Cambrai Start Formation
B Battalion
The above diagram has been created using several sources, see below.
Infantry orders and intentions
TO BE UPDATED
16th Infantry Brigade's first objective
Two platoons of 8 Bedford's D Company were deployed on outpost duty overnight, when the tanks passed over them just before zero, they were to follow them to the Hindenburg front line with the first wave.
Note that the infantry section and platoon formations are as recommended in 6 Brigades Orders , but the orders state the actual formations adopted were left at the discretion of the OIC (W6b p15)
Tanks
"B" Tank Battalion operated with 16th Brigade, see narratives for orders.
Note that the above diagram is more or less identical to the formation recommended in "Tank and infantry operations without methodical artillery preparation" (W9Suf p62ff) except for the two sections deployed to advance in line along each flank of the first wave
Sources
W2tb - 2nd Tank Brigade War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-101-6
p6ff, Narrative of Operations - NOT YET REFERANCED ABOVE
W2a – B / 2ndTank Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/109
Orders, Account of operations Nov 20th – 23rd,
Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917
W2 – Battalion War Diary transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W8a – War Diary of 8th tank Battalion PRO
Appendix G to order No. 1. Communications, Supplies. HQ positions
W3tb – 3rd Tank brigade war Diary PRO 95/ XXX
WMH - Henshall papers, IWM 73/126/1
"Battle Distribution revised dated 9 November 1917".
BHS - Battle History Sheets, 20th Nov. 1917 for tanks
W6d - 6th Infantry Division War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1583-4
p68 orders
W16b - 16th Infantry Brigade War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1607-1_1
p15, Diagram showing tactical formation of tanks and 6 Company's distances
p64f , Distribution of tanks tables, gives sections and section OICs, tank tactical position, tank name and OIC names
W2YL - 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1610-6
p62 - Narrative
W8Bed - 8th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1611-1_4
p52f, p3f, Orders
W1Buff - 1st Battalion East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew.
PRO-WO-95-1608-3_10 p23 Diagram with all twelve tank section locations.
B Battalion OB. 20 November 1917
2nd Tank Brigade. 20 November 1917 - Map
B / 2nd Battalion List of narratives