Edward Colle was one of the first officers ever to command a tank in battle, at Flers-Courcelette on the Somme in September 1916.

Colle came from Cardiff. After attending Penarth County School, he worked for the shipping firm of Lysberg Limited in Cardiff Docks. When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Colle, aged 21, enlisted in the 1/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry. He joined its machine gun section and became a sergeant major. In April 1916 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Heavy Section of the Machine Gun Corps to help pioneer the use of tanks.

Uniforms and insignia

Machine Gun Corps cap badge

Gilding metal headdress badge to the Machine Gun Corps, being crossed machine guns surmounted by an Imperial (King’s) crown.
IWM (INS 4958)
Gilding metal headdress badge to the Machine Gun Corps, being crossed machine guns surmounted by an Imperial (King's) crown.

Machine Gun Corps cap badge associated with the service of Second Lieutenant Edward Colle MC.

See object record

On 15 September 1916, as part of the British assault on the Germans' third line of defences, 36 tanks went into action for the first time. Colle was in No.4 Section of 'D' Company. He and another officer, Lieutenant Walter Stones, were to support the 50th Division in its attack on the German switch line (linking the first line of trenches to the second) between Martinpuich and High Wood. Colle commanded tank D25, Stones D24.

Moving up from Bazentin-le-Petit cemetery, the two tanks crossed the British front line at 6.03am, 17 minutes before Zero Hour. When the artillery bombardment lifted and the infantry advanced, Colle and Stones were in position on the German front line. They gave close support to the assault and shortly after 7.00am followed it forward. D24 was disabled by shellfire.

Photographs

Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15 September 1916

The first official photograph taken of a Tank going into action, at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15th September 1916. The man shown is wearing a leather tank helmet.
© IWM (Q 2488)
The first official photograph taken of a Tank going into action, at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15th September 1916.
Image: IWM (Q 2488)

The first official photograph taken of a tank going into action, at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, 15 September 1916.

See object record

But Colle in D25 pushed on, skirting Martinpuich at 8.00am where he put three German guns out of action. Having helped the infantry reach the German third line of defences and with his steering gear damaged, Colle took his tank back to Bazentin-le-Petit as ordered. For his skill and gallantry he received the Military Cross.

Colle was wounded later in September. When he recovered, he was sent to work for the Ministry of Shipping. After the war he became a chartered shipbroker and served again in the Royal Tank Regiment during the Second World War.

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© IWM (Q 2488)
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