Historical Information (Wikipedia)

The site of the initial use of tanks in battle on 15 September 1916 as part of the wider Somme Offensive, Flers today hosts a memorial to the British 41st Division.  The memorial, that of a fully-equipped British infantry soldier, was built facing the direction from which 41st Division attacked on the first day of the tank battle.

The battle brought with it the liberation of Flers from German control.  A tank ponderously rolled through the main street of the village followed by numerous cheering infantrymen.