16 Company.

20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20^th November 1917

16 Company, F Battalion, with 37^th Brigade,12^th Division, III Corps

16 Company had 12 tanks in action on 20^th November 1917 ^(H6):

1 Section.

F1, 2730, “Firespite”

F5, “Fervent”

F8, m, “Freemason”

2 Section.

F2, “Frivolous”

F3, 2698, “Frolic”

F4, m, “Flirt II”

3 Section.

F11, 2319, “Fizyama”

F12, 2321, m, “Friar Tuck”

F13, “Falcon II”

4 Section.

F6, 2310, “Feu d’Artifice”

F7, “Feu de Ceil II”

F9, "Feu Follet II”

Note:

F8 and F12 sexes from War History account of action on 20^th November.

F1 serial number from photograph IWM Q 7279: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239107

Other crew and serial numbers from list of 3^rd Brigade Tanks dated 13 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 91. Courtesy of Gwyn Evans.]

F4 sex from War History account of action on the 21^st November.

F7 sex from War History account of action on the 21^st November.

Orders ^(H6)

16 and 17 Companies were to assault the Blue Line, 16 Company on the Right, 17 on the Left. Sections 1 to 6 deployed South of La Pave Road, sections 7 and 8 to the North. 17 Company were to remain to cover the consolidation of the Blue Line, 16 Company were to re organise whilst the Brown Line was being captured then send 12 tanks to the Bridge Head at Masnieres.

Account of Operations ^(H6)

F1, F5 and F8 crossed the German front line engaging all enemies seen, though the initial darkness made locating targets difficult. One OIC and several OR wounded by splinters from AP Bullets.

F2 bellied on the British front line but then successfully reached the brown line before rallying, engaging many targets en route.

F4 engaged enemy retiring along the communication trenches then crossed the blue line and dispersed about 60 to 80 Germans hiding in a trench. Silenced two MG on the Brown line, on of which caused casualties in the tank with AP bullets. Tank rallied.

F11 reached brown line and rallied, engaging relatively few enemies en route, set fire to an ammunition dump whilst firing on an enemy battery.

F13 ditched on the British front line from 6.25 am to 7.20 am, reached the Blue Line at 8.45am and helped the infantry mop up a machine gun, enemy infantry in a trench and a number of snipers. The OIC was wounded whilst directing operations form outside the tank.

F9 ditched and broke down in the British front line. She was eventually freed and rallied at 8.30am on the 21^st.

F7 Ditched on the British front line but unditched using ditching gear (so presumably dumped the fascine?), reached blue line at 8.30am, mopping up and silencing MGs en route. Proceeded to the brown line. Dispersed a large party of enemy troops visible a mile NE of La Vacquerie village. Reached brown line at 10.15am

F6 and F7 stayed together throughout the action. Engaged numerous targets en route to brown line, including 2 MGs silenced near brown line, F6 was hit and damaged but made it to the rallying point.

F3 engaged targets en route to blue line and on reaching Brown line, was hit and Knocked out whilst rallying. Sergeant killed, OIC and 2OR wounded. Burnt out on the battlegraph ^(W23).

F12 engaged by enemy MGs whilst crossing British front line, silenced these with 6Pdr fire. Also destroyed an enemy MG at Sonnett Farm and fired on retiring enemy troops. Tank overheated, but rallied after radiator was refilled.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 0

At Start: 12

Started: 12

Engaged enemy: 12

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 11

Aftermath

F3 and F9 not recorded again.

F1, F6, F7 and F13 were all in action at Masnieres in the afternoon, see separate narrative.