South Tyneside Libraries
South Tyneside Libraries
It was to be brought by road so that all could see it.
On the Sunday evening there would be a public meeting and concert when the purpose of the tank's visit would be explained.
The following morning procession was to be organised, the route of which included Market Street, King Street and Fowler Street.
The tank a Mark IV, called 'Nelson' had recently seen action at the Battle of Cambrai, and it arrived with a great fanfare at South Shields and was put on display outside the Town Hall on Monday the 28th January 1918. By the close of South Shields Tank Week on the 2nd February a staggering amount of £1.239.480 had been raised.
In 1919 the Government of the day gave a total of 265 tanks to cities and towns in recognition of their fundraising efforts.
South Shields tank was installed on the Lawe Top on the 18th June 1919. It was eventually scrapped. Ashford in Kent survives today, the only one.
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 22/05/1919 reports that the tank given to South Shields in recognition of the efforts of the War Savings Committee would arrive on June 17th.
On 19/06/1919 the newspaper reports the arrival of the tank, which had proceeded under its own motive power from the goods station to its position on The Lawe.
In Tank Week, together with Tynemouth and Jarrow, they had raised £1,239,480, In Business Men's week they had raised £288.079, in War Weapons Week they raised £121,791, in Gun Week they raised £642,270.
The Illustrated Chronicle 18/06/1919 carries photos of the tank; The Northern Echo 19/06/1919 gives a report.
The tank was situated on The Lawe between two cannon brought from the Crimea.