13company20september1917
13 Company 20 September 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 20th September 1917
13 Company, E Battalion, with 173rd and 174th Brigades, 58th Div, XVIII Corp, 5th Army 5th Army
This was E Battalions First Action, and 13 company’s only action prior to Cambrai on 20th November 1917.
13 Company had 9 tanks in action on 20th September 1917 (W21):
1 Section
E2, 2815, f, “Escapade”, 2Lt Black,
E3, 2798, f, “Eclipse”, 2Lt Maitland, This tank was crewed by Crew number 4 (presumably E4)
2 Section
E6, 2340, m, “Executioner”, 2Lt Blencowe:
E7, 2805, f, “Explosive”, 2Lt Hughes:
E9, 2810, f, “Exclusive”, 2Lt Calder,
E10, 2793, f, “Extinguisher”, 2Lt Llewellyn,
4 Section
E17, 2342, m, “Exterminator”, 2Lt Green,
E18, 2820, f, “Extirpator”, 2Lt Borrett,
E19, 2818, f, “Eradicator”, Lt Bruce,
Note: 2793’s Crew number is given as E8 in the Battlegraph.
2805’s Crew number is given as E8 in the Battle History Sheet.
Orders
E9 Support 2/4th London Regt, 173rd Brigade, Mebus c12c.6.8
E6 and E10 (E8) final objective was Schular Farm E8 attached 2/4th London Regt, 173rd Brigade
E2, E7 and E18 had as their final objective Cluster Houses. E18 was ordered to support 2/6th London Regt, 174th Brigade, by moving via Winnipeg to Cluster houses; there to form a strongpoint and assist infantry consolidation.
E17 final objective was Wurst Farm
E3 and E19 final objective was Clifton House. E3 was ordered to support 2/6th London Regt, 174th Brigade, by moving to Clifton House and there assisting infantry’s consolidation.
Account of Action
E2 developed radiator trouble at Belle Vue and did not proceed into action
E9 Started at Zero and followed the road through St Julien but ditched under water near Janet Farm C12d.4.4 and was abandoned at 10am.
E6 and E10 left Belle Vue at Z minus 2 hours 45 mins (2.55 am).
E10 moved off through St Julien at Zero and crossed the Steenbeck at 5.30. The tanks proceeded down the Winnipeg Road which had been repaired and was thus in relatively good condition. Opposite the last derelict tank, about 100yds west of Janet Farm, E10 ditched. Three crewmen were wounded by shrapnel whilst attempting to unditch the tank, it was eventually knocked out by a near miss under the front drivers seat which jammed the gears. E10 was abandoned.
E6 crossed the Steenbeek at 5.50 after being held up behind another tank which had developed autovac trouble. It reached Janet Farm at about 6.05 am. Whilst attempting to manoeuvre around a ditched tank E6 ditched several times, eventually becoming stuck fast close to four other ditched tanks. E10 and E6 did not fire their weapons during the action.
E7 left Belle Vue at 3.50am and, after being delayed by a broken down tank, proceeded through St Julien (up the Winnipeg Road). After passing the last derelict tank the road and tape seemed to end and the tank ditched in a shellhole full of water, the tank unditched and proceeded another 150yds before becoming inextricably ditched at about c12d.8.4. Whilst attempting to unditch the OIC and three crewmen were wounded by a shell which burst under the front of the tank. The tank was abandoned.
E17 and E18 left Belle Vue at 3.45am and crossed St Julien Bridge at 6.35am, having been delayed somewhat. Both tanks proceeded along St Julien to Winnipeg Road but after 60 yards were held up by a ditched tank, E17 waited for the tank to unditch, meanwhile E18 and another tank which was behind E17 swung off the road to the right, E17 then followed them. All three tanks ditched 50yds to right of road, just to right of third derelict tank. E17 ditched and unditched several times and eventually became inextricably ditched at 7.30am (near Jew Hill (W21)) whilst facing south, E17 was abandoned at 5.45pm. E18 unditched and proceeded another 350yds then ditched again near Janet Farm c12d.2.2. Hit three times by shells whilst attempting to unditch, the last shell punctured the radiator thus rendering the engine useless; the tank was thus abandoned
E3 and E19 Left Belle Vue at 2.10am (Zero) and joined tanks from 2 section at Corner Cot. E19 ditched in the Steenbeek so E3 continued onwards, exiting St Julien along the Winnipeg Road. E3 eventually ditched near Jury Farm C12d.8.6 and was abandoned. E19 meanwhile had successfully unditched and passed through St Julien at 6am and followed taped route towards Winnipeg. E19 left road to right upon reaching third derelict tank, another tank was ditched to left of road. Proceeded 200yds then became ditched, unditched and continued but then ditched inextricably next to a stream. Whilst attempting to unditch the tank broke down [The Battlegraph says 100yds west of Janet Farm, but this seems very unlikely (W21)], the crew dismounted and fired some indirect fire from their Lewis Guns towards Clifton House.
All but one of the thirty (sic) tanks allocated to support XVIII Corps ditched and failed to reach their objectives. the attack nevertheless succeeded. (OH)
Summary
intended: 9
At Start: 9
Failed to start: 1
Engaged enemy: 0
Ditched / Broke Down: 6
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 0
Note
Knocked out includes E18
Aftermath
E3, 2798, “Eclipse”; E7, 2805, “Explosive”; E10, 2793, “Extinguisher” - No further record.
E6, 2340, “Executioner” - The battalion had failed to salvage this vehicle by the 26 Sept.
The War Diary implies all four of the above tanks had been hit by artillery fire by 22 October 1917.
E9, 2810, “Exclusive” - Salvage attempts abandoned on 22 October 1917 after the tank had been hit.
E17, 2342, “Exterminator” Salvage attempts were abandoned on the 27 Sept as this tank had received a direct hit. Possibly in action 20 Nov 1917 at Cambrai (Though this was perhaps "Exterminator II"). 2342 had been recovered and repaired by Sept 1918 when it was a supply tank with 1 Gun Carrier Coy.
E2, 2815, “Escapade” - in action on 26 Sept 1917.
E18, 2820, “Extirpator” repaired on the battlefield on 29 Sept, returned to Oosthoek Wood on the 30 Sept and in action on 20 Nov 1917 at Cambrai.
E19, 2818, “Eradicator” - Possibly in action 20 Nov 1917 at Cambrai.
Sources
W5a - E Battalion Tank Corps. Report on Operations September 20th 1917 (signed 26/09/1917). PRO WO 95/111
W21 – 1st Tank brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph
S4 - Campbell, Christy (2007). Band of Brigands
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.268
NOTE
E Battalion’s War diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum (W5) does not contain the reports pertinent to this action.
E Battalion 20 Sept 1917 - Map
3rd Ypres Narratives - By date
3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit