8company11april1917
8 Company 11 April 1917
The Tanks at Arras. 11th April 1917
8 Company, “C” Battalion with 111th Brigade, 37th Division, VI Corps, 3rd Army (OH)
Part of 1st tank brigade
8 Company intended to get 6 tanks into action on 11th April 1917 (W21):
[ Northern ] Section
C26, 787, 2Lt Jonston HW
C27, 588, 2Lt Silver
C28, 790, 2Lt Saunders ER
[ Southern ] Section - Capt May (S41.p20)
C21, 578, “A Perfect Lady” , Lt Salter GCT
C29, 597, 2Lt Toshack T
C36, 600, 2Lt Ambrose C
Note. 578's name from photograph included with 9 April narrative.
Orders
The Tanks concentrated at Feuchy Chapel on the night of the 10th April.
787, 588 and 790 were to start from the enclosure in N6a and proceed round the northern end of Monchy-Le-Preux,
578, 597 and 600 to start from Les Fosse’s Farm and proceed round the SW and South edge of Monchy-Le-Preux.
111th Brigade's second wave was to capture Monchy, 13 KRRC on the left and 13 Rifle Brigade (actually a battalion) on the right (OH) (S20.p26)
112th Brigade's second wave was to attack south of the village. 11 Loyal North Lancashire (11 LNL) on the left and 11 Royal Warwickshire (11 RW) on the left (OH).
578 and 787 were photographed moving towards the front. This photo may have been taken on the 9th or an earlier date. (IWM Q 6298).
578 was also photographed stationary; this photo may have been taken on the 9th or an earlier date. (X7.p42)
Overview
Zero Hour was postponed by two hours to 7.00 am, but the tanks and infantry were not informed and thus set off at 5 am as originally ordered without any artillery support. It appears that the 37th Division were held up in front of Monchy, not entering it until 9 am. They were probably only able to capture the village because the defenders had been attacked in the flank by the 15th (Scottish) Division who should have been attacking further north but had turned south to deal with enfilading MG fire from the village. The Scots were probably helped by the tanks, some of which entered the village and dealt with many of the defenders. (S20.p23ff)
Account of operations
588 broke its track before reaching the start line and thus did not attack. (W21)
It was still dark when the attack started, it was clear night but there was snow on the ground.
790 ditched almost immediately and thus did not attack. (W21) the infantry proceeded the tank crunching over the fresh snow until a burst of star-shells illuminated them and they were decimated by MG fire from the village. A tank (possibly 787) and a lone Lewis Gunner managed to silence some of the MGs and some infantry thus managed to secure a foothold in a few of the houses of the village. (s18.p140f)
787 entered the village from the north at dawn, possibly being followed by a party of infantry who followed it down the street and were eliminated by the Germans who opened fire once the tank had passed. (S18.p142) 787 trundled on unsupported and neutralised several MG guns. (W21). It may have joined 578 and 597 from the southern section.
All three tanks of the Southern section started on time and advanced on Monchy apparently via the La Bergere crossroads. The infantry, 11 LNL and 11 RW had advanced to a line beyond the partly sunken road from Monchy to La Bergere where they had been pinned down, in part by fire from a trench to the south of La Bergere. At 5:20am 578, probably assisted by 597 and 600 routed the enemy (a company of the 84th Reserve Regiment) from this trench and enabled the infantry's advance (OH) (W21) (S18.p143f)
Whilst at the crossraods 600 was set upon by enemy bombers and penetrated by AP bullets. All the gunners were wounded but they nevertheless managed to force the enemy to take cover in a sunken road. The tank swung in a circle towards Monchy but was immobilised by bombs exploding under its tracks; it then received a direct hit from a shell which blew in a sponson. The enemy once more surrounded the tank but were again driven off by Lewis gun fire and the tank was then abandoned. Of the seven crew three men were killed and two wounded (W21)
Meanwhile 578 and 597 had entered Moncy where they may have joined 787, all three tanks then apparently proceeded along the high street of the village forcing the Germans to take cover, they had outstripped their infantry support however and thus the Germans re emerged once the tanks had passed. The tanks turned back and suppressed the Germans once more (S30.p44ff). The British infantry were moving into the village and the Germans must have started to withdraw; it was 6:30am the British barrage dropped on the village.
Shell splinters penetrated the back door and radiator of 578, Knocking out the tank, killing the signaller and wounding four other crewmen. (W21) 787 was also caught in the barrage, its engine seized and the tank was abandoned, four Lewis guns being handed over to the infantry. (W21)(S41.p20f)
597 apparently escaped destruction in the village, but was hit and set afire whilst stopping to change gears near a wood, presumably the one to the north West of the village. Three enemy guns had fired on the tank; one from the Bois Du Bert, one from the wood in 02d, and one from the Factory in O15. Only 3 crewmen escaped, one of these was wounded. (S20.p39)
before they were knocked out the tanks had successfully suppressed the enemy and thus enabled the infantry's advance, the 13 KRRC and 13 Rifle brigade (in actual fact a battalion) were able to occupy Monchy, though suffered heavy casualties doing so (OH).
Later in the day 790 was photographed several times whilst ditched. (IWM Q 6427) (X18.photo16)
Note:
The above is a composite narrative derived by combining the indicated sources; these are sometimes vague and contradictory so the above narrative should be regarded as a best guess rather than a true account.
Summary
intended: 6
At Start: 5
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 4
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 0
Penetrated by AP Ammo: 1
Aftermath
578, 597, 600, 787 - No further record
588, 790 - In action on 23rd April 1917
Sources
W21 – C Battalion Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps. Battle of Arras. Narrative of Operations 9th to 11th April 1917. PRO 95/97
- Battle graphs for the above.
S18 - Nicholls Jonathon (2005) Cheerful Sacrifice. The Battle of Arras 1917, Pen and Sword
S20 - Monchy le Preux (2000) Colin Fox, Pen and Sword.
S30 - The Boiler Plate War (1963) John Foley,
S41 - Richard Pullen (2008) Beyond the Green Fields
OH - Official History, 1917, Viol 1 pg.262ff
Note: The transcription of C Battalion’s War Diary available from The Tank Museum, Bovington, does not start until after Arras.