First World War tanks were descendants of vehicles like this early caterpillar-track farm machine, built by Rustin and Hornsby of Lincoln and used in England. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1902

A British tank which has crashed into a tree, near Cambrai, France. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images). 1917

A light tank moving on rough terrain. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1917

One of the first American tanks driving past the “Flatiron” building in New York. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images). 1917

A British tank in France during World War I. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1917

A British armoured car crippled by enemy gunfire with its crew either dead or captured. The Vickers Maxim guns have been disabled and their cartridge belts torn away. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images). 1918

French troops entering the Rhineland. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images). 1918

An American tank. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 3rd April 1917

An American tank. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 3rd April 1917

A “male” MKIV tank at the Lord Mayor's show in London. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). November 1917

Victory the Bulldog posing on a tank in Trafalgar Square during a campaign to sell War Loan certificates. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). 26th November 1917

A man standing on top of a tank in Trafalgar Square and speaking in favour of war bonds. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). December 1917

Germans testing the climbing powers of captured British tanks, redecorated in German colours. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images). Circa 1917

A light tank which has got into difficulties after tumbling into a trench. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1917

A British tank crossing the trenches in Flanders. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). September 1917

A German tank emerges from the forest, in preparation for an attack. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images). Circa 1917

A British Mark A Whippet Medium tank advancing through the mud to penetrate the German lines at Morcourt. Only two hundred of these tanks were ever manufactured. Original Publication: The Great War Series. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1918

An early French tank encountering rough terrain. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 31st July 1917

A British tank burns furiously, having been caught in the jet of a flame thrower and its fuel contents ignited. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images). Circa 1918

An American soldier walks ahead of an MKIV British-made tank. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1918

A British tank of the kind that managed to break down the German barbed wire defences at Cambrai. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). Circa 1918

An American Army tank. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images). March 1917

A British Mark I tank, the first ever military vehicle of this kind, in France, November 1916. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

An early British tank, equipped with a wood fascine to aid trench-crossing, Belgium, circa 1917. (Photo by /Hulton Archive/Getty Images)