Cream cotton twill 'Starting Tape' used to guide British tanks during Hindenburg Line attack : British Army

Roll of 35mm wide, cream coloured twill, 'Starting Tape' with 5mm wide central black band. The tape is in two lengths, 1710mm and 14100mm. The tape has extensive staining from ingrained mud, and some minor holes.

This starting tape was used to guide tanks in an attack on the Hindenburg Line in 1918. It would have been tied to barbed wire pickets screwed into the ground and used to marshall and direct tank crews in low light conditions, amidst the lack of identifiable landmarks on the battlefield. The black band distinguishes it from tape used by the Infantry, which was plain white or cream.