August 2, 2013 2.36 pm This story is over 140 months old

Lincoln tank memorial searching for tagline

Birthplace of the tanks: Designers from the Lincoln Tank Memorial Group are asking for residents’ help in deciding on the wording beneath the monument.
An almost finalised design. Position on the roundabout may vary slightly. But what should the wording say? Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group

Designers from the Lincoln Tank Memorial Group are asking for residents’ help in deciding on the wording beneath the monument.

As previously reported, the group came together in order to mark the 100th anniversary of World War I with a special memorial to the tank.

The first tank was built in Lincoln by William Foster and Co., but it was just one of many engineering firms in Lincoln providing locals with much needed jobs, such as Ruston Hornsby, Ruston Bucyrus and James Dawson and Co.

The £25,000 full-scale tank memorial, which aims to be placed on Tritton Road roundabout, will have male and female figures around the tank, with spanners and paintbrushes in hand.

There will be no guns on the replica, as no guns from a tank were ever fired within the city boundaries.

The group chose Tritton Road roundabout due the proximity of the birthplace of the first tank.

The sign, placed above the William Foster and Co. factory for a visit by King George. Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group

The sign, placed above the William Foster and Co. factory for a visit by King George. Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group

However, now the final design has been decided, they need help choosing the writing to go at the bottom.

Presently, it says “Welcome to Lincoln — Birthplace of the Tanks”, as this was a phrase hung within the factory.

Julie Cooke, Secretary Lincoln Tank Memorial Group, said: “The wording at the bottom of the Memorial is taken from the wording on a gantry at the Foster’s factory which had been written in preparation for the King’s visit.

“Our dilemma is – do we stick to the historically accurate wording, or do we amend the wording to read ‘Lincoln Birthplace of the Tank’, which may make more sense, especially to visitors to our wonderful City?”

To help the group, have your say via email at [email protected].

How the Lincoln tank memorial design evolved

A sketch of the memorial layout, which would sit in the middle of Tritton Road roundabout

A sketch of the memorial layout, which would sit in the middle of Tritton Road roundabout. Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group

The second version of the tank memorial designs for the Tritton Road roundabout

The second version of the tank memorial designs for the Tritton Road roundabout. Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group

An almost finalised design. Position on the roundabout may vary slightly. But what should the wording say? Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group

An almost finalised design. Position on the roundabout may vary slightly. But what should the wording say? Photo: Lincoln Tank Memorial Group