15 September 1916 - Supporting Canadian Corps

The Tanks on the Somme. 15th September 1916.

C Company, 1 section, with 2nd Canadian Division, Canadian Corps, 3rd Army

C Company, 1 section, intended to get 6 tanks into action on 15th September 1916

C Company, 1 section, Capt Inglis AM

C1, 709, “Champagne”, Lt Wheeler AGC

C2, 522, “Cognac”, Lt Bluemel FW

C3, 701, “Chartreuse”, 2Lt Clark SDH

C4, 503, “Chablis”, 2Lt Campbell GOL

C5, 721, “Creme de menthe”, Capt Inlis AM

C6, 504, “Cordon Rouge”, 2Lt Allan J

Notes:

Trevor Pidgeon gives C1 the number 721, this must be a Typo. Inglis’ report (in the Canadian Divisions War Diary) states it was number 709.

Orders

Northern Group, 709, 522, 504, were to cross the Canadian front line about R35a.0.3. and then follow sugar trench to R30c.5.3, immediately north of the factory. They were to help cover the left flank of the advancing infantry, assist in mopping up and, once at the Sugar factory, deal with any MGs therein or in Courcelette

Southern group 721, 701, 503, to start from near Pozieres Windmill, advance down the road to the sugar factory, one tank on the road and one 30 yards either side of it. The tanks were to proceed to R36a.5.5 where, at z + 43 mins a male tank was to detach itself and assit the infantry in capturing the ruins. The other two tanks, a male and a female, were meanwhile to continue down the road to Candy trench at R36a.8.7 then follow the trench down towards Martinpuich. Once the infantry had gained their final objectives the tanks were to return and rally.

Account of operations

522 and 709 both started on time, at Zero, and advanced along routes close to one another. 522 was faster and ditched at R35a.3.9 ten minutes before 709 ditched at roughly the same location. 522 was unditched but ditched again permanently at R29b.5.1. Both crews attempted to unditch their machines whilst under fire, 709’s crew gave up after four fruitless hours and abandoned the tank, the driver being killed in the unditching attempt. 522’s crew worked all day but were also unable to save the tank which was abandoned.

504 meanwhile entered no mans land and, under heavy fire, advanced along Sugar trench silencing several Mgs therein thus enabling the infantries advance. The tank reached R30c.5.3, north of the Sugar factory and joined in the latter part of the attack on the factory blocking the Germans escape route.

701 ditched and 503 threw a track, both thus failed to reach the start point.

721 reached the start point at 2am and started forward at Zero, having been joined by 2Lt Campbell but having lost one of its tail wheels to an enemy shell. 

The tank was possibly photographed and filmed whilst advancing: IWM FLM 2044, X1.p129

The infantry advanced well ahead, the tank eventually catching them up in the Sugar Factory where it helped subdue the defenders with 6pdr and MG fire.  The Germans in the factory surrendered, 721 and 504 returned down the Albert Road, 721 laying 400 yds of cable en route, both tanks rallied. 

The infantry launched a further attack in the afternoon and captured Courcelette village.

Summary

Intended: 6

At start: 4

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 2

Ditched / Broke Down: 2

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 2

Penetrated by AP bullets: 0

Aftermath

701 photographed in situ derelict: TM 410 / A6, X1.p128, X42,p18, 

IWM Q 11606: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205247185

IWM Q 8210: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205244091

503 photographed immediately after action, TM 54/E5, X1.p129. Possibly recovered to road, then pushed off road and onto side, then photographed derelict by Pozieres windmill:

AWM E 01003:  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E01003E/?image=2

IWM Q 8209: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205244090

Probably at least part of tank still buried in situ in July 1924 S105.pg71

709 photographed in situ derelict in 1917: IWM E (Aus) 2328:,  X1.p128, X60.p44

721 photographed sans tail wheel: TM 410/C4, X1.p130, X60.p42 and then action on 25 September 1916.

504 photographed retuning to Albert TM 410/C5, X1.p133, X42.p10,  X60.p40

522 returned to the loop on the 2nd October, it was next recorded in action with “D” Battalion at Arras in 1917.

Source

S1 - The Tanks at Flers (1995) Trevor Pidgeon

S21 - Courcelette (1998) Paul Reed

S42 - Tanks and trenches (1994) David Fletcher

15 September 1916 - Canadian and III Corps Map

Somme 1916 Narratives