Mandela Way T-34 Tank

Coordinates: 51°29.579′N 000°04.962′W / 51.492983°N 0.082700°W / 51.492983; -0.082700
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Mandela Way Tank in November 2020

The Mandela Way T-34 Tank, nicknamed Stompie, is a decommissioned

Soviet-built T-34-85 medium tank, formerly located on the corner of Mandela Way and Page's Walk in Bermondsey, London, England.[1][2] The tank was regularly repainted in a wide variety of colour schemes, often by graffiti artists. In January 2022 it was removed for restoration,[3] and its owner stated in April 2023 that it may not return to its former location due to concerns that the graffiti may affect its historical preservation.[4]

History

The tank is a former

Southwark Council to redevelop a vacant plot of land that he owned; and so, in an act of humorous protest, he placed the tank on the site, with its gun turret turned towards the council offices. He had previously allegedly obtained permission for the installation of a "tank" there, assumed by council officials to mean a septic tank.[1][2]

The tank is nicknamed after the South African anti-apartheid activist James "Stompie" Seipei.[5][7]

It was removed for restoration by its owner, on 4 January 2022, who said that "it might be a week, it might be two years".[3] In an interview the next year, the owner said he was unsure if the tank would ever be returned to the corner, as the graffiti did not respect "its value as a piece of military history".[4]

Repainting

The tank was regularly repainted, and its colour scheme changed, often by local graffiti artists. In 2002 it was painted pink by

Remembrance poppies
were added in November 2020. In July 2021, it was repainted light green with dark green letters reading "Go Go Green".

Gallery

  • The tank in its original military olive drab colour
    The tank in its original military olive drab colour
  • Painted pink in 2002
    Painted pink in 2002
  • In a black and cream swirling design, December 2008
    In a black and cream swirling design, December 2008
  • June 2009
    June 2009
  • 2009 design inspired by US yellow cabs
    2009 design inspired by US yellow cabs
  • May 2012
    May 2012
  • November 2014
    November 2014
  • February 2016
    February 2016
  • March 2017
    March 2017
  • Painted olive drab, April–July 2017
    Painted olive drab, April–July 2017
  • May 2019
    May 2019
  • March 2020
    March 2020
  • May 2020 in support of the NHS
    May 2020 in support of the NHS
  • November 2020, with remembrance poppies added to the turret
    November 2020, with remembrance poppies added to the turret

Similar graffitied tanks

Tanks at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kyiv

There are also T-62 and T-80UD tanks that have been graffitied in a hippie manner at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine in the Second World War, Kyiv, Ukraine.[citation needed]

The

David Cerny painted the tank pink and hoisted a large middle finger over the turret in protest against the controversial monument. The monument was later removed and the tank is now displayed at Military Museum Lešany
, painted pink.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Stompie: the Mandela Way T-34 Tank". www.atlasobscura.com/. Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Hoare, Martin (16 August 2019). "Out and about with the hidden histories of Kennington and the Elephant and Castle". The Historian. 142. Historical Association: 42–46.
  3. ^ a b "Stompie the Tank removed from Bermondsey 'for restoration'". Southwark News. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Russell, Herbie (21 April 2023). "Stompie the Tank was too historically important to be 'painted by random graffiti artists' but could still return 'in some form'". Southwark News. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b Porter, Laura (4 January 2022). "Stompie the Tank in South London". aboutlondonlaura.com. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  6. ISBN 9781473879133
    .
  7. ^ "Stompie". Hidden London. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  8. ^ Gibbs, Jonathan (2 November 2003). "Talk of the Town: Pink Tank". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 4 September 2005.
  9. ^ Salisbury, Josh (24 April 2020). "Tanks to the NHS! Iconic Bermondsey tank given makeover to thank nurses and doctors". Southwark News. Retrieved 26 April 2020.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mandela Way T-34 Tank.

51°29.579′N 000°04.962′W / 51.492983°N 0.082700°W / 51.492983; -0.082700

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