1 Company 20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20^th November 1917

1 Company, A Battalion, with 60^th Brigade,20^th Division, III Corps

1 Company had 14 tanks in action on 20^th November 1917 ^(W3):

1 Section. Capt Wain RWL (in A2)

A1, m, 8078, “Armagh II”, Lt Cronin RT

A2, 2399, “Abou-Ben-Adam II”, Lt Duncan CW

A3, 2772, “A-Merry-Can”, 2Lt Clarke EWB (Note: 2773 on Battle History Sheet)

2 Section - (Capt MJ Miskin in A10)

A6, f, 2676, “Ajax”, 2Lt AH Dawkes

A7, m, 2014, “Arabia”, 2Lt S Taylor

A10, f, ????, “Antigone”, 2Lt Liles RW

3 Section – Capt TW Pearson (in A13)

A11, 8058, “Angostura II”, 2Lt HG Shouler

A12, 2522, “Andromeda”, Lt JS Hall (A15 ?)

A13, m, 8088, A13, “Allah” Lt FB Keogh

4 Section – Capt Dolmay HH (in A17)

A16, m, 8066, “Argus II”, 2Lt S Houlton

A17, m, 8090, “Achilles II”, Lt Brown JC

A20, f, 2597, “Airs and Graces”, 2Lt Monkton FG

Supply Tank

1 company had a supply tank ^(W1a)

Spare Tank (s)

1 company had one or more spare tanks ^(W1a)

Probably A18, m, 8092 which was in action on the 30^th November with 4 section.

Note: A3: The report of action for 30^th November gives this tank’s serial number as 2773

Crew A3 were with tank 2773 on 20^th September.

Orders ^(W1a)

3 sections to attack in first wave on the left of the Brigade; 1 section on the right, 3 in the centre, 4 on the left (the orders below and the accounts indicate 3 section was on the left). tanks to lead infantry by 75yds. To cross Farm Trench. 3 section on the left were to proceed down Surrey Road, echeloned slightly behind other sections. This section to fire into railway valley to assist the advance of 3 company and the Brigade on the left of 60^th Brigade. Once first wave tanks secure first objective they are to proceed to the second objective.

2 Section was to advance with the 12^th Rifle Brigade in the second wave and proceed directly to the second objective. Once the second objective has been secured 6 tanks from each company (or 4 tanks, the sources are contradictory) are to proceed to Marcoing and secure the Canal crossings between the Railway Bridge at Marcoing and West of Masnieres (exclusive). The Hedge and Light Raileway running North from the East edge of Marcoing Copse will be the dividing line between the companies, 1 company going right, 2 left.

Rallying points:

Tanks which do not proceed beyond the Brown line to rally there. Tanks that proceed to Marcoing to rally behind SW corner of Marcoing Copse. All tanks then to proceed to L26 central, 2^nd Tank Brigades Rallying Area.

Account of Operations ^(W23)^(W1a)

Tanks started at Zero, Blue line taken by 7.20am, Hindenburg line crossed without difficulty. Heavy MG fire but little artillery fire except for field guns. Attack on Brown line started at 8.50am, attack in vicinity of R3b.5.9. held up by MGs and a field gun which held their fire until after the tanks had passed. As first wave tanks were now across the Brown line a tank from 3 Company (A54) was intercepted by Battalion Commander and silenced MGs and Field gun.

Eight tanks from 1 company reached Marcoing between 10.40 and 10.50am, firing on fleeing enemies.

A male tank from B battalion moved onto the Railway bridge and silenced enemy snipers in Marcoing. 2Lt Bailey (2 Company) disarmed the charges on the Railway Bridge.

1 Section

A1 ditched in the German front line with Autovac trouble, the crew formed Lewis gun crews and joined the infantry, whilst fighting dismounted the OIC and 5 OR were wounded.

A2 was hit and stopped by five trench mortar hits beyond the Hindenburg Line, the OIC and Driver were KIA and the rest of the crew were wounded by the fifth hit. The crew dismounted and Capt Wain silenced 3 MG guns with a Lewis gun before he was killed by a sniper shot from behind. Captain Wain was awarded a posthumous VC.

A3 headed towards Goodman farm but wasn’t needed so crossed the Hindenburg line via Fascine dropped by A1, A3 went right along a communication trench and silenced an MG,1 crewman was wounded by a bullet which entered the tank. The tank ditched whilst attempting to place its fascine in the Hindenburg Support line and the OIC was wounded whilst outside the tank fitting the unditching gear. According to the battlegraph the tank was then was hit and knocked out though this isn’t mentioned on the battle history sheet.

Captain Wains heroics are described in several sources, S30p145f, S40p151f

2 Section

A6 had trouble with the Autovac and magneto all day but was still one of the first tanks to reach Marcoing having dispersed 7 Mg crews and captured 2 field guns after leaving the blue line.

A7 silenced an enemy MG and a Trench mortar just after crossing the blue Line and was penetrated by splinters on the Blue Line according to the battlegraph, the tank then prevented enemy retiring up the sunken road.

A10 and A7 silenced 3 MGs before reaching the Blue line

The three tanks engaged the enemy from the blue to brown lines then headed due North for Marcoing,. Having reached Marcoing at 10.40am and seeing no supporting tanks on their right the section stopped on the ridge around the canal for an hour and half firing on enemy troops who were attempting to retire; A7 found a particularly effective position on a hillock adjacent to the intersection of three sunken roads.

At 12.15pm the infantry of 29^th Div were seen on the right so 2 section moved to Marcoing Copse which the tanks found to be clear of enemy troops. The South Wales Borderers were called forward by 2 section Commander and occupied the Copse. The section rallied at Marcoing Copse at 12,45pm and continued to dominated Marcoing and the Canal crossings. A10 had a broken Sleeve.

A10 silenced an MG nest at L28 central, A7 silenced a field gun battery at L30d.2.1.

3 Section

A11 used fascine to cross the Hindenburg Line by the ditched A13 (R3d.1.7) then broke down in Marcoing with a twisted Gear shaft.

A13 crossed outpost Line and destroyed an MG with 6pdr fire at R9a.6.5. then crossed the Hindenburg line, having lost sight of A11 and A12, ditched in enemy support line at R3d.1.7, ditched Fascine and was helped out by A12 but broke engine (big end gone) whilst unditching. The tank was left as a strongpoint.

A12 was hit and set afire in sunken road in front of Marcoing. A11 rallied.

4 Section

2 Platoons from A company 12^th KRR followed 100 yards behind A16 and A20. They proceeded, under heavy fire, from Monument to enemy outpost line at R8d.7.8. where all three tanks fired on the enemy forcing many to retire.

The Hindenburg line was reached at R3c.3.6. A17 turned along the parapet of the trench, whilst A20 used its fascine to cross, followed by A16 then A17. Numerous MGs were silenced at this point (R3c.1.9); A17 was hit by a gas shell and set afire, the fire was extinguished.

A20 and A16 had to wait at the Hindenburg Support Line (R3a.7.8) for A17 to catch up and use it’s Fascine in the Hindenburg support line as A16’s fascine had fallen off whilst the tank was crossing a small stream before the Hindenburg Line was reached. (or just after, the sources are contradictory)

The section waited for an hour at Blue line for the barrage to lift. 2 section joined them and after dealing with numerous targets in the Hindenburg Support Line both sections proceeded to Marcoing which was reached at 10.50am. At Marcoing 4 section assisted 2 section in engaging and intercepting retiring enemy troops.

A16 rallied at Ribecourt on the 21^st.

Note: According to the battlegraph: A20 was hit and knocked out on the Brown Line, A20 had previously broken down on the Blue line

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 1

At Start: 12

Started: 12

Engaged enemy: 12

Ditched / Broke Down: 4

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 6

Rallied includes A13 which returned to the POA, it doesn’t include A10 which broke down at the RP.