This is the first volume of a new six volume history of the Tank Corps during the First World War. The first history was written shortly after the end of the Great War by Lt Col JFC Fuller in 1919. This, and the subsequent version written by Sir Basil Liddell Hart in 1959, provided a broad overview of the origins of the Tank Corps but did not undertake detailed analysis of the tank actions and the changes introduced in the organization or operation of tank units as a result of the lessons learned. This new history seeks to overcome these shortcomings.

Volume 1.The first tank action -- Conception and birth -- First steps - Growing pains -- Preparing for battle -- Tank actions on the eastern flank -- Tank actions in the central area -- Tank actions on the western flank -- Tank actions on the northern flank -- Lessons learned during the tank actions of 1916 -- Volume 1 : map book. England and North East France -- British expeditionary Force area of operations 1916 -- Initial tank deployment locations 1916 -- Tank area of operations autumn 1916 -- Tank actions Battle of Flers-Courcelette 15 - 16 September 1916 -- Tank actions eastern flank September - October 1916 -- Tank actions centre September - October 1916 -- Tank actions western flank September 1916 -- Tank actions Courcelette and Thiepval 25 - 26 September 1916 -- Tank actions northern flank November 1916.