Sir Albert Stern

[Hobilar]

Until the creation of the Ministry of Supply in the spring of 1939 it had been the practice of the War Office to issue specifications for the weapons it required for tender by industry, and then choose from the proposals and prototypes presented which factory would obtain the order. In the case of Tank production this was really a two horse race, as only Vickers and the Woolwich Arsenal had the experience and skills to, manufacture armoured vehicles.

The Head of the Ministry, Dr Leslie Burgin, an academic though sensible man, was extremely concerned about the expansion of the German armoured forces, and could see that the few score Vickers Light tanks would be easily outmatched by the six German Panzer Divisions already in existence.

Dr Burgin most certainly needed the assistance of someone who was an expert in tank warfare and who would understand exactly the requirements of the army. The man selected was Lieutenant Colonel Sir Albert Stern. now aged 62. Stern had been one of the quadrumvirate who had invented mechanical warfare during the Great War, and despite the fact that he was nearing the age when most men are thinking about retirement was still a very influential and industrious individual. On the Board of three banks-The Midland, The Clydesdale, and the Bank of Romania, and also on the committee of the London branch of the Ottoman Bank he was at the time extremely involved in attempting to stop Germany from taking over the Romanian Oil Industry. In fact although he had been out of touch with Military affairs for many years there was no better person to grasp the problems of tank design and production.

When approached to talk to the Minister about Tanks, he jumped at the chance, for he too had serious misgivings over the type of tank that the army would need in a future war. Admiral Brown, who was in charge of production for the Ministry was the first to approach Stern to which the latter replied "I would be a fool to give views without study", and so an appointment was made for Stern to meet with General Sir Maurice Taylor- the Minister's Chief Military adviser and his deputy General Davidson.

The meeting did not go well. General Taylor did not appreciate being asked to consult with one he considered to be an "impertinent reservist", and expressed the view that he was quite satisfied with the state of the development of mechanised warfare. General Davidson was more forthcoming and in a private discussion with Stern told of his concerns about lack of investment in tank production over the previous twenty years.

Stern reported back to the Minister, who disappointed at the Army's apparent lack of interest, decided to place Stern to head the Special Vehicle Development Committee. Stern then began selecting his committee members, and one of the first was Sir Ernest Swinton, ten years his senior and one of the original inventers of the tank and now a director of the Citroën car company, a renowned Military historian and the chairman of a similar ad-hoc committee. It soon became apparent that the AVDC was a committee without teeth. Admiral Brown showed little interest in Tanks and even General Davidson who had been so understanding earlier was to write to his Chief asking if he should help Stern or not. In the end Brigadier Hollebone was despatched to study French designs only to return stating that he had given his word to the French not to reveal what he had learnt. It was not a good start.

Thankfully General Ironside, The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, was more accommodating. Ironside was well aware of the wretchedness of the designs already in service. and with the support of Burgin and Ironside the committee was found accommodation in the Adelphi Hotel in which the initial tank specifications could be worked out.

There was however still one cuckoo in the nest-Winston Churchill, whom Stern had had a blazing row with in 1917, and had clearly not forgiven Stern since. Once Churchill took over as Prime Minister, Stern and the work of his AVDC committee was, despite many personal appeals doomed to be forgotten.