10 Company
20 November 1917
10 Company 20 November 1917
10 Company, D Battalion, with 153rd Brigade, 51st Division, IV Corps
10 Company had 12 tanks in action on 20th November 1917 (W21):
Company Commander Maj E. N. Marris
1 Section. Capt J.M. Martin MC
D2, 8064, m, “Duke Of Cornwall II”, 2/Lt. W.G.J. Wallace, (W21)
D3, 2693, F, “Drone”, 2/Lt. A.S. Heffill, (W21)
D14, 8071, M, “Darius”, Lt. C.J. Salmon, (W21)
2 Section. Capt C.R. Nicholls
D4, 2634, F, “Dryad” , 2/Lt. S. Knox, (W21)
D6, 2706, F, “Devil-May-Care” , Lt S.F. Glasscock, (W21)
D8, 2320, M, “Diogenes”, 2/Lt. L.G.F. Short, (W21)
3 Section. Capt R.E. Boucher
D9, 2054, m, “Damocles”, 2/Lt. R.C. Baker, (W21)
D10, 2705, f, “Diana”, 2/Lt. W.L. Miller, (W21)
D11, 2703, f, “Dominie”, Lt. T.K. Cook, (W21)
4 Section. Capt N. E MacKeown
D1, 8072, m, “Druid II”, Lt. E. Dawe, (W21)
D5, 2643, f, “Dakoit II”, Lt. R.A. Hepteanstall, (W21)
D18, 4568, f, “Don”, Lt. H.F. Smith, (W21)
Notes
D6 [sic] (????) 2Lt Leek - detached to G Battalion as Tank G78 (W21)
D12 (2697) 2Lt Karstall - detached to G Battalion as Tank G77 (W21)
Orders(W4a)
Wire Crushers
The first wave set off at Zero + 4 minutes, preceding them were six tanks from 11 company which were to crush the enemy’s wire and deal with any Machine guns nests in front of the front line
10 Company (W4a)
10 Company’s 12 tanks were to attack along with 6 tanks from 11 Company in the first wave supporting the 6th Black Watch and 5th Gordon Highlanders of 153rd Division. The tanks were grouped in threes, each group being followed by a platoon of infantry that were 100yds behind. To allow the infantry to identify the tanks and ensure they were still following the correct group if one or two tanks were Knocked Out the tanks were numbered D1 to D18 from the right. These battalion numbers were apparently painted on the rear of the tank between the horns (photographs of KO "E" battalion tanks), information on "E" battalion's tanks indicate the battalion numbers did not correspond to the crew numbers.
Once the tanks and infantry had reached the Blue line (First Objective) they were to pause and await the second wave (12 Company). Surviving first wave tanks were then to aid the attack on the brown line (Second Objective) which included Flesquieres Village
Account of Operations (W21)
1 Section
“Duke Of Cornwall II”, Attacked. Engaged enemy, ditched short of 2nd Objective, unditched, turned back just short of 2nd objective and rallied, (W21)
“Drone”, Attacked. Engaged enemy, Stayed in field in Flesquieres Village, (W21)
“Darius” , Oil drums on top of tank caught fire at start line. Fire extinguished. Tank attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective and rallied, (W21)
2 Section
“Dryad” , Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective and rallied., (W21)
“Devil-May-Care”, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Direct Hit and Burnt out between first and Second objectives. K17d5.5, (W21)
“Diogenes”, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Direct Hit between first and Second objectives. K17d5.2, (W21)
3 Section
“Damocles”, Attacked. Engaged enemy, ditched short of 2nd Objective, unditched, too late for action, turned back and rallied. (W21)
“Diana”, Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective and rallied. (W21)
“Dominie”, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Ditched then Direct Hit and Burnt out between first and Second objectives. K17d6.8, (W21)
4 Section
“Druid II”, Attacked, engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective and rallied. (W21)
“Dakoit II”, Ditched at K29d5.2, (W21)
“Don”, Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective and rallied. (W21)
Summary
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At start: 12
Started: 12
Engaged enemy: 11
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 8
Rallied total includes D3 which remained in the field.
Aftermath
D1, 8072, D2, 8064, D3, 2693, D4, 2634 all in Action on 23rd November
2320 (D8), and 2054 (D9) both entrained from No2 Field Salvage Coy to Central Workshops on 14th and 12th Dec 1917 respectively (W32)
4568 (D18) – 8 August 1918, Supply Tank with 3 Tank Carrier Company, carried load for Canadian Corps.
D14, 8071, D6, 2706, D10, 2705, D11, 2703, D5, 2643 - not recorded again.
Sources
W4a = D Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/110
W21 = 1st Tank Brigade War Diary relevant Battlegraphs and after action report
W32 = 2nd Field Salvage Coy War Diary PRO WO 95/96
NOTE
D Battalion’s War diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum. (W4) does not contain the reports pertinent to this action.
Cambrai Start Formation. D Battalion
1st Brigade 20 November 1917 Map
D / 4th Battalion - List of narratives