12 Company
20 November 1917
12 Company 20 November 1917
The Tanks at Cambrai. 20th November 1917
12 Company, D Battalion, with 153rd Brigade, 51st Division, IV Corps
12 Company had 12 tanks in action on 20th November 1917 (W21):
9 Section
D41, 2625, f, “Devil II” , 2/Lt. R.A. Jones, (W21)
D42, 8054, m, “Daphne III” , 2/Lt. G.C. Killey, (W21)
D43, 2515, f, “Delysia” , 2/Lt. H.H. Dobinson, (W21)
D44, 8053, m, “Dracula II”, 2/Lt. C.L. Symonds, (W21)
10 Section
D45, 2633, f, “Destroyer II” , 2/Lt. J.C. Macintosh, (W21)
D46, 8050, m, “Dragon III”, 2/Lt. J.T. Clark, (W21)
D47, 8047, m, “Demon II”, 2/Lt. J.H. Vose, (W21)
D48, 2621, f, “Diablo II”, 2/Lt. F.J. Tritton, (W21)
11 Section
D54, 8048, m, “Diadem II”, 2/Lt. E. Owen, (W21)
12 Section
D49, 4656, f, “Dollar Princess” , 2/Lt. J. McNiven, (W21)
D50, 8045, m, “Dandy Dirmont”, Lt. H.E. Armitage, (W21)
D51, 2620, f, “Deborah”, 2/Lt. F.G. Heap, (W21)
Orders(W4a)
12 Company were in the second wave leading the 7th Black Watch and 7th Gordon Highlanders of 153rd Brigade, six tanks were allocated to each infantry Battalion.
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 D19 to D30 from the right (5 Gordon Highlanders War Diary). 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.
The second wave was to advance on the brown line (Second Objective) which included Flesquieres Village. Once this had been secured they were to advance further.
Account of Operations (W21)
9 Section
D41, 2625, f, “Devil II” , 2/Lt. R.A. Jones, Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective, 2 direct hits and KO 400 yds W of Flesquieres. K17b2.4., (W21)
D42, 8054, m, “Daphne III” , 2/Lt. G.C. Killey, Held up with engine trouble prior to 1st objective. Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective, Rallied, (W21)
D43, 2515, f, “Delysia”, 2/Lt. H.H. Dobinson, Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective, broke down K24b1.2, (W21)
D44, 8053, m, “Dracula II”, 2/Lt. C.L. Symonds, Attacked, Engaged enemy, reached 2nd objective, turned back. Rallied, (W21)
10 Section
D45, 2633, f, “Destroyer II”, 2/Lt. J.C. Macintosh, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Direct Hit and burnt out just short of Second objective. K23768, (W21)
D46, 8050, m, “Dragon III”, 2/Lt. J.T. Clark, Attacked, Engaged enemy, turned back just short of 2nd objective, Broke down. K23c03, (W21)
D47, 8047, m, “Demon II”, 2/Lt. J.H. Vose, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Direct Hit just short of Second objective. K24o28, (W21)
D48, 2621, f, “Diablo II”, 2/Lt. F.J. Tritton, Attacked. Engaged enemy, turned back just before 2nd objective, guns out of action, Rallied., (W21)
11 Section
D54, 8048, m, “Diadem II”, 2/Lt. E. Owen, Attacked. Engaged enemy, 2nd objective and turned back, Rallied., (W21)
12 Section
D49, 4656, f, “Dollar Princess”, 2/Lt. J. McNiven, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Ditched and 2 Direct Hits just short of Second objective. K24b4.6, (W21)
D50, 8045, m, “Dandy Dirmont”, Lt. H.E. Armitage, Ditched and broke down at K29d65.10, (W21)
D51, 2620, f, “Deborah”, 2/Lt. F.G. Heap, Attacked, Engaged enemy, Direct Hit just short of Second objective. K18d3.2 (W21). Hit in Flesquieres Village by Crossroads.
Summary
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At Start: 12
Started: 12
Engaged enemy: 11
Ditched / Broke Down: 3
Hit and Knocked out: 5
Rallied: 4
Aftermath
D48, 262, D54, 8048, D46, 8050, D44, 8053, D42, 8054 all in action on 23rd November 1917.
4656 (D49) – 22 June 1918 - Attacked as tank J17 with 10th Battalion
D43, 2515, D51, 2620, D41, 2625, D45, 2633, D50, 8045, D47, 8047 not recorded again in any source.
Sources
W4a = D Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/110
W21 = 1st Tank Brigade War Diary relevant Battlegraphs and after action report PRO WO 95/98
W32 = 2nd Field Salvage Coy War Diary PRO WO 95/96
NOTE
D Battalion’s War diary. Transcription form 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