8company9april1917

Great War Primary Document Archive: Photos of the Great War

776 crossed the German front line and fired on the enemy, the tank became ditched before reaching the Blue line. ^(W21)

582 eventually crossed the trenches at M12 [N12 written in original source] after some difficulty. Reached the Harp 20 minutes before the infantry, and in company with 597 fired on German infantry in Pot trench in the German front line. The tank was then bombed and put out of action. ^(W21)

597 in company with 582 fired on German infantry in Pot trench in the German front line. The tank’s fire covered the advance of the Infantry who were able to advance and take possession of the trench. ^(W21)

777 this tank almost reached the blue line, it bellied at the western edge of Noisy Work and was then hit and set afire. Prior to this the tank had fired on the enemy dealing with several snipers and MGs. ^(W21)

Photographed at some later date during the battle:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3854616786/in/set-72157601073015696/

787 ditched before reaching the British Front Line. ^(W21) Photographed ^{(IWM Q 6285)}.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2619199371/in/set-72157601073015696/

Great War Primary Document Archive: Photos of the Great War

In the 1980’s Sgt Harry Emans described ditching on 9^th April 1917 in a male “C” Battalion tank which subsequently successfully attacked Monchy on the 11^th this can only be 787 ^(S41.p19f)

588 crossed the German front line then ditched before reaching the Blue line. ^(W21)

790 fired on the enemy, then ditched in the German front line. ^{(W21) (X67.27) (X58.p53)}

600 crossed the German front line and fired on the enemy, the tank became ditched before reaching the Blue line. ^(W21)

599 plugged a gap in the British attack near N7a.7.5. He successfully held the line, routeing at least one MG crew and capturing their gun, until infantry came up and consolidated. Subsequently the tank received a direct hit, which killed one man and wounded three others. 5 Lewis guns were handed over to the infantry. ^(W21)

A brief account of a male tank crossing the German front line was given by one of its gunners, Archie Richards. ^(S18.p119) The tank was probably 776 which is the only male tank that crossed the German front line and wasn’t set afire.

The 42^nd Brigade stated that the tanks struggled on the bad ground, those that reached the String arrived late. Seven tanks were ditched, three were knocked out, two by direct shell hits and one by infantry bombs. The infantry secured the Blue line by 8:20am and the brown line by 8:45am. A few tanks did continue the advance, moving towards Feuchy Chape at 12:20pm ^(OH)

Summary

Intended: 10

At start: 10

Failed to start: 0

Engaged enemy: 7

Ditched / Broke Down: 6

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 1

Penetrated by AP ammo: 0

Note: Rallied is 597 whose fate is not recorded.

Aftermath

777, 599 - No further record

787, 790, 578, 588, 597, 600 - in action on 11th April

776, 582 - in action on 23^rd April

Sources

W21 – C Battalion Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps. Battle of Arras. Narrative of Operations 9^th to 11^th April 1917. PRO 95/97

- Battle graphs for the above.

OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 1, Pg.211f

S18 - Nicholls Jonathon (2005) Cheerful Sacrifice. The Battle of Arras 1917, Pen and Sword

S41 - Richard Pullen (2008) Beyond the Green Fields

S58 - Buffetaut, Yves (1997) The 1917 Spring Offensives

Note: The transcription of C Battalion’s War Diary available from The Tank Museum, Bovington doesn’t start until after Arras.

8 Company 9 April 1917 - Map

Arras Narratives