Operation Mother. Lets find the Mother of all Tanks!

Operation Mother is a project pulled together by a small team of passionate history enthusiasts lead by myself Anthony Cherrett we are dedicated to preserving and uncovering the stories of military history.

Our focus is on one of the most significant innovations of the 20th century: the tank.

Together, we are embarking on a remarkable journey to locate and recover one of the most legendary artifacts in armored warfare history—the First Tank, Mother—believed to be buried near Bovington, the spiritual home of the Tank.

Our interest in this project stems from years of meticulous historical research. We’ve explored archives, analyzed records, and pieced together the possible fate of Mother, the first successful prototype from which all other tanks evolved.

Built in 1915 during World War I, this pioneering vehicle revolutionised warfare, earning its place as an icon of innovation. Yet, her final resting place remains a mystery, and we are determined to solve it.

To ensure our efforts are thorough and respectful of historical integrity, we will employ a professional survey team to carry out the investigation.

A complex search:

Due to the restrictions and conditions placed upon the team by the land owners the search will not be as simple as we first predicted. 

The archaeological team we will need to use advanced technologies such as drone mounted ground-penetrating radar, Drone mounted Magnetometry survey kits and other non-invasive techniques, to locate any evidence of the First Tank while minimising disruption to the site, this makes the search a-lot  more complex than we had first expected and as you can imagine this increases the overall cost of the search considerably.

Transparency is at the heart of our mission. Any findings, whether physical artifacts or historical insights, will be made fully public to benefit both the historical and academic communities. Our ultimate goal is to recover the First Tank, preserve it for future generations, and celebrate the remarkable story of its creation and legacy.

We believe this journey is not just about uncovering a vehicle—it’s about honoring the ingenuity and courage of those who brought it to life. Join us as we take the next steps toward bringing Mother home.