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14 Company 20 November 1917
The Tanks at Cambrai 20th November 1917
14 Company, E Battalion with 152nd Brigade, 51st Div, IV Corps, 3rd Army
This was 14 company’s second action
14 Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 20th November 1917 (W21)):
14 Company. Major Bargate
5 Section. Capt Robinson
E19, 2354, m, “Ernest”, 2Lt Webster, possibly crew E24 - centre tank
E20, f, “Effie”, Lt E.C.G Hawser -left tank
E21, m, “Eliminator”, 2Lt MC Godfrey - right tank
6 Section. Capt Horrison
E22, f, “Ella”, 2Lt W.S. Haining, possibly crew E27 (W44.p90) - centre tank
E23, m, “Egbert II”, 2Lt E.S. Blackwell, possibly crew E26 -left tank
E24, f, “Esme”, 2Lt L.M. Johnson - right tank
7 Section. Capt Bagshaw
E25, m, “Ewen”, 2Lt S.H Cohen - centre tank
E26, f, “Ethel II”, 2Lt Quainton, possibly crew E32 -left tank
E27, f, “Elsie”, 2Lt S.H Bishop- right tank
8 Section. Capt Hornfray
E28, m, “Edward II”, 2Lt W.R. possibly crew E40 - centre tank
E29, 2767, f, “Eve”, 2Lt C.F. Fairbank, possibly crew E36 - left tank
E30, f, “Eileen II” 2Lt B.S. Carter possibly crew E38 - right tank
Notes
Tank rear numbers, names, sexes and OIC names listed in 152b. The section numbers are not given.
The Cambrai Battle graphs give the tanks names, commanders and sections. The battle graph lists the section numbers with the tanks as indicated above but has Hornfray and Bagshaw in charge of 7 and 8 sections respectively.
Both sources the give postnominal II to Egbert, Ethal and Edward the Battle graph also gives a II to Eileen.
Each of 13 and 15 Company's eighteen fighting tanks carried the numbers E1 to E18 (right tank to left tank) the wire crushers were marked WC on their rear between the horns.
The tanks were numbered from right to left to aid the infantry who were ordered to follow them. (W51Div)
Photographs of E Battalion tanks after battle indicate they has their names written on their hulls just in front of the sponsons, they do not appear to have displayed their crew numbers. (see aftermath section below for Photograph references).
The rear E numbers given above (i.e. E19 to E30) are as listed in the Infantry Brigades war Diary (152b), note that the numbers would not have run from right to left as they did in 13 and 15 companies.
Tank serial numbers from 26th September.
Tank crew numbers from 26th September when serial number given or based on crew number of original tank (i.e. “Edward” was with crew E40 on 26th September so presumably “Edward II” is still with the same crew in November), "Ella" E27 crew number from S44.p90, otherwise crew numbers a guess.
Orders (W1tb)
14 Company was to accompany the second Wave of Infantry and secure the Brown Line (Second Objective, Flesquieres Ridge).
14 Company would be reinforced by surviving tanks from 13 and 15 companies which had supported the first wave.
Once this had been secured the Company was to exploit to the Third and Fourth objectives
Finally, the Company was to Rally at the Battalion's R.P: K24d2.4.
5 and 6 sections were presumably supporting 6 Gordons whose objectives were (W1.6Gord):
D Company (right): 2 platoons, Hindenburg support line from L19b.5.0 to L19b.0.2
2 platoons, Flesquieres trench from L19b.9.4 to L19b.2.5
B Company (left): 2 platoons, Hindenburg support line from L19b.0.2 to L19a.4.3
2 platoons, Flesquieres trench from L19b.2.5 to L19a.7.6
Account of Operations (w1tbo)
The tanks set off on time, E22 Ella received a direct hit at the British front line and was knocked out (OIC and first driver both KIA).
The remaining eleven tanks all proceeded. Two tanks were lost in the German front line: E19 Ernest developed Radiator trouble and turned back; E21 Eliminator was knocked out by two direct hits.
The remaining nine tanks all successfully crossed the blue line (the far side of the German Front line system) and, with the surviving tanks from 13 and 15 Companies, moved on the Brown line. The 6 Gordons War Diary states they advanced behind the expected 6 tanks, 3 of these must have been from 13 Company as E19 Earnest, E21 Eliminator and E22 Ella had all failed to reach the blue line (W1.6Gord). if 13 Company had used all their fascines then there would only have been three tanks with fascines in front of the 6 Gordons.
The tanks were 100 yds ahead of the infantry when they advanced to the Second Objective (Brown Line) (W1tb)
The 6 Gordon's war Diary indicates they were 200 yards behind the tanks when the tanks crossed the ridgeline. (W1.6 Gord)
As the tanks crossed the skyline they were knocked out by direct fire from field guns that had survived the artillery bombardment (OH).
The company had five tanks Knocked Out by the German guns. E27 Elsie a direct hit, E25 Ewen 5 direct hits, and E23 Egbert II six direct hits. E20 Effie suffered three direct hits (in L19a), close to E2 Earwig (13 Coy) (GWF see link in aftermath below) An eyewitness who saw the wrecks on the 26th November describes how E23 Egbert II had got to within thirty yards of the battery before being stopped, presumably the closest of the destroyed tanks (S40.p306). Note that all these tanks except E27 Elsie were supporting 6th Gordon’s on the right of the Brigade front, and thus were presumably victims of the German battery the Gordon’s war diary locates 500 yards away at L14c.1.1. and L13d.7.2 (W1.6Gord). These were presumably the guns of Battery 8/108, in part manned by the famous Unterofficer Theodor Kruger who served the guns until shot down (S64 p73).
The Gordons’ War Diary states the tanks were stopped before they entered the wire and thus the wire was not sufficiently crushed to allow the infantries advance (W1.6 Gord). This is contradicted by the presences of E23 Egbert II close to the battery. It may also be contradicted by the account of E20 Effie and E2 Earwig's destruction in February that indicated they were close to a trench, this is presumably the Hindenburg support line, though it may be a trench dug later by the British, (see aftermath for reference).
The Gordons withdrew into Station Alley and the Sunken Ribecourt to Flesquieres road. They then advanced up Station Alley; found it did not connect to the Hindenburg support line but managed to get one platoon across the open and secured part of the Hindenburg support line. They were unable to advance further as the line was not dug throughout its length, and they were being fired on from Flesquieres trench and wood. They were able silence the battery in L14c and L13d with LG and rifle fire. The Gordons captured two abandoned guns from this battery when they advanced on the 21st. (W1.6 Gord).
The five surviving tanks E30 Eileen II, E29 Eve, E28 Edward II, E26 Ethel and E24 Esme II should all have been supporting the 6 Seaforths on the left of the attack. According to the battlegraph E30 Eileen II, E29 Eve, E26 Ethel II, E24 Esme all made the 4th objective and rallied [though this seems very unlikely], E26 Ethel had been hit but was able to rally. E30 Eileen II is mentioned advancing with 15 Company on the left.
The six tanks from 15 company that did support this attack and E27 Elsie were all destroyed (se 15 Company’s narrative for an account of this action). It is not clear why 14 company’s tanks other tanks survived; the 6 Gordons war diary states the surviving tanks withdrew as they were running low on petrol (w1.6 Gord)
E28 Edward II also survived the morning.
Afternoon
Seven tanks advanced into Flesquieres in the late afternoon (H5) these may be E30 Eileen II, E29 Eve, E28 Edward II, E26 Ethel and E24 Esme II from 14 Company and E2 Eclipse and E5 Exterminator from 13 Company, all of which (except E28 Edward II) made the fourth objective before rallying according to the battlegaphs. (w1tbg)
E28 Edward II was hit three times and knocked out during this attack (S44.p98); the OIC then fired a LG from the roof, forming his crew into a strongpoint and taking charge of the infantry who had lost their leaders (H5). The other six tanks all withdrew due to the fading light and shortages of ammunition and petrol (S44.p98f).
The 6 Seaforths war diary states tanks came up on their left and then fired on the village and wood with 6 pounder and LG fire, the Seaforths used the covering fire of the tanks and captured part of Flesquieres trench from the Ribecourt / Flesquieres road on the right to the SE corner of the village 300 yards to the left. (W1.6Sea)
The four surviving 14 company tanks, E30 Eileen II, E29 Eve, E26 Ethel and E24 Esme II eventually rallied at K30c.9.8. The original rallying point was not used partially because the new British front line was still at Flesquieres; and partially because K30c.9.8 was the farthest the remaining haulage (supply) tank could proceed.
Summary
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At Start: 12
Started: 12
Engaged enemy: 9
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 7
Rallied: 4
The author has assumed all nine tanks that reached the Brown line engaged the enemy at some point, though some may not have fired before being knocked out.
Aftermath
Eileen II, Esme and Eve were all in action again on the 23rd November.
Effie was left in situ and destroyed by 248th field Company Royal Engineers on 25th February 1918. 'Tank Cemetery' - The Western Front - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum
Ernest was with 12th Battalion in August 1918 when it was called “Leuwa” (W12)
Sources
W5a - E Battalion Tank Corps. Report on Operations September 20th 1917 (signed 26/09/1917). Download from PRO: WO-95-111-1 p66ff
W1tb - 1st Brigade Tank Corps Summary of Operations 20th to 23rd November in the 1st Tank Brigade War Diary download from PRO Kew: WO-95-98-7 pg68ff
W1tbg - Battle-graphs attached to above Brigade report of Operations Download from PRO: WO-95-98-6 pg62ff
H5 – History of the 5th Tank battalion. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum and
also available as Download from PRO: WO-95-111-2 p16ff (poor copy)
W51Div - 51 Division War Diary download from PRO: WO 95-2846-3_2 Pg 4
W152b - 152 Infantry Brigade War Diary download from PRO: WO-95-2863-2_1 p60ff
W1.6Gord - 1/6 Gordon Highlanders War Diary download from PRO: WO-95-2868-1_2 p86
W1.6Sea - 1/6 Seaforth Highlanders War Diary download from PRO: WO-95-2867-2_2 p7
GWF - Great War forum - 'Tank Cemetery' - The Western Front - The Great War (1914-1918) Forum
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 3, Pg.187, pg.56f.
S4 - Campbell, Christy (2007). Band of Brigands
S37 - Following the Tanks, Cambrai. (1999) Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorczynski
S42 - Tanks and Trenches (1994) D Fletcher
S44 - Flesquieres, Cambrai (2003) Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave
S64 - The German Army at Cambrai (2009) Jack Sheldon
NOTE
E Battalion’s War diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum (W5) does not contain the reports pertinent to this action.
Cambrai Start Positions. E Battalion
1st Brigade 20 November 1917 Map
E / 5th Battalion List of narratives
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