Tank Museum Call for Papers

On Saturday 21st November, 2026, The Tank Museum will host a seminar to mark the 110th anniversary of the first use of the Tank in warfare.

The 15th September 1916 marks the first ever use of the Tank in warfare. The British Army used 49 Mark I tanks in an attack at Flers-Courcelette, during the Battle of the Somme. 

The Tank immediately captured the public imagination, and was lauded as a new wonder weapon, featured on the front cover of national newspapers, and later in souvenirs as diverse as teapots, postcards and jewellery.

Later historians have criticised this early use of the tank as premature, arguing that Haig was wrong to rush the tanks, unproven and mechanically unreliable as they were, into combat, and it would have been better to use the new weapon en masse.

This special seminar will critically explore the first use of tanks on the battlefield.

The Tank Museum is seeking contributions from speakers for this event who can contribute presentations of up to 25 minutes on the subject of the first use of the Mark I Tank on the Somme, as well as examining its tactical and technological impact on the battlefield.

The deadline for submissions is the 27th March, with the final line-up confirmed by the end of May. Papers should be submitted to research@tankmuseum.org.

For more information, visit The Tank Museum website.