To the Green Fields Beyond

by KingSlayer515

In 1918, the Battle of Amiens marked the start of the Hundred Days Offensive. During this battle, the Mark V Tank saw the most action, with a total of 108 deployed to the battlefield. One of those that perished among the fighting was the Little Annie, number D42. The crew, however, lived to tell the tale of the tank. Historical Fiction. Rated M for strong violence and language.

1. Chapter One: Introduction

This is a small teaser/introduction to a World War One story that I am writing which depicts the Battle of Amiens through the eyes of a tank crew. This story is Historical Fiction, as the Little Annie never was an actual Tank. It is, however, inspired by the story of Private Chas Rowland, whose account of the battle was recently made into a film called Our World War for BBC. (Don't even, you dirty-minded bastard!) So, without further ado, *blows whistle* CHARGE!

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"The War To End All Wars." Even in 1914, it was a laughable concept. Yet still, there were those who fought, hoping that their presence would mean a change in the seemingly endless conflict that raged throughout the world. Among the battlefields of the Great War, there were men who pushed, believing that they could make a difference by throwing their lives into the fire. This is a process which seemingly never ended in World War I until one side decided to push hard enough. With the assistance of machines, however, the tide of battle could be changed overnight. Mechanized weapons, such as the British Mark tank, could aid in overtaking a line in a matter of minutes.

With a skilled operator and a loyal crew, the Mark V can be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield. However, it is unreliable. 400 of them were built during the war. Today, only 11 survive. Contrary to popular belief, the tank was not the tool that won the war, however, it greatly attributed to its end. During the war's closing months, many battles involving these machines took place. Perhaps the most notable being the Battle of Amiens, which marked the start of the Hundred Days Offensive. There, 108 Mark Vs were deployed to the battlefield. Within the first day, however, only a third remained. A single battalion of these were given to the British III Corps to support their allies, and they did not disappoint, despite their technicalities. One of the tanks that participated in this battle, named Little Annie, was one of the many that perished. It's crew, however, lived to tell the tale.