Original pencil drawing on archival quality toned paper with colour highlights featuring a British Mark I tank on the Western Front in 1916.

On the unforgiving battlefields of WWI one of the biggest problems for advancing infantry were the miles of defensive trenches and barbed wire barricades. The ingenious British solution was the tank - its large rhomboid track configuration was specifically designed to breach enemy trench and razor wire systems and pave a way for the infantry. The imposing machines were powered by a Daimler straight six 16 litre petrol engine, sponsons on either side housed different combination of 6 pounders and machine guns. Many were fitted with a mesh structure on the top to defend against enemy grenades landing on the upper surfaces. At the rear a tail wheel system was used to aid steering and balance, although these were soon removed as they proved unreliable and inefficient. 

Mark I tanks went into action for the first time on 15 September 1916 on the Somme. Although the large cumbersome machines proved slow, noisy, unreliable and prone to getting bogged down, they achieved enough success in their early engagements for the green light to be given by British Commander-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, for many more to be produced - the age of modern mechanised warfare was born.

The drawing is on top quality, very heavy weight (640 gsm, 300lb) Sanders Waterford Hot Pressed fine art paper stock that has been custom toned with a light sepia hue to perfectly complement the subject matter. It is sold unmounted.

Signed by the artist and supplied with a Certificate of Authenticity.