World War I tank in front of St Paul’s Cathedral

World War 1 tanks in the 1917 Lord Mayor’s Show. The same sort of tank will appear in the 2007 Show, and until then can be seen outside St Paul’s. Click for full-size image.

Notes for Editors

The Mark V tank took part in several battles, including the Battle of Amiens on 8th August 1918, as well as the last British offensive of the war in France in one month later. See www.tankmuseum.org for more.

Lord Mayor’s Show – Lord Mayor David Lewis will make his first public appearance at the Show when he travels from the Mansion House, past St Paul’s Cathedral to the Royal Courts of Justice where he pledges allegiance to the sovereign. The Show blends history and modernity as Bollywood dancers perform along side top club DJs, military marching bands and Chinese aerial acrobats as the three-mile long parade winds its way through the streets of the City of London, from the Mansion House to the Courts of Justice via St Paul’s Cathedral and back. Further details: www.lordmayorshow.org

Press release published Wednesday 07 November 2007

A rare World War I tank will be on display in the heart of the City of London ahead of the Lord Mayor’s Show (Saturday 10th November).

The Mark V tank, reckoned to be the last fully operational British WWI tank, has travelled to London from the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset to take part in the annual parade through the streets of the Square Mile.

It commemorates 90 years since tanks were first introduced to the British people – at the Lord Mayor’s Show in November 1917 (Attached a photo of a tank at St Paul’s during 1917 Show).

Photographers/TV can photograph tank outside St Paul’s (to replicate 1917 photo). Access inside tank also possible. Tank expert David Willey will also be available for interviews and background. TV – PLEASE ARRANGE SLOTS IN ADVANCE.