Tank Museum curator David Willey with the model tank and its camouflage design
A model tank that was built in World War One for experts to paint with new camouflage designs is to go on display at The Tank Museum in Dorset.
The military wanted to help protect its soldiers and felt it would benefit them if tanks were harder for the enemy to see, so various designs were considered.
The model will be part of museum’s new exhibition opening on April 1 called ‘Tanks for the memories: The Tank in popular culture’.
The model tank with the WW1 early camouflage design. It is going on display at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
Canadian colour-theorist Percyval Tudor-Hart was teaching in London at the outbreak of the war and offered his services to Britain.
He felt he his talents could be utilised ‘in the realm of scientific camouflage, based on reflection, absorption, and refraction of light.’
Ultimately Lord Montagu of Beaulieu set him up in a workshop on his Hampshire estate and with some of his former students he began experimenting.
The model tank with the WW1 early camouflage design. It is going on display at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
He was given this model tank to paint in order to demonstrate the effect of his colour scheme.
Despite his skills none of his designs would ultimately be used, with the Army, Royal Navy and Air Force rejecting his efforts.
A design of his for sniper camouflage did pass muster, but another design had already been accepted.
David Willey, curator of The Tank Museum, said: “The word camouflage wasn’t in use in Britain before the First World War and the science, if not the idea, was new.
“Tudor-Hart was something of a visionary with many of his camouflage theories being looked at again in later years.
The model tank with the WW1 early camouflage design. It is going on display at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
“Unfortunately none of his designs were adopted for the military although his paintings with their emphasis on colour tones can be seen in some museums.
“He used zig-zags and herringbone patterns to deceive the eye and we are extremely fortunate that this wooden model tank has survived.
“It is thanks to Lord Montagu who donated it to us after the last war that we have it – and it is some years since it was last on public display.
The model tank with the WW1 early camouflage design. It is going on display at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
“It is a quarter-size model of a ‘female’ Mark I tank and it’s lovely to be able to see this original design that Tudor-Hart created.
“Ultimately, camouflage on tanks proved pointless on the Western Front because the mud was so abundant all tanks were covered in it, rendering any camouflage useless. Therefore all tanks ended up being painted brown with no camouflage scheme.
“In the exhibition we have a section on model tanks and this example is the oldest, having been made months after the tank was invented.”
The model tank with the WW1 early camouflage design. It is going on display at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
Tudor-Hart was from a wealthy Canadian family and studied art in Paris before moving to London.
The art school he opened was forced to close at the outbreak of hostilities when the students were called up.
He vowed to do his bit for the war effort and offered his expertise in colour and camouflage.
After the war he continued painting, sculpting and teaching and eventually moved back to Canada where he died in 1954.
The museum is looking for two people dressed as Tank Girl and Oddball from Kelly’s Heroes to open the exhibition.
