The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Steel idler wheel from the front of a Mark II British tank. The rear section is shattered, with a section missing. Corrosion on all surfaces.
This is part of the remains of one of the dozen or so Mark II British tanks meant to support the Australian infantry (the 4th and 12th Brigades of the 4th Australian Division) at the First Battle of Bullecourt (10-11 April 1917). Their use was seized on by commander of the British 5th Army Sir Hubert Gough, in his rushed planning for the assault, in lieu of artillery. The tanks were meant to lead and protect the infantry in their assault on the heavily fortified village of Bullecourt which formed part of the Hindenburg Line; instead, seven broke down on their way to the starting line and the remainder were quickly knocked out, leaving the Australians exposed, without artillery support and the German wire entanglements unbroken. Despite capturing section of the German lines, they were forced to retire with 3,300 casualties, including over 1,100 taken prisoner.
This steel idler wheel comes from the front of a British tank. It consists of a central tube bearing with a wheel welded to each side; there are six cutouts in each wheel. There is shatter damage to the rear wheel, with a section missing. It was recovered from the Bullecourt area by local residents. The manufacturers for the Mark II series of tanks were either Foster & Co (which built 25 male tanks; or Metropolitan (which built 25 female versions). The steel plate protecting these tanks was apparently unhardened and easily pierced or shattered by German ordnance.
Steel driving sprocket of bolted construction, with a central tube bearing and a circular toothed driving wheel on each side. Corrosion on all surfaces. This is part of the remains of one of the do
Broken track plate fragment from a British Mark II tank. Corroded. This is part of the remains of one of the dozen or so Mark II British tanks meant to support the Australian infantry (the 4th and
Rear drive exterior bearing plate flange from a Mark II British tank. Corroded. This is part of the remains of one of the dozen or so Mark II British tanks meant to support the Australian infantry (
Steel panel with rivetted joining angle strip, slightly distorted. Corroded. This is part of the remains of one of the dozen or so Mark II British tanks meant to support the Australian infantry (the
Solid steel axle still attached to a torn section of plating from a tank side frame. Corrosion. This is part of the remains of one of the dozen or so Mark II British tanks meant to support the Aust
Pair of track rollers on their mounting shaft. A steel spring separates the two rollers, and push against a flange attached to the inner face of each roller. The outer roller is retained on the shaft