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William Henry Lowe Watson
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With the Tanks, 1916–1918: Memoirs of a British Tank Commander in the Great War (Eyewitnesses from The Great War) Kindle Edition

by W.H.L. Watson (Author), Bob Carruthers (Illustrator) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
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William Watson was a young Oxford post-graduate at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. Along with several friends from Oxford he enlisted in the army expecting the war to last six weeks. Watson began his service in the Great War as a British Army motorcycle despatch rider. He saw active service during the key battles of 1914 and early 1915. Watson was then commissioned and became a tank commander and saw active service with the tanks most notably at Cambrai in 1917. This well written and evocative memoir was originally published under the tile 'A Company Of Tanks' it constitutes a wonderful primary source and is an invaluable addition to the library of anyone with an interest in the evolution of the tank as a decisive weapon on the battlefield. Highly detailed, but nonetheless accessible this superb new illustrated edition, edited by Emmy AwardTM winning historian Bob Carruthers is greatly recommended for serious enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
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  1. Print length
    286 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Pen & Sword Military
  5. Publication date
    March 11, 2014
  6. File size
    13683 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Carruthers is an Emmy Award winning author and historian, who has written extensively on the Great War. A graduate of Edinburgh University, Bob is the author of a number of military history titles including the Amazon best seller The Wehrmacht in Russia.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00SGC4Y2Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword Military (March 11, 2014)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 11, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 13683 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 286 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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William Henry Lowe Watson

William Henry Lowe Watson

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
24 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Conchscooter
5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Diary
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2017
Verified Purchase
I️ had hoped for a detailed description of the operation of early tanks but the author who writes beautifully and with sly humor is a major in command of the company. His job is to receive orders and implement them, not to do the actual driving and fighting. Consequently we learn a lot about the difficulties of organization of a tank company and nothing about the operation of a tank itself. Which is too bad. Still well worth the read if you are interested in World War One for a front line view.
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Michael Green
4.0 out of 5 stars Great coverage of this vital invention
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2022
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The author is a true blueblood, but these are the memoirs of a fighting man. He often notes the quality of his bed, but definitely of his cigars and his dining, but he is not a true tank commander, despite the subtitle. He commands either a company (about 12 tanks) or a battalion (about 30-40). He tells little of what it means to be fighting within the tank, though he makes valuable remarks, but he knows practically nothing of fighting alongside the tanks, though he can sometimes watch battles develop from a post, and sometimes he cannot, but his anxiety for his command is quite apparent and human in this memoir. In short, he basically suffers or triumphs along with his men. For most of the war the tank was a bulky liability on the battlefield, and depending on the terrain, was apt to get stuck in the mud and there remain, useless for eternity. In 1918 he commands a unit of carrier tanks, and although these are not rated as fighting tanks, he warms to their excellent use in supplying and replenishing the forward units. A very useful and valuable reference in a polished, accessible style.
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Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars A look at tank warfare in WW1
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2019
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The book is a bit on the tedious side. I wanted to know more about being in a tank under fire. This book is more about tactics. I wish I could have liked it more.
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Top reviews from other countries

James Garner
5.0 out of 5 stars Early Tank Combat/Tactics
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 11, 2020
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I bought this to help me understand what it was like for the common soldiers who operated these machines as my grandfather was killed, with his tank crew, in September 1918 supporting the Canadians in their push between Arras and Cambria. Unfortunately it didn’t do that but gave a view from a squadron commanders point. Although it was on the same battle front the authors squad was supporting the Australians. Reading between the lines the men that manned and mended these machines must have been phenomenal people to know, working all hours to keep their tanks going.
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Mr S.
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting perspective from a Middle ranking officer (but not really a combat tank commander)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
Interesting perspective from a Middle ranking officer (but not really a combat tank commander). A first hand memoir of a Major (at the age 25!) in the Tank Corp from it beginnings. Lots of fascinating detail regarding the practicalities of preparing camps, de-training tanks, battle plans, liason with other Divisional HQs etc even down to where to find a good restauarant near the Front line and so forth but doesn't speak at all of going into action with his tanks (this may have been normal for a Major ranked officer?)....so in that regard, somehow falls a bit short if you are interested in getting a perspective from inside the one of the beasts. All this said, I dont wish to be critical as it was first published just after the 1st WW and things would have no doubt been rather "raw" to many men. The Author was certainly close enough to the action to be in real danger from shell fire etc...just not in a tank, as its commander.
2 people found this helpful
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Kit Bash Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2018
Verified Purchase
Great set of memoirs, well written. Some interesting insights from a man who was there.
He had a varied service including commanding a company of supply tanks,
I would love to retrace his steps and visit some of the venues he dined in when not in the front line.
One person found this helpful
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Joy Morris
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 22, 2018
Verified Purchase
he loved it
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