Yn ystod y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf, daeth yn amlwg mai methiant fyddai’r ymdrech ryfel heb gyfraniadau ariannol gan y cyhoedd, busnesau a sefydliadau eraill i brynu offer a chadw gwasanaethau i fynd.
Un ffordd o godi arian oedd sefydlu Cymdeithas Cynilion Rhyfel. Un lleoliad a sefydlodd un o’r cymdeithasau hyn ar ddechrau’r rhyfel oedd Ysgol Fabanod Betws Pontycymer, a ffurfiodd Gymdeithas Cynilion Rhyfel ym mis Chwefror 1915. Erbyn mis Mehefin 1917 gweithredodd yr awdurdodau ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth o Gynilion Rhyfel. Caeodd nifer o ysgolion eu drysau am un prynhawn y mis hwnnw fel y gallai athrawon fynychu cynadleddau gyda chynrychiolwyr o’r Pwyllgor Cynilion Rhyfel Cenedlaethol i gael gwybod sut i sefydlu Cymdeithas Cynilion Rhyfel mewn ysgol.
Ar ôl Brwydr Cambrai ym mis Tachwedd 1917, pan ddefnyddiwyd tanciau’n llwyddiannus am y tro cyntaf, roedd y cyhoedd am eu gweld â’u llygaid eu hun. Sylweddolodd yr awdurdodau y gallent arddangos y tanciau’n gyhoeddus i godi arian ar gyfer y Pwyllgor Cynilion Rhyfel Cenedlaethol.
Egbert oedd y cyntaf i’w ddefnyddio fel ‘Banc Tanc’ pan gafodd ei gludo o faes y gad i Lundain a’i arddangos yn Sgwâr Trafalgar. Byddai pobl yn ciwio i weld y tanc ar ôl prynu Bondiau Rhyfel a thystysgrifau, a byddai’r rhain yn cael eu stampio gan fenywod a oedd yn eistedd y tu mewn i’r tanc. Bu hyn yn llwyddiant ysgubol felly cludwyd mwy o danciau o Ffrainc a Gwlad Belg i deithio o amgylch Prydain.
Roedd gan y Tanciau Banc rôl arall i’w chwarae hefyd; roeddent yn gyfrifol am feithrin morâl a chenedlaetholdeb Prydeinig.
Cyn ymweld â Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr, roedd Egbert eisoes wedi bod yn Nhreherbert: School closed, owing to the visit of the Tank ‘Egbert’ to Treherbert. Ysgol Ferched Dunraven, llyfr log (ER14/3)
Trafodwyd ymweliad Egbert â Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr am y tro cyntaf gan Gyngor Dosbarth Trefol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr ar 6 Mehefin 1918:
The Clerk reported that the authorities had now agreed to send a real tank to Bridgend on the 18th and 19th. It was then resolved that the council bear the expenses of printing , postages, and other local expenses not paid by the Treasury and the action of the chairman and clerk in calling a meeting of probable workers in connection with the visit was approved. Cyngor Dosbarth Trefol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, cofnodion (UDBR/C/1/13)
Pan ymwelodd y tanc â’r dref ar y 18fed a’r 19eg Mehefin 1918, cafodd llawer o ysgolion hanner diwrnod neu ddiwrnod cyfan o wyliau fel y gallai’r plant a’u teuluoedd fynd i weld y tanc a buddsoddi ynddo drwy dystysgrifau ar ffurf Bond Rhyfel:
Yesterday the 18th inst a holiday was given owing to the Tank being at Bridgend & Ogmore Vale. I collected on Monday last from the children of this school the sum of £4.4.0 for the Tank at Ogmore Vale, 5 certificates were bought & the rest is invested in stamps towards certificates. Ysgol Cymysg a Babanod Blackmill, llyfr log (EM5/1)
School closed all day for the visit of the Tank “Egbert” to the town. In the last three days the sum of £234-1-0 has been collected in this department and spent on the purchases of War Saving Certificates. Ysgol Bechgyn Oldcastle, llyfr log (EM9/8)
I took depositors in Tank War Loan to visit the Tank “Egbert” bearing bomb holes inflicted by the Huns. The children’s certificates were stamped at the tank. Ysgol Babanod Llynderw, Maesteg, llyfr log (EM32/1)
The school was closed on Tuesday in order that the Scholars may be enabled to visit Bridgend to view the Tank “Egbert” and place some of their savings in the War Loan. The War Savings’ Association established in connection with the School is in a flourishing condition and about £250 has been deposited… Ysgol Cymysg a Babanod Penybont, llyfr log (EM42/1)
Nododd Prifathro Ysgol Penybont cyrhaeddiad anferth yr ardal:
The tank “Egbert” paid a visit to our town on Tuesday and Wednesday, 18th and 19th inst. The huge sum of £230,500 was invested in the tank by the people of Bridgend and the surrounding district. As the population of the town is now only about 7,500 the above sum represents a sum per head of head of over £30. One of the best contributions in the Kingdom. The proceedings in front of the Town Hall where the tank was stationed were characterised by great enthusiasm and patriotic fervour. The Choir of our school occupied the stage in front of the tank an two occasions and sang numerous patriotic and national songs, to the evident pleasure of the great assemblage, which completely filled the square. Our School Assoc’, The Penybont Boys War Savings Association invested in the tank on Wed afternoon the comparatively large sum of £2,100, representing a sum of £2,800 in War Certificates. Ysgol Penybont, llyfr log (EM10/11)
Cyfarfu’r Cyngor eto ar 25ain Mehefin 1918, ar ôl ymweliad y tanc:
It was resolved that the thanks of the council be given to the Chairman, Mr Hitt, in connection with the great success of the Tank visit. Cyngor Dosbarth Trefol Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr, cofnodion (UDBR/C/1/13)
Dridiau ar ôl ymweld â Phen-y-bont ar Ogwr ac Ogwr, roedd Egbert yng Nghaerffili:
Visit of the Tank-“Egbert” to Caerphilly with the object of raising £100,000 for the purpose of the great war. The schools of the town were closed to celebrate the event. Ysgol Merched Caerffili, llyfr log (ECG13/3)
Mae’n debyg iddo fynd i Fargoed hefyd:
The clerk stated that he had received official intimation that the date of the Tank’s visit had now been fixed for July 5th and 6th, two days at Bargoed, and that the Model Tanks would be at Ystrad Mynach, Bedlinog and Pontlottyn on the same dates. Cyngor Dosbarth Trefol Gelligaer, cofnodion (UDG/C/1/13)
Gallwch ddysgu mwy am y Banciau Tanc yn:
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/war-bonds-sold-from-tank
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/gallery_tank_04.shtml
Andrew Booth, Cynorthwy-ydd Cofnodion Dros-dro
Archifau Morgannwg 