57699: Tales from the front', a newspaper article of memoirs of John Barnard and of the Tank 250 in Evesham

Article written by Mike Barnard for the Evesham Journal November 5th 1998 about his late father John Barnard "who survived some of the most horrific battles of the First World War and how a tank from one of those battles ended up in Evesham's Abbey Park."

This includes how John used to tease Mike, getting him to touch the shrapnel wound on his shoulder. John's first memories of a tank - seen at Cambrai on November 20 1917. The story of John witnessing a young man's hair go grey overnight after a bullet skimmed across his scalp. John was wounded on at least 3 occasions, but he did once go over the top with 22,000 men and was one of only 15 who came back unscathed! There is an inset photo of John Barnard.

The story of the Great War tank (Tank 250) that stood in Abbey Park, Evesham from 1919 is told. This includes Mike's drawing of the arrival of the tank, including a representation of his father in the top right hand corner, as well as a poppy background. This drawing was done with Mike's father's own pencil that he had carried with him in France.

Part of a collection relating to Lance Corporal John Barnard (52258 Worcestershire regiment), market gardener of Badsey near Evesham; and his son Mike's drawings and newspaper articles relating to the First World War.