Advertisement
By Richard PullenThere was considerable doubt about the practicality of Churchill’s idea for what were then called “land caterpillars.” These machines did, however, prove effective when used late in the war. Although Churchill did not “invent” the tank, he was by far the most significant supporter of its development during World War I and the White Hart within the shadow of Lincoln Cathedral was to play a not insignificant role in its development. It was in a room at the White Hart hotel that local engineer William Ashbee Tritton and Naval Lieutenant Walter G Wilson, developed a fighting tank with caterpillar wheels capable of negotiating the terrible mud of World War One battlefields. In 1915, this tank, known as ‘Little Willy’ became the world’s first prototype.
Advertisement
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Gainsborough Old Hall, ,Gainsborough, United Kingdom