november1916

November 1916

November

Despite the lateness of the season and the worsening weather Haig determined to launch a last attack as he believed the German’s moral was starting to crack. By now D Company had reorganised and must have received about a dozen new tanks, unfortunately the War Diary does not give Company or Production numbers to any of these vehicles.

On November 12^th D Company dispatched Lts Bruce and Telford with two tanks under command of Capt Vandervell to Auchonvillers. On the 13^th they were joined by Capt Mortimer and the 6 tanks of his section ⁽²⁾.

A Company attacked for the first time on the 13^th, three tanks were sent to assist 39 Div. One was lost in the mud, the second broke down, the third (A13 (544) “We’re All in It” Lt HW Hitchcock) reached the German front line only to fall into a dugout from whence it had to be rescued by the infantry ⁽²⁾.

D company’s Lt’s Bruce and Telford with tanks assisted 51st Divisions attack on the Caves at Beaumont Hamel unfortunately one ditched between German front lines and support lines, the other on the northern edge of the village ⁽²⁾.

Also on the 13^th Lts Drader, Robinson FA and Bell (reserve) were tasked with attacking a strongpoint.

Lt Robinsons tank hit by shell fire and KO prior to start. ⁽²⁾.

On the14^th November Capt Hotblack, D Company’s intelligence Officer led a tank across no mans land to its objective. ⁽²⁾.

Meanwhile Capt Mortimer's section's other two tanks went into action supporting 63 Div. They moved up to attack the Strongpoint, both got stuck in mud, luckily one was close enough to use a 6Pdr to demoralise the occupants of the Strongpoint who surrendered to the stranded vehicles. ⁽²⁾.

C Company were in Action for the last time on the 15^th, 744 Lt Reardon (formally D20), C20 (523) Lt Lambert, both were lost in the mud before getting into action. ⁽²⁾.

On November 16^th D Company sent 6 tanks under Capt Nixon into the attack, unfortunately all ditched on Hamel Beaucort Road ⁽²⁾.

On the 17th Nov D Company’s Lt Partintons attacked at junction of Beaucourt and Frankfort trenches and then successfully returned. ⁽²⁾.

Chris McCarthy writes III Corp, 3rd Div attacked this area but makes no mention of a tank ⁽¹⁾.

On the 19^th November D Company’s War Diary states they had 16 tanks: 2 at Beaumont Hamel, 4 at Auchonvillers, 4 at Beaussart and 6 (ditched) at Beaussart Station) ⁽²⁾. C Company cancelled all future operations on this date.

Finally on the 21st November D Company prepared three tanks to assist V corps. Lt Partingtons tank is recorded as being still out of action. ⁽²⁾.

References

1. General Historical Information: Chris McCarthy. (1998) The Somme. The Day by Day Account. Brockhampton Press.

2. A, D and C Companies Respective War Diaries. Transcripts obtained from Bovington Tank Museam.

3. Tank Numbers and names: Pidgeon, Trevor (1995) The Tanks at Flers

4. Fletcher, David (2004). British Mark I Tank. Osprey, Oxford Pg. 24

Mk I Tanks