Welcome to the fourth instalment of our monthly blog, sharing untold stories and highlighting the interesting and unusual items from The Tank Museum’s Archive and Object Collection.
For our fourth post, we take a look at a unique timepiece.
Handmade by then 2nd Lieutenant Reginald Shepperd Ollington in 1918, this clock was constructed with one shell case and part of a tank radiator! (Though where and how Ollington exactly reacquisition these items for his crafting project will remain a mystery.)
The Clock is decorated on either side by two detailed brass tank models, one Female and one Male, crossing No-Mans-Land while an engraved plate is fixed under the clockface. While the text is slightly worn, the engraving lists the main battle honours of the Tank Corps, starting with the Battle of the Somme in 1916 through to “The Great Advance” (what we know to be the Battle of Amiens) in 1918.
Born in 1895, Ollington was originally serving as a Driver with the Royal Marine Artillery before joining the Tank Corps. Returning to army service following the outbreak of the Second World War, Ollington was granted an emergency commission to 2nd Lieutenant and became involved in the development of the Canal Defence Light.
Promoted to the rank of Colonel, Ollington commanded the CDL school. Between October 1942 and August 1944, his role included training American personnel as well British soldiers, and his assistance in establishing similar schools and training facilities in the United States resulted in him being awarded the Legion of Merit, Officer Degree on 16th January 1947.
Colonel Ollington’s Tank Clock was donated to the Tank Museum in 1986.
We hope you enjoyed this month’s story, and look forward to sharing our next blog with you.
