15 November 1916 - Supporting 2nd Division

The Tanks on the Somme. 15^th November 1916.

A Company with, 2^nd Division, XIII Corps, 4^th Army

A Company intended to get 2 tanks into action on 15^th November 1916

A company

744, Lt Reardon

523, Lt Lambert

Notes:

Orders

To support 2^nd Division’s attack on the Quadrilateral ^(S2.p132)

Tanks to start from Vallande Trench, 6^th Brigade HQ, at 6am and head south by East towards the enemy’s front line, silence enemy Mg nest at K35c.40.85. They were to cross the enemy front line, they were to turn northward along frontier lane and help the infantry form a defensive flank on the line K35a.9.2 and K35a.6.3, once the infantry had consolidated they were to return by the same route and rally. ^(S2.p132)

Account of operations

The tanks started forward in the mist at 6am,both tanks were lost in the mud before getting into action; 523 at K34d.9.8 and 744 also near Borden Avenue. Both tanks were abandoned, stripped of their guns and put out of action. ^(S2.p132)

Summary

Intended: 2

At start:

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy: 0

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out:

Rallied:

Penetrated by AP bullets:

Note

Aftermath

523, 744 no further record

Sources

W4 - D Company’s War Diary. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.

S2 - Pidgeon, Trevor (2010) Tanks on the Somme

S12 - Chris McCarthy. (1998) The Somme. The Day by Day Account. Brockhampton Press.

S22 - Staedman, Michael (1995) Thiepval, Leo Cooper P. 86ff

15 November 1916 - 2 Division Map

Somme 1916 Narratives