However, it was essentially useless in an attacking sense, as its weak armament made it toothless in combat against enemy armour, and the tank was obsolete before it even came into service.

After consulting with Major-General Percy Hobart they decided that large groups of small, lightly armed tanks were needed to overrun enemy positions and approached Sir John Carden at Vickers-Armstrongs Ltd to design and begin work on a tank based on these principles, which began in 1935.

Designed for quick delivery as well as low cost, the A11 used many stock parts from other vehicles: a Ford V8 engine, a Fordson gearbox, a steering mechanism similar to the one used in Vickers light tanks and suspension adapted from the Mk IV Dragon artillery tractor, that was based on the Vickers 6-Ton Tank Model E.[5] The hull and turret were well protected against contemporary anti-tank weapons but the tracks and running gear were exposed and more vulnerable than on tanks that had protected tracks.

[3] General Hugh Elles, the Master-General of the Ordnance, is credited with giving the tank the name Matilda "due to the vehicle's diminutive size and duck-like shape and gait.

[11] The tank remained in production until August 1940, with a total of one hundred and forty produced, including the prototype.

[15] On 23 May, tanks from 7 RTR fought a rearguard action at Souchez before joining the general withdrawal towards Dunkirk.

The surviving tanks of both battalions were formed into a composite unit, which fought another counter-attack at La Bassée.

[17] On 8 June, the tanks supported the force, which was mainly infantry, in their unsuccessful defence of the rivers Andelle and Béthune.

[21] A third Matilda I is a severely damaged wreck that was used as a gunnery range target, and can be found to the north of the Vehicle Conservation Centre.