Mk IV Tank Periscope: Battle of Cambrai

Periscope of one of the tanks employed in the British surprise attack on Cambrai on 20 November 1917.

This hand held periscope allowed its operator to gain a 360 degree view from within the confines of a tank. It would have been pushed through any one of the many revolver ports located on the Mark IV tank.

This particular example was recovered from one of the tanks used in the Battle of Cambrai, the first occasion on which tanks were used in large numbers. The attack was dramatically successful. The element of surprise was due largely to the secrecy observed in moving up the artillery and commencing the barrage at "zero" hour without previously registering the guns on the enemy's defences.

The German counter-stroke, ten days later, was as equally surprising to the British, who were compelled to relinquish a large part of their gains. Australia's participation in the Cambrai Battle was limited to the action of a siege battery and a flying squadron.