Page 43 - WW1 - 1918

Redditch Local History Society Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1

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The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 27 April
1918

Tank Week at Redditch continued

Tank Week at Redditch – Fine Response to the Appeal – The well-known Tank, “Julian”
arrived at Redditch on Sunday in a heavy snowstorm. Preparations for the public reception
had been made on a rather extensive scale, and in only one of two respects were they
abandoned. The weather on Sunday was about as unpropitious as it could be, but this did
not in any way deter a great crowd of people from lining the streets. The Tank was in charge
of Lieut. W. G. Davis, Sergt. Harrington, and Gunners Bennett and Harding. A few minutes
before three o’clock on Sunday afternoon the Tank left the railway station, and via Park
Road and Evesham Street, proceeded to its position in Church Road, near to the Literary and
Scientific Institute. On its way however, it was met by the Committee organising Tank Week,
the local Volunteers, members and officials of the Urban District Council, and many others.
Opposite the west entrance to St Stephen’s Church a barricade had been erected, which
“Julian” mounted with ease, the wire entanglement posts and other impediments being
penetrated. As though nothing had taken place, the Tank proceeded to the place it occupied
during the week. Every available space was taken up by the large crowd of onlookers when
Mr A. C. Millward (Chairman of the Urban District Council) mounted on the top of the Tank
and offered a welcome from the townspeople. He appealed to the residents of the town and

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