A recently discovered letter at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, offers a rare and deeply personal glimpse into the courage and hardship faced by a First World War tank gunner. Written by Lieutenant D.A. Palmer to the grieving family of Lance Corporal G.S. Hopkins, the letter provides a firsthand account of Hopkins’ valor and final moments in 1917, during the nascent stages of armored warfare.
Dated August 17, 1917, the letter describes how both men endured a gas shell attack while manning their tank. Despite severe gas exposure, Hopkins bravely returned to combat in a second tank the next day, where he sustained fatal injuries from enemy fire.
Lt. Palmer’s heartfelt words reveal Hopkins’ resilience: “Your brother made no complaint, although his pain must have been pretty bad.” He detailed how he and a fellow crew member tended to Hopkins’ wounds, doing their best to comfort him before he was evacuated to a nearby dressing station.
Tragically, Hopkins later died from his wounds while Lt. Palmer was on sick leave. Upon his return, Palmer learned of the loss and expressed profound sorrow: “As an N.C.O., and as a gunner, I shall miss him very much – he will be very hard to replace too, because he held the crew together beautifully.”
In a poignant postscript, Palmer added, “I notice that I fail to tell you that your brother was as badly gassed as anyone, but he remained at duty. He was in both tanks which we had knocked out.”
This intimate letter is now preserved in the museum’s archives and stands as a powerful testament to the sacrifice and steadfastness of those early tank crews during the Great War.
Historian James Donaldson reflected on its significance: “First-hand accounts from WWI are rare, and this letter, dating from the early days of tank warfare, is an invaluable addition to the Museum’s collection. It is humbling and deeply moving, reminding us of the personal cost of war beyond the large-scale statistics, highlighting the bravery of individual soldiers and the bonds they shared.”