15 September 1916 - Supporting 56th Division

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

C Company (part), with 6^th and 56^th Division, XIV Corps, 3^rd Army

C Company (part) intended to get 6 tanks into action on 15^th September 1916

3 section (part)

C13, 716, Lt Dashwood, Sir J

C14, 509, 2Lt Arnold FJ

C16, 510, 2Lt Purdy EL

4 section (part),

C19, 705, “Clan Leslie”, Maj Holford Walker A

C20, 523, Lt MacPherson G

C22, 533, Lt Henriques B

Notes:

Prologue

716 was photographed prior to the battle: X60.p37

705 and three female tanks were photographed in Chimpanzee Valley prior to the battle

IWM Q 5576: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205194579, X1.p78, X42.p2, X60.p36

705 was also photographed and filmed moving up ChimpanzeeValley:

IWM Q 5572: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205191441

IWM Q 5573: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205184938, on-line image unavailable (OCt 2013), X1.p80

IWM Q 5574:

IWM Q 5575: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205196000, X42.p3

Orders

716, 509 and 510 were to support 56^th Division’s advance to capture the Green Line and secure the right flank of the attack.

510 was to start from T27a.1.5 at Zero -16, move to T27b.1.5, the junction of Loop and Combles trench by Z -2 mins and subdue the Germans there whilst the infantry advanced out of the trenches. AT Z+3 he was to head up the North West side of Loop Trench to the sunken road, arriving there at Zero +25, thence cross to the corner of the Orchard at T21d.7.1 and stay there acting as a strong point until Z + 1 hour 38 mins. The tank was then to advance along the south east face of Bouleaux Wood to T22a.4.8 on the Blue Line.

716 and 509 were to support 167^th Brigade on the left of Bouleaux Wood.

509 was to start from T21c.3.7, and at T -12mins, cross the at British Front Line, Bully Trench at T21c.9.9. and arrive at Beef trench, the German front line at Z – 2 mins. He was then to proceed to the Blue Line and upon reaching it advance to the trenched in front of Moravla, turn left just short of the crossroads in T16a.80.65 and then crush 100yds of wire in fornt of 6^th Divisions advance.

705, 523 and 533 were to support the 6^th Divisions attack on the Quadrilateral, a gap was left in the artillery barrage to allow them to advance and subdue the enemy whilst the infantry advanced.

Account of operations

716 threw a track at Angel Wood whilst moving forward.

510 reached T27b.1.5 and circled around firing until after the infantry advance started. The tanks was hit on the right track, possibly by a short British shell and thus stopped, the Germans attempted to bomb the tank but were held off by the tank’s Vickers guns. Five hours later he infantry eventually captured enough of Loop Trench to allow the tank’s crew to escape, they set fire to the abandoned tank on leaving it.

509 advanced and crossed the German front line on time, the tank then moved around behind the German front line whilst the infantry attempted to advance. Some infantry reached Middle copse, but on the right the Germans held onto Bouleaux Wood and fire from there stalled the attack. The tank turned back to help the infantry but slipped into a crater next to Beef trench at T21b.2.2. and ditched.

705 and 523 both failed to make the start.

533 started on time apparently fired on the 9^th Norfolks, and may have prompted the Germans to bring down a barrage on them; a British officer remonstrated with the tank and it set it on the correct path. It reached the Quadrilateral and fired on the Germans therein, the Germans replied and armour piercing sMk bullets penetrated the tank, wounding several of the crew. The tank withdrew whilst the infantry advance was halted by heavy German fire and the intact wire.

At 1pm 513 and C20, 523 both set out to support a renewed attack on the quadrilateral, the attack was cancelled but not before both tanks were penetrated by Smk bullets and 2Lt Macpherson was mortally wounded.

Summary

Intended: 6

At start: 2

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 2

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 1

Penetrated by AP bullets: 1

Note

The summary does not include the aborted afternoon attack.

Aftermath