26 September 1916 - Supporting II and Canadian Corp
The Tanks on the Somme. 26th September 1916.
Thiepval.
C Company with II and Canadian Corps Reserve Army
C Company intended to get 8 tanks into action on 26th September 1916
D22, 745, Lt Robinson FA
D25, 511, 2Lt Colle ECK
542
unidentified
C5, 721, Capt Inglis AM
C6, 504, 2Lt Allan J
C2, 522, “Cognac”, Lt Bluemell
unidentified
Notes:
Lt Bluemell may not have commanded 522 on this date
Orders
Reserve Army was allotted eight tanks for the 26th September attack on Thiepval.
The Canadian Corps were allocated two tanks:
2nd Canadian Division’s attack NE from Courcelette was to be supported by 511 and 745. They were initially ordered to simply reach Courcelette and cruise around rendering assistance. Later more detailed orders were issued: 745 was to go to M25b.2.4 before daybreak, then go to the start point at M25b.65.10. then move eastwards along the rear of Twenty Sixth avenue and clear it of Germans until the main road was reached; then the tank was to turn north, deal with any Germans in the North and south practice trenches and then cover the infantry as they consolidated. He was to return in a wide arc via the western outskirts of the village. (S2.p79)
II Corps was allocated six tanks:
11th Division’s, 34th Brigade’s attack on Mouquet Farm was to be supported by two tanks: 542 and another unidentified tank. They were to set off before the infantry and be at the German held Mouquet Farm at Zero, just as the infantry were leaving their trenches. (S2.p83)
Four tanks were to assist 18 Division, II Corp
54th Brigade’s attack on Thiepval itself was supported by 721 and 504. Start point Caterpiller dump, Q30d.3.0, they were to attack Thiepval Chateau then join the 522 and the other tank in attacking Schwaben Redoubt (S2.p88)
53rd Brigade’s attack to the east of Thiepval was to be supported by two tanks, 522 and an unidentified tank, which were to move up Nab (Blighty) Valley to R26c.3.4 and clear the eastern side of the village; then support the attack on Schwaben Redoubt. Start point a Quarry near the Nab. (S2.p84) Possibly X6c.5.2 or X1b.5.2
Account of operations
2nd Canadian Division
511 ditched in Pozieres on the way forward.
745 started at 11.54am and drove along the north side of Twenty Sixth Avenue to M26a.10.05, the German infantry withdrew and the German artillery brought down a barrage, presumably targeted at the tank. The tank withdrew to Canadian Lines crossing it at M25b.8.1. the tank was hit by German shells, abandoned, caught fire and later exploded. (S2.p80)
11th Division
542 ditched by Mouquet Farm, its crew left the tank and assisted the infantry attack; the other tank also ditched at an unidentified location. (S2.p84)
54th Brigade
721 started forward and silenced a German MG which had been placed in no mans land at R25c.7.7, it then advanced on the Chateau and helped the infantry capture the ruins before becoming ditched at R25d.3.8. (S2.p85) north of the Chateau. (S83.p61, 62, 63)
504 started late and ditched at R25d.03.17 without engaging the enemy. (S2.p89f)
53rd Brigade
522 ditched before reaching the British Front Line. The other tank ditched in a large crater near the German front line in Joseph Trench, managed to unditch itself but then ditched again in Schwaben trench at R26c.5.4 The tank was then hit two or three times by a German 5.9 and set afire. (S2.p84f)
Summary
Intended: 8
At start: 6
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 2
Ditched / Broke Down: 5
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied:
Penetrated by AP bullets: 0
Note
The second tank with 11th Division is assumed to have failed to make the start point.
Engaged enemy is 721 and 745.
Aftermath
511 was dug out on the 28th September and returned to the Loop.
721 Photographed ditched: X21.p1
745 was photographed derelict numerous times:
IWM Q 49198: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205084496
504 photographed ditched and abandoned:
IWM Q 1073: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205072440, no image available online (Oct 2013) , X12.p122
X22.p93
504, 721, 522's partner and either 542 or its partner are probably the tanks at the positions indicated above on a Trench map made in 1917: 57dSE2 Beaumont 17-2-1917 AA
Three other derelict tanks are also indicated on the 57dSE2 Beaumont 17-2-1917 AA trench map: one near to 522's partner, one in R26c.9.9, and one at R20d.85.95. The primary sources do not give any information on the possible identity of these vehicles.
Sources
W3 –C Company’s War Diary. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museam.
W4 - D Company’s War Diary. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museam.
WIrn - Notes from Cpl Ironmongers notebook, Quoted on Accessed:
S1 - Pidgeon, Trevor (1995) The Tanks at Flers
S12 - Chris McCarthy. (1998) The Somme. The Day by Day Account. Brockhampton Press.
S22 - Staedman, Michael (1995) Thiepval, Leo Cooper P. 86ff