Flanged track roller, British Mark II tank : Bullecourt

Pair of track rollers on their mounting shaft. A steel spring separates the two rollers, and push against a flange attached to the inner face of each roller. The outer roller is retained on the shaft by a captive bronze washer. Corroded.

This is part of the remains of one of the dozen or so Mark II British tanks meant to support the Australian infantry (the 4th and 12th Brigades of the 4th Australian Division) at the First Battle of Bullecourt (10-11 April 1917). Their use was seized on by commander of the British 5th Army Sir Hubert Gough, in his rushed planning for the assault, in lieu of artillery. The tanks were meant to lead and protect the infantry in their assault on the heavily fortified village of Bullecourt which formed part of the Hindenburg Line; instead, seven broke down on their way to the starting line and the remainder were quickly knocked out, leaving the Australians exposed, without artillery support and the German wire entanglements unbroken. Despite capturing section of the German lines, they were forced to retire with 3,300 casualties, including over 1,100 taken prisoner.

This track roller was part of the track guide system of a British Mark II tank. It was recovered from the Bullecourt area by local residents. The manufacturers for the Mark II series of tanks were either Foster & Co (which built 25 male tanks; or Metropolitan (which built 25 female versions).