Cambrai Start Formation
20 and 21 Company
G Battalion
The above diagram has been created using several sources, see below.
Infantry orders and intentions
185th Infantry Brigade had to negotiate Havrincourt Wood which lay across almost its entire front. The Germans had cut down the tress in much of the wood.
The Brigade's four battalions would assault as indicated above, the formations are those given in Diagram 2 (W1tb p15), the units war diaries indicate they would advance in diamond pattern which is presumably this formation. The formations of the leading companies and of 2/6 West Yorks are somewhat speculative.
See narratives for more details on the orders.
Tanks
The six tanks on the left (Green group) were to advance through the wood, via roads and clear areas. Their initial job was to help the infantry take the outpost line.
The tank documents indicate there were six tanks as shown above, the infantry documents say there were only five. There is also some disagreement over how many tanks deployed in front of which sections. The above is based on the map showing the tanks' routes. (S97)
The sixteen tanks in red group on the right were to advance via the open ground skirting the east edge of the wood, called "the Tip". This is shown on the map indicating the tanks routes. This was presumably done as it was felt the tanks would get bellied on the stumps if they tried to negotiate the wood. This meant that the tanks would have swung left and then right in front of the infantry. This presumably explains why the infantry were told not to follow individual tanks as was recommended in "Tank and infantry operations without methodical artillery preparation" (W9Suf p62ff).
The map of routes shows the relative positions of the tanks right to left (S97)
The tanks sections are given in the relevant battle-graphs (W1tb).
The tactical position of each tank within the section, advanced guard, main body or wire crusher, is not given in ay of the sources and the above is therefore pure speculation.
Note that the map indicating the tank's routes must show their intended routes as not all the tanks made the start point.
Sources
W1tb - 1st Tank Brigade War Diary pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-98-7
p1ff - Summery of operations 20th November to 23rd November 1917
p15 - Diagram of Tank attack formation. Diagram 2.
p56ff - Battlegraphs
W7 - G / 7 Tank Battalion War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew,
PRO-WO-95-100-1_1 and PRO-WO-95-100-1_2
H7t – G / 7 Tank Battalion War History, pdf download from PRO Kew, in PRO-WO-95-100-1_2
BOH - The Tank Corps Book of Honour. p104 and p
W185b - 185 Infantry Brigade War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-3080-2
p77 - Offensive Instruction No.7. 17th November 1917
p79 - Amendment to above dated 18th Nov. 1917
p87 - Offensive Instruction No.13. 19th November 1917
p89ff - Narrative of operations, commencing 20th November, 1917
W2/5WYrk - 2/5 West Yorkshire Regiment War Diary pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-3081-4
p94ff - Narrative of operations November 20 /28 1917
p98ff - Operations by "A" Coy on enemy's outpost position in K33d & K34c
W2/6WYrk - 2/6 West Yorkshire Regiment. War Diary pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-3081-1_2
p181 - Instructions for Operations No.2. 16/11/17
Instructions for Operations No.9. 16/11/17
p 185 - Order No.62. 19-11-17
S96 - Mapping the First World War (2014) Peter Chasseaud p247
1st Brigade 20 November 1917 Map