First World War Gunner Honored Through Officer’s Touching Letter

A recently discovered letter at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, offers a poignant glimpse into the bravery and hardships faced by a First World War tank gunner, providing a rare personal account from the early days of armoured warfare.

The letter was penned by Lieutenant D A Palmer to the grieving brother of Lance Corporal G S Hopkins, who fought bravely during the conflict. Written on August 17, 1917, just a week before Remembrance Sunday, the letter recounts Hopkins’ final courageous actions.

Lt Palmer describes how he and Hopkins endured a gas shell attack on their tank but continued fighting. Despite being severely affected by gas exposure, Hopkins returned to duty the next day in a second tank, where he was critically wounded by shellfire.

Lt Palmer compassionately wrote, “Your brother made no complaint, although his pain must have been pretty bad,” and detailed how the crew bandaged Hopkins and tried to ease his suffering before he was transported to a dressing station. Sadly, Hopkins later died of his injuries while Palmer was on sick leave.

Upon returning, Palmer learned of Hopkins’ death and expressed deep admiration for his comrade. “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,” he wrote.

In a heartfelt postscript, Palmer added that Hopkins had been as badly gassed as anyone yet remained at his post, surviving the destruction of two tanks during their engagement.

The letter now resides in the museum’s archives and is celebrated by staff and historians alike as a powerful testament to the sacrifices made by those pioneering tank warfare during the Great War.

Historian James Donaldson remarked, “First-hand accounts from WWI are rare, especially regarding the early use of tanks. This letter is an invaluable and deeply moving addition to the collection, giving a human face to the immense personal costs of war.”