The first use of the new type of weapon — the tank — took place on the Somme on September 15, 1916, and, as you know, was accompanied by a great deal of secrecy. We should admit that the British fully managed to make use of the surprise effect. However, the tank soon became not only a regular subject of battle reports, but also an attribute of front-line folklore and propaganda.
The first tanks appeared on postcards immediately after they were used for the first time at the front. In the beginning they had improbable outlines, but after two or three months, drawings with quite recognizable «rhombuses» became widespread.
Cupid Bringing Love. This postcard entitled «The Tale of Tanks. A story without words» was approved by the British military censorship on October 10, 1916. Except for the terrible scissor manipulators, the artist conveyed the concept of a tank quite adequately
“British tank in action. Smashing German defences." A postcard on which tank is drawn quite accurately, approved by censorship on November 24, 1916
A year later, postcards with tanks became widespread. The inscription on the tank reads «Byng Boys» — in honor of the commander of the British 3rd Army, General Julian Byng, in the sector of which on November 20, 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai, the first massive tank offensive in history was launched. At that time about 400 vehicles went into battle simultaneously. The text on the left side of the postcard is an allusion to Nelson's words before Trafalgar. Back then the signal «England expects that every Man will do his Duty» was raised on the flagship. For the postcard, the text was slightly corrected: «England expects that every Tank will do its Damnedest»
