AT least four men from Barrow died as part of the secretive world of the tank crews in the First World War.

Britain’s potential wonder “land ship” weapon was called a tank to make the enemy think it was a large water container.

Recruits were not told what they were signing up for beyond a need for driving or mechanical skills. Geoffrey Smith, editor of Motor Cycle magazine, was sent to pick out volunteers from within the motor trade.

The trainee tank crews ended up in Bovington, Dorset – now the home of the Tank Museum.

Its collections include Little Willie – the world’s first tank – and a range of machines and equipment used in the First World War.

Walney-born Tank Corps private soldier Richard Richardson Helms, number 109694, died on August 15 in 1918.

He served with the 14th Battalion and is buried at St Souplet British Cemetery, near Le Cateau.

Barrow private Alfred Edwin Holloway, number 315900, was just 20 when he died on December 18 in 1920 as a result of illness or injury through his wartime service with the Tank Corps.

He was the son of David and Mary Holloway, of 47 St Luke Street, Barrow and is buried at Barrow Cemetery.

Private James Holmes, number 308488, was 27 when he died of illness or injury on February 19 in 1919 and is also buried at Barrow Cemetery.

He had served with the 15th Battalion of the Tank Corps and was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Holmes, of Barrow.

He was the husband of Ellen Adamson, formerly Holmes, of 28 Taylor Street, Horwich, Lancashire.

Edward Haslam Tyson, number 201202, was born at Cark and served with F Battalion of the Tank Corps.

He was killed on November 27 in 1917 near Fontaine-Notre-Dame during the Battle of Cambrai and is named on the Cambrai Memorial at Louverval.

Another Tank Corps member who is buried far from home is Christopher Walker.

He was a corporal, number 307438, in the 16th Battalion and is buried at the Serain Communal Cemetery Extension on the Aisne, 11 miles from Cambrai, France.

He was the son of William and Agnes Walker, from High Heathwaite, Windermere.

A Barrovian who survived the war was a Tank Corps major called Maurice Wadeson.

He was born in the town on March 30 in 1989 and later lived at 41 Waverly Road, Souhsea, Hampshire.

His military career had started with the 92nd Field Company of the Royal Engineers.

He was sent as a lieutenant on January 12 in 1917 to “B” Battery of the heavy branch of the Machine Gun Corps – what would soon become the Tank Corps.

He worked close to the action in what were described as “advanced workshops” trying to keep the unreliable tanks in working order.

The first British tanks went into action on September 15 in 1916 and their impact was such that 1,000 more were ordered.

By October 1916 Bovington had become the training centre where men learned to drive and maintain the tanks and to fire their canon or machine guns.

Tanks had been developed as the open warfare in the first few weeks of the war had been reduced to a stalemate by the power of artillery, barbed wire and machine guns.

A committee, prompted by Winston Churchill, was set up and came up with the concept of a tracked, crawling, armoured vehicle able to cross trenches and belts of wire.

Despite improvements, the tanks were slow and prone to engine failure.

The battlefield life of a tank was two to three hours before it broke down.