Cambrai Start Formation
H Battalion
The above diagram has been created using several sources, see below.
Infantry orders and intentions
71st Infantry Brigade's first objective was the capture of the Hindenburg outpost line, the Hindenburg front line, Plush Trench, and second and third lines, Unseen trench and Unseen Support trench (W1Liec p88).
The Brigade planned to attack on a two battalion front, each battalion attacking on a two company front. 1 Liecesters on the left, 9 Suffolks on the right.
The Brigade had an intermediate objective as the village of Ribecourt lay in the left half of the Brigades sector inbetweent eh Hindenburg front system and the support system. A whole battalion, the 9 Norfolk, was to capture this.
The intermediate objective in the right hand half of the Brigades sector was to be secured by two companies of the Sherwood Foresters.
The second objective, the Brown Line, was the Hindenburg support line, this was to be captured by the 11 Essex attached from 18 Brigade on the left and by the other two companies of the Sherwood Foresters on the right.
Tanks
"H" Tank Battalion operated with 71st Brigade, they deployed eighteen tanks in front of the leading infantry wave and six behind the wave in support (W8t).
The supporting six tanks were to start 20 minutes after the leading wave of tanks, i.e. at D+10 as opposed to D-10.
23 Company would advance in front of the third wave (W8t).
The leading sections attacked in triangular formation with the advanced guard tank 100 yards in front left main body tanks and the right main body tank 50 yards behind (W9Suf p60) as shown in front of the Suffolks above
or with the main body tank 150 yards ahead of the other two which would be fifty yards apart (W71b p38) as shown in front of the Leicester's on the above diagram.
The infantry were to followed 50 yards behind the main body tanks, (W71b p23).
The table listing the tank tasks and relative positions (i.e. advanced guard, left, right) lists four sections in front of the infantry (W71b p23).
The infantry accounts also state that each attacking companies deployed behind a section of tanks. (W1Liec, W9Suf))
The 2nd Tank Brigade narrative states three sections were deployed in front of the first wave, and gives their relative positions as above. (W2tb)
The extra sections (11 on the left and 1 on the right) were deployed in the first wave to ensure enough gaps were made in the wire for the infantry. (XXX) It is not clear if these sections were directly in front of the infantry or off to one side as shown above.
11 and 1 sections were to stop at the first objective and wait for the second wave (and sections 10 and 3) to catch up. before resuming their advance in front of the second wave (W8t p34)).
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 second wave sections deployed to support the first wave.
Sources
W2tb - 2nd Tank Brigade War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-101-6
p6ff, Narrative of Operations
W8t - H Tank Battalion War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-114-3
p12ff, Narrative of Operations
p25ff, Tank sections and positions of tanks, copy of document in W71b p45ff
p34f, 22 Coy, "H" Bn. Tank Corps. Order No. 1.
P40, List showing position of 23 Company's sections.
W71b - 71st Brigade War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1619-5_2
p23ff, Report of operations including formations of sections
p37ff, Tank orders
p45ff. Tank sections and positions of tanks, copy of document in W8t p25ff
W1Leic - 1st Battalion Leicester Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1621-4
p87f, Narrative with infantry Company dispositions
p 126f, Orders
p134. 71st Infantry Brigade operational order No.254 with pencilled in tanks.
Shows positions of platoons as given above.
W9Suf - 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1625-1_2
p52f, Battalion orders includes Suffolk infantry Company and tank section dispositions
p56ff Infantry and Tank operations general principles. Especially diagram on p60 showing infantry platoon deployment as shown on above diagram.
p62ff Training Note. Tank and infantry operations without methodical artillery preparation.
Especially diagram on p68 showing infantry platoon deployment as shown on above diagram.
p72 Diagram position of 2 and 4 tank section's tanks.
W9Norf - 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1623-2_2
p10gf, Narrative including positions of infantry companies
p24 orders with position of 10 and 11 tank sections
p38 71st Infantry Brigade operational order No.254 with pencilled in tanks.
Shows positions of platoons as given above.
W2SF - 2nd Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters), War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew.
PRO-WO-95-1624-3
p82, Narrative with infantry Company dispositions
W11Esx - 11th Battalion Essex Regiment War Diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew. PRO-WO-95-1616-1_3
p38ff infantry Company dispositions