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Unique ID: 1268 Added to Database: 13 July 2010 Last Edited: 20 March 2012 Type (ID): Mark IV (3715) Model (ID): Mark IV (3715) Location Category (ID): The Tank Museum - Public Areas (3000) Location (ID): World War I / George Forty Hall (3006) Serial Number: 2324. “2324” painted on rear hull sides. Registration: “102” painted on forward hull sides. Name: “EXCELLENT” previously painted on left hull side. Other Identification: Three plaques fitted on nose. Collection Reference: E1972.63. (Accession 6372, Entry 1972.1016). Links: Museum Vehicle Record Memorials in Portsmouth References: Associated Tanks: Location History: (see map) 1: William Foster & Co. Ltd, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, East Midlands, Britain (Manufactured 1917) 2: ATDU and Solitary Vehicles, Bovington, Dorset, South West England, Britain (Nearby training centre – estimated 1920s) 3: Whale Island – Portsmouth, England (Estimated 1920s – 1971) 4: ATDU and Solitary Vehicles, Bovington, Dorset, South West England, Britain (REME Workshop – 1971-1974) 5: The Tank Museum - Public Areas, Bovington, Dorset, South West England, Britain (Current location) Text in original Preserved British Tanks publication: [No entry] Text in Preserved British Tanks Update: [No entry] Text in original Preserved Tanks In Britain publication: This Mark IV is a Male and was built in 1917. It is numbered ‘2324’ which indicates that it was part of the batch of 101 built by Fosters in the sequence 2300 to 2400. It was presented by the Tank Corps Training Centre to H.M.S. Excellent, Portsmouth, for assistance given in training in 6pdr gunnery during World War I. In 1940 a young naval officer got it running again in case the Germans invaded. It served as part of H.M.S. Excellent’s Royal Naval Battalion in the defence of Portsmouth, though apparently its only action was to damage a private car. It has three plaques on its nose that read as follows: PRESENTED BY TANK CORPS TRAINING CENTRE H.M.S. EXCELLENT WHALE ISLAND IN RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE GREAT ASSISTANCE GIVEN IN TRAINING IN GUNNERY (6 PDR.) 136 OFFICERS 2413 OTHER RANKS OF THE TANK CORPS. WORLD WAR I WORLD WAR II. SERVED AS PART OF H.M.S. EXCELLENT’S ROYAL NAVAL BATTALION IN THE DEFENCES OF PORTSMOUTH AT A TIME WHEN WEAPONS WERE SCARCE AND THE THREAT OF NAZI INVASION WAS VERY REAL. 1971 PRESENTED BY HMS EXCELLENT, WHALE ISLAND, TO RAC CENTRE AND RESTORED TO ORIGINAL CONDITION BY CRAFTSMEN OF 18 COMMAND WORKSHOP REME, 1974 When the tank was originally presented to HMS Excellent on 1 May 1919 it was mounted on a concrete plinth overlooking the parade ground, and emblazoned on its side was its new name ‘Excellent’. In 1940 a young subaltern in the RASC worked on it and returned it to running order. It became operational in the RN battalion allocated to the defence of Portsmouth and regularly drove out of Whale Island to Southsea Common and back. Eventually after a number of breakdowns and with more modern weapons becoming available it was returned to retirement on its concrete base. In 1969, under an RN Engineer Lieutenant, work began on it again. With work partially completed it was decided to present it back to Bovington as the best way to preserve it for the future. After restoration by REME it was officially handed over from the Royal Navy to the Army on 29 May 1975 outside the Armour School, in the presence of RN and Army dignitaries and junior leaders. (Source: Memorials in Portsmouth). From that year it did not move under its own power again until the summer of 1984 when it was restored to running order by the museum in order to take part in a BBC television programme. It is displayed with its sponson doors open so the interior can be viewed. For many years the museum had another Mark IV on display outside. This was donated a few years ago to the City of Lincoln.

Images - Photographs and NavPix (click to expand or browse)

March 2011 1: Front right view Taken: 7 March 2011 Contributor: M. Foti Photo ID: 6900 Added: 18 March 2012 Filename: 55287859... Views: 215 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		2: Front left view Taken: 6 March 2011 Contributor: M. Foti Photo ID: 6898 Added: 18 March 2012 Filename: 55281954... Views: 183 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		3: Front left view Taken: 6 March 2011 Contributor: M. Foti Photo ID: 6899 Added: 18 March 2012 Filename: 55281966... Views: 203 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
October 2008 4: Front right view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3450 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030333... Views: 219 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		5: Front view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3451 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030332... Views: 209 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		6: Front left view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3452 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030336... Views: 206 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
7: Rear left view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3453 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030325... Views: 216 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		8: Rear view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3454 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030323... Views: 217 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		9: Rear right view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3455 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030324... Views: 220 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
10: Upper plaque Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3456 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030329... Views: 188 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		11: Middle plaque Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3457 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030330... Views: 191 Select/Has Priority: 21/0		12: Lower plaque Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3458 Added: 13 July 2010 Filename: P1030331... Views: 199 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
13: Rear right view Taken: 27 October 2008 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 3490 Added: 18 July 2010 Filename: P1030341... Views: 147 Select/Has Priority: 21/0
October 1982 14: Front left view Taken: 26 October 1982 Contributor: T. Larkum Photo ID: 6685 Added: 6 February 2012 Filename: Scan_Mar... Views: 197 Select/Has Priority: 21/0

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