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The wartime Mayor of Preston, Harry Cartmell thought the so-called "tank banks" were an act of genius.

They had been set up to raise money for the war effort by capitalising on the national craze for the new super-weapon, which it had been hoped would decisively swing the course of the war in favour of the allies.

The idea was that towns and cities would have their own "tank week鈥�. In Preston, that week was in January 1918. In that time, a genuine tank - from the front line - would be the focus for the fund-raising effort. All the tanks had names. In Preston they had "Egbert鈥�.

Two women sat inside the tanks and took in money from businesses and individuals in the town, in return for bonds or savings certificates (it was seen as a good investment, with a 5% return.)

In his memoirs, Cartmell describes one old man turning up with a fish basket full of copper, three penny pieces, gold and treasury notes. A widow invested all of her lifetime savings. The main investors though were the businesses of the town - principally from the cotton industry.

In all, Preston raised over one million pounds.

The city or town that raised the most money per capita would win a tank to keep permanently. Although the likes of Preston did well, the eventual winner was West Hartlepool in the North East.

After the war many places were given old tanks to display. Preston's was in Avenham Park

Location: Preston, Lancashire
Image: Harry Cartmell on a tank in Preston, courtesy of Harris Museum and Art Gallery

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