15 September 1916 - Supporting Guards Division
The Tanks on the Somme. 15th September 1916.
C Company (part), with Guards Division, XIV Corps, 3rd Army
C Company (part) intended to get 10 tanks into action on 15th September 1916
2 Section and 3 section (part), C Company, HBMBC
First column
A, 741, 2Lt Tull JE
B, C17, 746, "Campania", 2Lt Clarke JP
C, C18, 508, “Casa”, 2Lt Smith LV
Second Column
D, 507, Capt Hiscocks HH
E, 722, 2Lt Arnaud
F, 513, 2Lt Murphy TEF
Third Column
G, 714, Lt Bates LJ
H, 760, Lt Elliot HB
K, 554, 2Lt Ambrose CFN
L, C24, 505, 2Lt Cole HRC
Notes:
Trevor Pidgeon lists both D21 and C24 as 512. C24 possibly 505.
Crew numbers of C17 and C18 and name of C17 from Stephen Pope (S99.p80)
Orders
Assembly position: S29b.4.4.
All tanks to attack in line ahead. Artillery to leave 100 yard gap in barrage for each column.
First column to start at 5;40am from T14c.3.8 then make directly for Trench at T14b.8.7, turn North up eastern side of the triangle, East along Hogs back trench, follow this to 6th Division’s area and attack Morval.
Second column to start at 5:40am from T14a.2.2, follow the road to Les Beoufs, keep following it to the green line and then the red Line
Third column to start at 5;30am from T13 central, proceed up King Street, then along Lager trench to the Green Line at Serpentine Trench, follow serpentine trench for 300yds then turn north East up Calf Alley and onto Les Boeufs.
The L tank was to start with the third column, its orders were changed several times and were therefore unclear but in essence appear to have been to act on the extreme left of the Division, subdue German opposition in New Trench and then co-operate with 14th Division and the two tanks allocated to it (D1 and D5)
Account of operations
The first column started on time, the lead tank, 741 broke its tail wheel immediately upon starting, turned back and rallied. 746 mistakenly tried to follow 741 but it, and 508 were put back on the correct course by Capt Hiscocks. The British barrage opened up at Zero, the tanks being in the gap left for them, the infantry attacked, suffering casualties form MGs in Straight trench and from the Quadrilateral firing in enfilade.
746 and reached the German front line and turned north along it, firing sixty 6pdr rounds, silencing six MGs and enabling the infantry’s advance. The tank reached half way up Low Road before it turned back, low on fuel. An Officer with the infantry, who had caught up, told the tank’s OIC it was no longer needed so it rallied. Meanwhile 508 appears to have followed, reaching the trees in T15a before the tank developed engine trouble, it too return and rallied.
The second column failed to start, 513 and 722 did not reach the start line and 507 ditched before crossing it. The infantry attacking without the tanks, but with a 100 yard gap in the artillery barrage suffered accordingly.
The third column made the start line. 554 broke down and did not cross the start line on time, but may have done so later in the day, it did not fire on the enemy. 714 and 760 both started on time at 5:30am, the tanks passed German Machine Gunners at the top end of Pint Trench and in T13b.4.8. the Germans remained hidden and did not fire on the tanks. When the infantry attacked the German MGs opened fire on them an inflicted severe casualties, the infantry continued to attack but veered north and entered XV Corps area. The infantry caught up with the tanks, which then also veered to the north, 714 assisted the attack by silencing many MGs before it ditched at T2c.45.63. 760 likewise supported the infantry, silencing MGs and helping secure prisoners; it reached T2 central before turning back short of fuel, the tank probably ran out of fuel at T7b.1.2. and was left there.
505 (L tank) started from T14b.3.0. and possibly reached the South east corner of Delville Wood, only to find it devoid of enemy; they had already been dealt with by D1 which had attacked an hour earlier. As the tank was now struggling to move on a damaged track it rallied.
Summary
Intended: 10
At start: 8
Failed to Start: 2
Engaged enemy: 4
Ditched / Broke Down: 3
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 3
Penetrated by AP bullets: 0
Note
Failed to start are 507 and 554
Ditched broke down are 714, 714, and 760.
Aftermath
508, 714 no further record
505 photographed with British and French troops: X42.p19
505, 741 and 746 all failed to get into action on 26th September 1916
760 remained with company until October 1916
554 remained with company, in action at Arras
722, 507 remained with company, survived until 1917
Source
S1 - The Tanks at Flers (1995) Trevor Pidgeon
S42 - Tanks and trenches (1994) David Fletcher