DERIVATION OF “TANK.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1639, 18 November 1916, Page 4

DERIVATION OF “TANK.”

An explanation has been published in the London press of the application of the singular name “tank” to the British armoured cars. Alien it was decided to give the invention a trial, it was essential to keep the matter secret. But the Department of the Ministry of Munitions, to which the building of the cars was entrusted, had to have a name of some sort, and it was given (lie first that came to mind. It was called the “Tanks Department,” and none hut the few in the secret was any the wiser. And so, naturally, the creations of the Department were ealled “tanks.” A well-known peer gave his estate, situated in a lonely part of the Midlands, for the factory site. A (inn of agricultural implement,-makers was engaged to put together the pieces, made to secret drawings by scattered iron works and engineering workshops. All approaches to the factory for long distances were closely guarded, and no unauthorised person was allowed to get near. That there might be no circumlocution, the “Tanks Department” was placed directly under Mr Lloyd George, so that if new material was required if could he ordered direct upon his authority. A rule was made that as far as possible no documents of any description should he used. It is said that the designs carefully guarded, are practically the only evidence of the work on paper. When at length 10 of the strange moving forts were shipped for France under the supervision of Lieutenant-Colonel S win ton, of “Eye-Witness” fame, their existence was unknown to the Germans.