11 Company

20 November 1917

11 Company 20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20th November 1917

11 Company, D Battalion, with 153rd Brigade, 51st Division, IV Corps

11 Company had 11 tanks in action on 20th November 1917 (W21):

5 Section

D21, 8057, m, “Dreadnought III”, 2/Lt. H.L. Richards, (W21)

D23, 8067, m, “Dashing Dragoon III”, 2/Lt. E. Hemmings, (W21)

D27, 2655, f, “Double Dee III”, 2/Lt. H.L. Birks, (W21)

6 Section

D26, 8043, m, “Don Quixote II”, 2/Lt. R. Frank, (W21)

D28, 4566, f, “Drake's Drum III”, 2/Lt. J.H. de B. Shaw, (W21)

D34, 2861, f, “Dalliance” , Lt. G.A. Edwards, (W21)

7 Section

D29, 4511, f, “Damon III“, Lt. J.A. Coghlan, (W21)

D30, 8069, m, “Dusky Dis II”, 2/Lt. W.O.R. Head, (W21)

D31, 8074, m, “Dolly II”, 2/Lt. D.T. Stevens, (W21)

8 Section - [Supply ?]

D24, 6005, f, “Deuce Of Diamonds II”, Lt. R.C. Grant, (W21)

D32, 4572, f, “Dop Doctor II”, 2/Lt. G.V Butler, (W21)

Notes

D22 and D25 (serial numbers unknown) attached to G Battalion as Tanks G72 and G73

The report of operations contained in the Battalion’s War diary in PRO 95/110 states that the battalion should have deployed 36 tanks but that one broke down on the approach march, this is presumably an unidentified tank from this company.

The battalion would have deployed two top tower sledge pulling supply tanks. No mention is made of these in the Battlegraph or account of operations. The Account of Operations states that supplies for "D" and "E" Battalions were brought forward to the Grand Ravine by a gun carrying tank. It also states that sledges were not a success and the old MK I [supply] tanks would have been better. "E" Battalion allocated both of their Top Towers to Wire crushing duties (W5o) and "D" battalion may have done likewise.

Supply tanks were usually allocated to 8 section implying that D24 and D32 were the Battalion's two Supply tanks. It is worth noting that the 60** and 45** serial numbers tend to back up this theory as tanks in these serial number series were often (though not always) top towers and supply tanks in 1918.

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. The identity of these tanks is not known.

11 Company

The other six 11 Company tanks were to accompany the 12 tanks of 10 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.

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

The surviving Wire crushers apparently rallied as a reserve in the Grand Ravine (presumably with E Battalions surviving Wire crushers) as seven of them were used to attack Flesquires in the afternoon(W21). Note: In “Flesquieres”, Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave state these seven tanks were from 14 Company, E battalion’s reserve Company, and that one was E40. (S44.p98). It is possible that the tanks were a mixture from both Battalions.

Account of Operations (W21)

5 Section

D21, 8057, m, “Dreadnought III”, 2/Lt. H.L. Richards, Attacked, Engaged enemy, reached 2nd objective and rallied., (W21)

D23, 8067, m, “Dashing Dragoon III”, 2/Lt. E. Hemmings, Attacked, Engaged enemy, reached 2nd objective and rallied., (W21)

D27, 2655, f, “Double Dee III”, 2/Lt. H.L. Birks, Attacked, Engaged enemy, reached 2nd objective and rallied., (W21)

6 Section

D26, 8043, m, “Don Quixote II”, 2/Lt. R. Frank, Engaged enemy, ditched before first objective. K35a8.5, (W21)

D28, 4566, f, “Drake's Drum III”, 2/Lt. J.H. de B. Shaw, Attacked, Direct Hit just short of Second objective. , (W21)

D34, 2861, f, “Diallance” , Lt. G.A. Edwards, Attacked. Engaged enemy, ditched short of 1st Objective, unditched, continued and crossed 2nd objective, turned back and rallied., (W21)

7 Section

D29, 4511, f, “Damon III“, Lt. J.A. Coghlan, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Ditched between first and Second objectives. K23 [Ce12], (W21)

D30, 8069, m, “Dusky Dis II”, 2/Lt. W.O.R. Head, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Ditched and broke down before first objectives. K35a74, (W21)

D31, 8074, m, “Dolly II”, 2/Lt. D.T. Stevens, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Ditched and broke down between first and Second objectives. K35a80.55, (W21)

8 Section

D24, 6005, f, “Deuce Of Diamonds II”, Lt. R.C. Grant, Supply Tank (?). attacked, Engaged enemy, Ditched and broke down before first objective. K29d4.5, (W21)

D32, 4572, f, “Dop Doctor II”, 2/Lt. G.V Butler, Supply Tank (?). attacked, Engaged enemy, 2 Direct Hits and KO between first and Second objectives. K23b9.9, (W21)

Summary

Intended: 11

Reserve: 0

At Start: 11

Started: 11

Engaged enemy: 10

Ditched / Broke Down: 5

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 4

Aftermath

D21, D23, D27 and D34 in Action on 23rd November

D31, 8074 with 13th battalion in March 1918.