Albert Gerald Stern
Sir Albert Gerald Stern (1878–1966), banker and developer of armoured tank construction
1878 born on 24 September , at 42 Prince's Gate, Knightsbridge, the second son of James Julius Stern (1835–1901), senior partner of Stern Brothers and his wife Lucy.
Educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford
Entered the family business
1903 Became a partner
WWI Seized the opportunity to join the forces but was rejected because of a weak ankle. By the end of 1914 he had managed to obtain a commission in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and to join the armoured car division of the Royal Naval Air Service. Became part of a team charged with finding a way out of the deadlock created by trench warfare. The RNAS team was concerned with the development of armoured cross-country vehicles, or landships, designed to be proof against hostile fire, to break down barbed wire, to cross trenches, and to destroy enemy weapons. As secretary of the Admiralty landships committee, he took the lead in urging the development of materials and designs for the new concept. Took over an office in Pall Mall at his own expense in June 1915 and began to run the project on business lines. Came into contact with Ernest Swinton, one of the the first people to visualize the armoured fighting vehicle carried on tracks.