]

To me, this museum has been a place of pilgrimage since I was a youngster in the 1960's. Strange how when I say I want to live there my wife says I'm welcome to!

[@TrevorTrottier]

Tank chats for little Willie is now 11 years old! Maybe a revisit with the new cameras?

[@scc970]

My first visit was in the summer holiday in 1970. There was no climbing on the tanks allowed then, but the turrets on the ground outside were smothered with kids. We were on them, in them and hatches were slamming all around, how none of us lost fingers etc was a miracle. Having heard about this wonderful playground my son was most disappointed to find it had been removed the first time I took him there about 12 yrs ago. Oh and as someone else has pointed out, David if you want to talk about ttanks and the collection for the next ten hours I don't think any of us will start complaining...

[@StealthySpace7]

David Fletcher has to be one of my favorite human beings alive. So genuine and so, just, David! And the mustache, who could forget about the mustache

[@johnhall9476]

Long live the Fletcher moustache and may it carry on for many years

[@bassface8580]

I could listen to David talk for hours. Legend

[@johngrimlock5727]

Sad that the Medium I is gone. That was the first tank I played when I started playing world of tanks, which is what introduced me to the tank world. It holds a special place in my heart.

[@johndoe-so2ef]

This guy is literally the most interesting person I've ever listened to.

[@Trigg3rHippie]

Only half an hour for David? This is criminal. We demand more.

[@hughhead9079]

Bless you David Fletcher.for sharing the history of history... and to all who wrote and produced this episode. It connected quite a few dots and answered question raised from many prior episodes!

[@devensega]

I think a trip to the museum in the 70s would’ve been wild.

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

It was...

[@Ob1sdarkside]

Lovely history of the museum from the man himself, Fletcher is putting in a great shift for a retiree!!

[@Subcomandante73]

I do like the photo of the kids climbing on the tanks. Takes me back. Fun times.

[@Forestmarko]

FINALLY the most valuable exhibit in the museum :D ah, I enjoyed this a lot, thank you

[@cavemanballistics6338]

I love watching David talk about Tanks. He is by far the best!

[@In.Darkness]

Pleasure David Fletcher Cheers to your health from Canada thanks

[@satansengineer]

David fletcher, I could listen to this man all day

[@knutboehnert3163]

History presented by a living legend. "Yours truly" - the pictures are excellent. Oh, and with really entertaining ads - not the YT ones, the ones inside!

[@Alexic94]

Thank you mister Fletcher, much appreciated. Always a pleasure listening to you.

[@matthayward7889]

18:27 Russian David Fletcher is the best thing I’ve seen all week. The uniform suits you, sir!

[@anpj2006]

The best museum I've ever been to.

[@Elko1109]

One off the best historian watching him in the 90s

[@mattblakeslee4309]

Thank you David Fletcher, these vids, your personality and to a larger extent the museum have been a part of my life for years.

[@Convoycrazy]

I felt as though I were attending lecture. This was very enjoyable, please publish more videos like this!

[@jc1982discovery]

I remember going in the mid 80’s to early 90’s as a kid with my grandad who was based at bovington in the 50’s on centurions. Hope to get back down next year, can’t wait to see how much it has changed.

[@Frake83]

the myth, the legend, the Fletcher!

[@anthonysantiago1999]

Would love to cross the pond one day and visit the museum.. Just fascinating. Greetings from New Jersey USA.

[@anthonykeane4984]

Tank daddy is a national treasure . I could listen to him all day

[@151mattwilson]

Ooh made myself a hot drink and then find this! This moment is meant to be...

[@johnlansing2902]

Sir , I am amazed at the long and distinguished history your mustache has . Thank you for your work .

[@bigchungus2063]

God bless you David Fletcher MBE and thank you for all your work

[@HandFromCoffin]

Can we please have Mr.Fletcher bring in his scrap book, have a seat at a table with a pint or some tea and let him have at it with stories until he falls over?

[@Cohac]

I really like all the videos from the museum but the videos with you in it are my favorites. I love the entire "old man tells stories" thing/trope and your immense knowledge makes it gerat :D

[@ergodyne705]

Mr. Fletcher I truly enjoy your stories and knowledge, your one of the reasons I continue to come back for vids, your great and your vids rock!!!!!!

[@chewierama49]

Thanks Mr. Fletcher for this very nice insider stories. You illustrated your passion in all thinks tank very good. All the best and good health. Might you enjoy you retirement and all of your activities to come. I speak for a lot of viewers as i suggest to have more of these backstories on this channel, as it clearly shows that the tank museum as as much about the people who care for the machines than for the tanks themselves !

[@bjornh4664]

"We were only allowed to do it in the evening because they wanted to sow explosions in the ground, and as the Queen was visiting Winfrey at the time they didn't want the explosions to go off while she was there in case she got the wrong idea."

[@mpersad]

What a wonderful summary of the history of a wonderful museum. And as others have alluded to in the comments...David Fletcher IS a national treasure!

[@Kettleman1.0]

I'm really exited to visit tomorrow!!!

[@nickraschke4737]

Just wonderful. Can’t wait to get back there. Happy Christmas from Australia.

[@warskye5686]

Thanks for being there, Sharing all that information.

[@jayklink851]

Fletcher, England's national treasure!

[@natejones902]

I remember the soldiers series, you can find it on KZbin and see the footage , incredible footage seeing the inside of the tank in operation. And yes you can see David driving her.

[@ALAPINO]

Having that Leopard C1 in the background is like an attractive member of whatever sex of your fancy dancing while offering you unlimited amounts of your favorite food. One must avert their gaze to hear the wisdom of Sir Fletcher!

[@mrgunner5351]

If I ever get back to England, this is my number one stop!

[@popsisikol8743]

"He couldnt do it by himself, he had to fly in a helicopter." Lol

[@euroshopperbier1337]

love your trip down memory lane, thanks for that!

[@chriscorker5634]

Great post. Please never stop Mr Fletcher.

[@SwitchMonkey]

I was a gunner, but sometimes we were short a few crewmembers. So, I would jump into the driver seat move my tank on the gunnery range, hop out, toss a round in the main gun, get in the gunner position, say all the required words. Fire, on the way! Etc. Then hop out climb in the driver seat and move to the next position. Good Times!

[@Cires789]

An outstanding video Mr. Fletcher. The photographs combined with the history, just an amazing story.

[@c4mper]

We do admire You Mr Fletcher a lot. And even ....more. Please continue stories of tanks and more of military history, so much to wait for.

[@jeffbengtson]

I miss the days when I was one of few children at the local museums, and could climb around in anything that hadn't rusted itself shut.

[@stevemull2002]

David, your a legend, i really like when you do these vids, your informative, and funny, thanks

[@patrickrose1221]

Went there in 72 and 76 , loved it . Best regards .

[@SIG442]

Really nice video, thank you Mr. Fletcher for doing this one. Very nice to see what the history of this amazing museum is.

[@aussiedrifter]

I would love to hear more stories & anecdotes from David as I am sure he would have plenty of stuff to talk about. Look at it from this perspective we track down WW2 servicemen & women to get their stories before they pass on, & I dont really see the difference in getting more from David about the museum & things of that nature, because when he passes on his knowledge & stories will be lost.

[@notbobrosss3670]

Thank you David Fletcher. We truly appreciate you!

[@MrDorn123]

You just have to love David Fletcher!

[@richman61]

Mr. Fletcher you are wonderful and I love listening to you. Love to sit and have a pint with you. Merry Christmas.

[@BenAhmed67]

David Fletcher, the most important addition to the Tank Museum staff...

[@paulhills1967]

What a terrific video! I could listen to David for hours.

[@Rampagedd]

Bravo. Rich in history. Fascinating work

[@g33keh76]

Some more extraordinary insight, Thank you David.

[@dingodoctor7373]

Thank you David, that was an excellent video and very entertaining too. Looking forward to many more from you.