An Australian soldier climbs on Mephisto, a German A7V tank which was disabled during an attack ...

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Accession Number P01445.001
Collection type Photograph
Object type Black & white - Film copy negative
Place made France
Date made July 1918
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Copyright

Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

Public Domain Mark This item is in the Public Domain

Description

An Australian soldier climbs on Mephisto, a German A7V tank which was disabled during an attack on British units at Monument Wood, south of Villers-Bretonneux, on 24 April 1918. After being bogged and abandoned on the battlefield it was recovered on 14 July 1918 by the 26th Battalion and a British Royal Armoured Corps unit. Evidence of this recovery can be seen by the still attached metal tow cables attached to the front of the Mephisto and looped around the Nordenfelt 57 mm gun. The hand written signs on the side of the tank read: "Captured by 26th Batt, A.I.F." and "Salved by 1st G C Coy 5th Bde Tanks." (See also P01835.080)