9 Company 10 April 1917
The Tanks at Arras. 10th April 1917
9 Company. C Battalion with, VIth Corps 3rd Army
9 Company intended to get 3 tanks into action on 10th April 1917 (W21)
9 Company
C41, 780, 2Lt Norman S O
C42, 778, 2Lt Innes A,
C50, 583, 2Lt Williams
notes
OIC names confirmed in WMH
Orders
778 supporting 12th Division.
Account of Operations
780 attempted to attack again but the holed radiator made this impossible. (W21) it was at N3c.6.3 on the night of the 11th (WMH)
583 this tank went into action in the morning attacking a strong point. The tank was then hit by a heavy shell and knocked out, (W21) at N4d.6.4 (WMH) 3 crewmen were killed and 2 (or 3 (WMH) ) crewmen and the OIC wounded. (W21) No mention is made of this action in the Official History.
778 attacked in the morning, assisting the 12th Division in clearing the Brown Line near Feuchy Chapel. Presumably at Church Work to the south east of the village as the 12th Division had failed to capture this on the 9th April. 5 / R Berkshies were to cross the Wancourt - Feuchy line in the 15th Division's area and then, assisted by six companies from the 36th Brigade, attack into the German flank and roll up the Wancourt - Feuchy line. Meanwhile three battalions would attack the same mile long stretch of line head on; the wire was in very good repair here (OH) 778 suppressed the enemy whilst the infantry closed and overran the position. The engines crank shaft broke, and the tank subsequently received a direct hit and was abandoned. (W21) (OH.p249) at N4c.6.8 (WMH)
Summary
Intended: 3
At start: 3
Failed to Start: 1
Engaged enemy: 2
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 0
Penetrated by AP bullets: 0
Aftermath
778 and 583 no further record.
780 was in action again on 23rd April.
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.
BHS – Battle History sheets of indicated tanks in PRO WO 95-91
The author only has copies of the BHS for 780, 788
WMH - Henshall papers IWM 73 / 126 / 1
- Position of tanks on 11 April 1917.
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 1, Pg.215f, pg.249
S13 - Williams – Ellis, Clough (1919). The Tank Corps
S18 - Nicholls Jonathon (2005) Cheerful Sacrifice. The Battle of Arras 1917 ,Pen and Sword
Note: The transcription of C Battalion’s War Diary available from The Tank Museum, Bovington doesn’t start until after Arras.