Aussie Surprise of the Month. First tank design
Lance de Mole was born in Kent Town, South Australia, in
1880. In 1885 his family moved to Melbourne and in 1897 he
went to Western Australia to do survey work with his
father. He also developed an interest in inventing.
By 1912 Lance had designed a vehicle with a chain-track
tractor movement for an armoured
chain-rail vehicle which could be easily steered
and carry heavy loads over rough ground and trenches'.
He submitted his idea to the British War Office. It went
unnoticed, as did another attempt in 1915.
He enlisted
in 10th Battalion in 1917 and took a model of his tank
to London. He was unsuccessful in obtaining official
recognition for his design, although the British Royal
Commission on Awards to Inventors paid him £987 to apply
against his expenses. Eventually, the British war office
developed the tank itself without paying royalties.
Had the Brits recognized Lance’s tank when first
submitted and done something about it, World War I might
have been shorter, with many fewer casualties.
If you’re looking for skilled building work in a land
that encourages innovators and rewards professional
trades people, talk to an LIA advisor.
|
