A search is beginning in Dorset, UK, for 'Mother,' the prototype for the world's first battlefield tank, the Mark 1, developed in 1915-16. Long rumored to have been secretly buried at Bovington Camp instead of scrapped during WWII, an army officer, Staff Sgt Anthony Sherritt, found a historical letter suggesting this is true. The letter from Lt Col NM Dillon states Maj Bill Brannon buried 'Mother' and three other tanks to save them from scrap. Sherritt has secured permission and is crowdfunding for an archaeological survey, with Lidar scans already identifying potential burial spots.
‘A wonderful mystery to be solved’: Search begins in Dorset for ‘the Mother of all tanks’
First world warArchaeologyUKMilitary
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A search is beginning in Dorset, UK, for 'Mother,' the prototype for the world's first battlefield tank, the Mark 1, developed in 1915-16. Long rumored to have been secretly buried at Bovington Camp instead of scrapped during WWII, an army officer, Staff Sgt Anthony Sherritt, found a historical letter suggesting this is true. The letter from Lt Col NM Dillon states Maj Bill Brannon buried 'Mother' and three other tanks to save them from scrap. Sherritt has secured permission and is crowdfunding for an archaeological survey, with Lidar scans already identifying potential burial spots.
Trending- 1 1915-16: 'Mother,' the prototype Mark 1 tank, developed in Britain.
- 2 WWII: 'Mother' is supposedly surrendered for scrap metal, but rumored to be secretly buried.
- 3 Decades: Rumors persist that 'Mother' was secretly buried at Bovington Camp.
- 4 Summer 2024: Staff Sgt Anthony Sherritt finds a letter from Lt Col NM Dillon suggesting Maj Bill Brannon buried 'Mother' and three other tanks.
- 5 Ongoing: Sherritt petitions defence authorities for survey permission and begins crowdfunding.
- 6 Autumn 2025: Archaeological survey to begin at Bovington Camp.
- Potential discovery of a historically significant tank
- Advancement of military history knowledge
- Public interest and crowdfunding efforts
What: An archaeological search is beginning at Bovington Camp in Dorset, UK, for 'Mother,' the prototype Mark 1 tank, believed to have been secretly buried during WWII to save it from being scrapped. Staff Sgt Anthony Sherritt found a letter supporting this rumor.
When: The search is planned to begin later this autumn (2025). 'Mother' was developed in 1915-16. The alleged burial occurred during WWII. The historical letter was found last summer (2024).
Where: Bovington Camp, Dorset, United Kingdom, specifically a 404-hectare (1,000-acre) driver training area, now restricted heathland.
Why: To find and recover 'Mother,' a unique and historically significant piece of military and technological history, believed to have been buried to prevent its destruction during WWII.
How: Staff Sgt Anthony Sherritt discovered a historical letter, secured permission for a survey from defence authorities, and is crowdfunding for archaeologists to conduct Lidar scans and excavation.