At Pond Farm on the N313, 11km north east of Ypres (near St Julian) is a replica WW1 tank. It commemorates the longest tank action of World War One.
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| Replica WW1 Tank - Pond Farm St Julian |
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| Replica WW1 Tank - Pond Farm St Julian |
The tank was F41 'Fray Bentos' of F Battalion 3rd Tank Brigade, nicknamed after a tinned corned beef supplied to troops during WW1. A working replica has also been built.
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| F41 Fray Bentos working replica |
Early on the morning of 22nd August 1917 Fray Bentos ditched in no-mans land near St Julien whilst supporting an infantry tank during the Third Battle of Ypres.
The tank was left stranded when the British infantry was forced to withdraw at 07:00. The Germans attempted to seize the tank, but the tank crew firing their 6 pounder gun held them off. On the night of the 22nd, Germany infantry got on the roof of the tank, British infantry thinking it had been captured and turned into a strong point fired on F41. The crew were now caught in cross fire from German and British infantry.
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| H41 Fray Bentos diched in No mans Land St Julian |
The tank was left stranded when the British infantry was forced to withdraw at 07:00. The Germans attempted to seize the tank, but the tank crew firing their 6 pounder gun held them off. On the night of the 22nd, Germany infantry got on the roof of the tank, British infantry thinking it had been captured and turned into a strong point fired on F41. The crew were now caught in cross fire from German and British infantry.
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| German infantry attack F41 Fray Bentos |
The following day the crew of Fray Bentos continued to enage the enemy. On the evening of the 23 / 24 August the Germans once again attacked the tank, and were beaten off.
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| German infantry night attack on F41 Fray Bentos |
By dawn of the 24th one crewman was dead, all but one man were wounded and ammunition was low. One crew member manged to crawl back to British lines to outline the predicament of the crew, so firing on the tank by friendly forces ceased. This allowed the remaining crew to make their escape during the night.
The crew of F41 Fray Bentos had been in action 72 hours engaing the Germans throughout the time, and not succumbing to the attacks on the tank.
Their actions resulted in the crew becoming the most most highly decorated tank crew in WW1.
Their actions resulted in the crew becoming the most most highly decorated tank crew in WW1.
Captain DH Richardson - Military Cross
Second Lieutenant G Hill - Military Cross
Sergeant RF Missen - Distinguished Conduct Medal
Gunner W Morrey - Distinguished Conduct Medal
Gunner EW Hayton - Military Medal
Gunner FC Arthurs - Military Medal
Gunner PE Budd - Military Medal
Gunner JH Binley - Military Medal
Lance Corporal EH Braedy - Killed In Action