MkI and II Supply Tanks. June – October 1917

When A and B Battalions first used the MK IV on the attack on Messines Ridge in June 1917 they were accompanied by twelve supply tanks (2 per company). These supply tanks were old Mk Is and IIs that had had their guns removed and their sponsons cleared for the carriage of stores ^(S11.p82).

For Third Ypres the other Battalions were also provided with some old Mk I and II tanks which were converted into supply tanks.

Only some of the supply tanks identities are known.

All the old Mk I and II supply tanks were replaced with purpose built Mk IV sledge pulling supply tanks prior to Battle of Cambria in November 1917.

Note – only Supply duties listed, for more complete histories see relevant tank list.

A Battalion

767, A13, Auxiliary

June 9th 1917 – Supply Tank – A Battalion. New extension shaft fitted. (W1)

Approximately Sept 1917 – A13 – "Auxiliary" – 2Lt Keogh FB - No 4 Section, 1 Coy (W1)

749, A15, Attaché

Approximately Sept 1917 – A15 – "Attaché" – 2Lt Caesar IV - No 4 Section, 1 Coy (W1)

774, A31, Afrikander

June 9th1917 – Supply Tank – A Battalion. Engine renewed. (W1)

Approximately Sept 1917 – A31 – "Afrikander" – 2Lt McLean - No 7 Section, 2 Coy (W1)

773, A34, Albion

Approximately Sept 1917 – A34 – "Albion" – 2Lt De Faye FR- No 7 Section, 2 Coy (W1)

Photographed derelict in German hands, with another derelict tank (unable to reference)

Approximately Sept 1917 – A35 –– 2Lt Richardson EA - No 7 Section, 2 Coy (W1)

703, A57, Armadillo

Approximately Sept 1917 – A57 –– "Armadillo" - 2Lt Scrutten FS - No 12 Section, 3 Coy (W1)

705

9 June 1917 – Supply Tank – A Battalion. Radiator replaced (W1) (Possibly 703 meant)

717, A59, Alligator

Approximately Sept 1917 – A59 ––"Alligator" - 2Lt Ehnhardt JA - No 12 Section, 3 Coy (W1)

B Battalion

741, probably B19, Beach Comber

Probably July 1917 – B19 – "Beach Comber" – 2Lt Coulson AV - No 4 Section, 4 Coy (W2)

786, probably B20, Beau Brocade

Probably July 1917 – B20 – "Beau Brocade" – 2Lt Thomas EA- No 4 Section, 4 Coy (W2)

712, B53, Dodo, (Messines), probably B39, Badger

7 June 1917 – B53 - "Dodo" - Supply tank at Messines. (XXXXXXX)

Probably July 1917 – B39 – "Badger" – 2Lt Thomas AG - No 8 Section, 5 Coy (W2)

31 July 1917 – B39 – In action (W22)

726, probably, B40, Buffalo

11 Aug 1917 – B40 - Supply tank No 5 Coy (W2)

12 Aug 1917 –Supply tank No 5 Coy (W2)

Probably July 1917 – B40 – "Buffalo" – 2Lt Thomas EA- No 8 Section, 5 Coy (W2)

31 July 1917 – B40 – In action (W22)

9 Sept 1917 - Supply tank from No 5 to No 4 Coy (W2)

775

24 July 1917 – Supply tank No 6 Coy (W2)

31st July 1917 – B18 – In action (Serial number unknown) (W22)

746

25 July 1917 – Supply tank No 6 Coy (W2)

25 July 1917 – Supply tank No 6 Coy (W2)

31 July 1917 – B54 – In action (Serial number unknown) (W22)

742

25 July 1917 – Supply tank No 6 Coy (W2) (Note: Possibly 741 actually meant?)

C Battalion

6 June 1917 – Supply Tanks arrive (W3)

580, C7, Cork

13th July 1917 - with battalion WO 95-91-6 pg13

28th July 1917 – C7 – Supply Tank, 7 Coy – Trouble with secondary gears (W3)

31st July 1917 – C7, "Cork", 2Lt Yeoman JT - Ordered to accompany 1 and 3 sections but broke down at Outskirt Farm. (95-106) Being worked on by Battalion workshops and tank crews (W23)

761, C9, Crewe

13th July 1917 - with battalion WO 95-91-6 pg13

28th July 1917 – C9 – Supply Tank 7 Coy – Trouble with secondary gears (W3)

31st July 1917 – C9, "Crewe", 2Lt Arundel EH - detailed to accompany 4 Section, 7 Company but broke down and bellied in no man’s land, was handed to salvage. (95-106) Being worked on by Battalion workshops and tank crews (W23)

595, C28, Corncrake

13th July 1917 - with battalion WO 95-91-6 pg13

31st July 1917 (Prior to) - C28, "Corncrake", Lt Silver WE - tank with battalion (95-106)

28th August – 595, C28 (Supply tank?) – Handed to II Salvage Company for salvage. (W42)

10th October – C28 (Supply tank?) – Salvaged whole by II Salvage Company. (W42)

725, C29, Celerity

13th July 1917 - with battalion WO 95-91-6 pg13

31st July 1917 (Prior to) - C29, "Celerity", Lt Moore W - Tank with battalion (95-106

9th September 1917 – 725, CS – C29 – (Supply tank?) – Handed to II Salvage Company for salvage. (W42)

10th October 1917 – C29 - (Supply tank?) – Salvaged whole by II Salvage Company. (W42)

554, C41, Chameleon

13th July 1917 - with battalion WO 95-91-6 pg13

28th July 1917 – C41 – Supply Tank 9 Coy – Hit and left behind, re-joined on 29th (W3)

31st July 1917 – C41, "Chameleon", 2Lt Wood K was ordered to leave deployment point at 9:30am and await the return of support section of 7 Company at Frezenburg Cross Roads. then tank became lost and bellied in swampy ground at I6d.2.8. whilst the unditching gear was being fitted the OIC and all but one crewman were wounded by a 5.9 shell (95-106), Handed over to salvage (W23)

565, C42, Carnation

13th July 1917 - with battalion WO 95-91-6 pg13

31st July 1917 – C42, "Carnation", 2Lt Hickson AG advanced at 4:15pm to replace "Cork". Passed the bellied "Crewe" then broke a track

after unditching "Cleopatra" tank camouflaged and left under guard. (95-106) . Being worked on by Battalion workshops and tank crews; new cylinders needed. (W23)

20th Oct 1917 – C Battalion, Two Mk II supply tanks handed in. (W3)

D Battalion

515, D17 –

Summer 1917, photographed behind British lines – Possibly supply tank?, http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936734565/

E Battalion

23rd Sept 1917 – 715, Supply Tank - ES3 – “Europa” – 2Lt Cohen – Rallied at Reigersburg(W21)

F Battalion

June 1917 (probably) - “Forage” – Mk II tank, probably F Battalion supply tank, filmed (XXXXXXX)

25 June 1917 – 2 crews per Coy sent to CW to conduct Supply tanks to Battalion. (W6)

29 June 1917 – No 18 Company drew 3 supply tanks from central Workshops at Erin. (W6)

5 July 1917 – 6 Supply tanks to Oosthoek Wood. (W6)

790, F17, Follow the Crowd,

13th July 1917 – with the battalion. WO 95-91-6 pg13

31 July 1917 -16 Coy - F17, "Follow the Crowd" – Ditched 3 times in German front line system and thus was too late to be of any use. Rallied. (H6)

9 August 1917 – 16 Coy - F17 at Oosthoek Wood (W6)

800, F19, Fill up

13th July 1917 – with the battalion. WO 95-91-6 pg13

31 July 1917 -16 Coy - F19 - "Fill up" – Ditched 3 times in German front line system and thus was too late to be of any use. Rallied. (H6)

793, F32

13th July 1917 – with the battalion. WO 95-91-6 pg13

31 July 1917 - 17 Coy - F32 – Rallied (W23) (not mentioned in Battalion History)

9 August 1917 – 17 Coy – F32 at Oosthoek Wood (W6)

792, F34

13th July 1917 – with the battalion. WO 95-91-6 pg13

31 July 1917 – 17 Coy - F34 – Rallied (W23) (not mentioned in Battalion History)

9 August 1917 – 17 Coy – F34 at Oosthoek Wood (W6)

795, F52

13th July 1917 – with the battalion. WO 95-91-6 pg13

785, F53, "The Flying Scotsman

13th July 1917 – with the battalion. WO 95-91-6 pg13

Third Ypres F53 – "The Flying Scotsman"- F Battalion Supply Tank (XXXXXXX)

2008, 785, on display in Bovington Tank Museum (XXXXXXX)

20 Oct 1917 - F Battn supply Tanks handed over to Central workshops at Erin. (W6)

G Battalion

536, GS2, Garage

31st July 1917 – GS2, “Garage” - Broke down and fixed by G Battalion workshops (W21)

H Battalion

512

21 Sept 1917 - taken on as Supply Tank by 22 Coy

567

21 Sept 1917 - taken on as Supply Tank by 22 Coy

21 Sept 1917 - 23 and 24 Companies also took on two supply tanks per company. (W8)

I Battalion

Sources

W1. War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W2. War Diary No2 / B Battalion Tank Corps / B Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W3. War Diary No3 / C Battalion Tank Corps / C Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W4. War Diary No4 / D Battalion Tank Corps / D Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W5. War Diary No5 / E Battalion Tank Corps / E Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W6. War Diary No6 / F Battalion Tank Corps / F Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W7. War Diary No7 / G Battalion Tank Corps 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W8. War Diary No8 / H Battalion Tank Corps 1917 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W9. War Diary No9 / I Battalion Tank Corps 1917 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W21. War Diary 1st Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps / Tank Corps. PRO WO 95/97

W22. War Diary 2nd Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps / Tank Corps. PRO 95/

W23. War Diary 3rd Brigade Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps / Tank Corps. PRO 95/104

W32. War Diary of No.2 Salvage Corp H.B.M.G.C. July 1917 – 1919. PRO WO 95/96

WO 95-91-6 pg13 War Diary, HQ Heavy Branch MGC, Appendix 85, List of 3rd Brigades tanks showing Manufacturers numbers and Battalion numbers.

S7 – Fletcher, David (2004). British Mark I Tank. Osprey

S11 - Fletcher, David (2001). The British tanks 1915-19