by Robert Ryan
There were later successes, notably at Cambrai in 1917, but the tank did not really come into its own as a fighting machine until the next war when, of course, its initial, devastating successes came in the hands of German crews and commanders. And, as Colonel-General Heinz Guderian said in his book Panzer Marsch!, published in 1937: ‘The higher the concentration of tanks, the faster, greater and more sweeping will be the success – and the smaller our own losses . . .’
I’d like to thank Frances Armstrong at the Elveden Estate (elveden.com) and Brian Dawson of Nature Break Wildlife Cruises (wildlifetrips.org.uk). The latter showed me the Broomway and the fascinating island of Foulness and the little community of Churchend. His company offers walks, boat rides and even tractor rides along the Broomway to the island.
My thanks go to Maxine Hitchcock and Clare Hey for their exemplary editing and enthusiasm; Yvonne Holland for saving me from myself so many times; and to Sue Stephens, James Horobin and Kerr MacRae and all at Simon & Schuster for continuing support, even when it involves listening to jazz. David Miller, Alex Goodwin, Susan d’Arcy, Katie Haines, Jonathan Kinnersely, Gary Cook and Barry Forshaw have all offered sterling back-room work in various capacities. Finally, thank you to Guy Barker, whose various attempts to turn me into a lyricist at least offered a welcome respite from the writing trenches.
Robert Ryan
