Embedded Files
The above diagram has been created using several sources, see below.
Notes:
Much of the above diagram is speculation as there is very little information about the formation adopted by F Battalion or 36 Brigade.
The information that is available is as follows
6th Tank Battalion's War History states 16 Company were on the right and 17 Company on the left, with 1-6 section's to the south of la Pave road and 7 and 8 sections deployed to the north (H6t p44). It further sates the tanks attacked in unicorn or triangular formation with an infantry platoon in snake formation following each of the rear tanks (H6t p42)
This is the only information we have about the section's deployments so they may have been deployed as indicated.
The Tank Battalion's War History does indicate which tanks were in each section (H6t) but we don't know which was the advanced guard tank or which were the main body tanks so the above is pure guesswork.
The 7 Sussex War Diary contains a post war account which gives the position of the three infantry battalions, and states two Companies of the 8 Royal Fusiliers were on the far left. (W7Ssx p4ff). The presence of the 8 and 9 Royal Fusiliers in the front line is corroborated by the 8 Royal Fusiliers War Diary which indicates the 9 Royal Fusiliers were on the right and the 7 Somerset Light Infantry on their left. (W8Lon p84)
The 7 Sussex War Diary indicates the infantry advanced in blobs (W7Ssx p8); 6th Tank Battalion's War History states each platoon followed a main body tank in snake formation; the 12th Divisions War Diary indicates the infantry were to assemble in section files behind the main body tanks (W12d p31).
The above deployment is based on the formation used by the 5 Berkshires in 35 Brigade (W5Berk)
Sources
W6t - F Tank Battalion War Diary, PRO-Wo-95-107 - November 1917 Appendices are missing
H6t - C Battalion War History PRO WO 95-107-10, p42, p44f
W12d - 12th Division War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1825-5_2
p28ff - Report on Operations on 20th November
W35b - 36th Brigade War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1854-3_2 - November 1917 is missing.
W8Lon - 8th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, London Regiment, War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew.
PRO-WO-95-1857-1_2, p84
W9Lon - 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, London Regiment, War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew.
PRO-WO-95-1857-2_3
W7Ssx7 - 8th Battalion Sussex Regiment, War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1856-3_3, p4ff
W5Berk - 5th Battalion Berkshire Regiment, War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1850-1
p131ff, Plan showing positions of infantry companies, tanks and infantry formations.
F / 6th Battalion - List of Narratives
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse