26 September 1916 - Supporting II and Canadian Corp

The Tanks on the Somme. 26^th September 1916.

Thiepval.

C Company with II and Canadian Corps Reserve Army

C Company intended to get 8 tanks into action on 26^th 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 26^th September attack on Thiepval.

The Canadian Corps were allocated two tanks:

2^nd 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:

11^th Division’s, 34^th 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

54^th 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)

53^rd 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

2^nd 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)

11^th 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)

54^th 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)

53^rd 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 11^th Division is assumed to have failed to make the start point.

Engaged enemy is 721 and 745.

Aftermath

511 was dug out on the 28^th 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

26 Sept 1916 - Reserve Army Map

Somme 1916 Narratives