Tank bank rolls into city
Stirling was one of the areas chosen to host Julian, the ‘war savings tank’, which was touring the country 100 years ago in a new scheme to raise cash for the conflict.
It was one of six Mark IV tanks whose visits to towns and cities across the UK was aimed at promoting the sale of Government War Bonds and War Savings Certificates.
The Battle of Cambrai in November and December, 1917, had seen the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare and it was hoped the appearance across Britain of the new“wonder weapon” would inspire people to donate towards the cost of the conflict.
Notices placed in the Observer gave details of Julian’s appearance at Stirling, Callander and Crieff. On sale were to be bonds of between £5 and £5000 and War Certificates worth £1 which could be bought for 15 shillings and sixpence.
Days before Julian’s arrival in Stirling, councillors, bankers and other dignitaries met to make the necessary arrangements.
It was agreed the tank should be parked outside the Municipal Buildings in Corn Exchange Road.
Potential investors were to be channelled through the council offices where they would pick up the bonds and certificates before taking them out to the tank to have them stamped.
Nationally, the Government tried to encourage a competitive spirit between the areas visited by the tanks.
It was decided the town or city that invested the most per head of population would win the tank ‘Egbert’.
The eventual winner of the competition was West Hartlepool and Egbert was on display there until 1937 when the council voted in favour of scrapping what it termed a ‘relic of barbarism’.