18 Company. 20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20^th November 1917

18 Company, F Battalion, with 36^th Brigade, 12^th Division, III Corps

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

9 Section – Capt DH Richardson

F41,8019, m, “Fray Bentos II”, 2Lt CH Hodge

F42, 2721, f, “Faun” 2lt JL Lees

F45, 2366, m, “Fiducia II”, “LT HN Morton

10 Section – Capt AR Chapman MC

F47, 2010, f, “Faralone”, 2Lt TGL Taylor

F49, 2384, m, ”Fairy II”, 2LT GW Philips

F50, 2704, f, “Fay”, 2Lt WA Duke

11Section – Capt JM Oke

F51, 2547, f, “Fortuna”, 2Lt NL Hanford

F52, 2375, m, “Foam II”, 2Lt WA Paton

F54, 2396, m, “Festina Lente”, 2Lt C Handford

12 Section -

F56, 2341, m, "Fan Tan", 2Lt HA Aldridge

F57, 2346, m “Flanders Fly”, 2Lt JR Gray

F58, 2723, f, “Fly Flapper”, 2Lt DN Shaw

Notes

2721, 2723 serial numbers from list of 3^rd Brigade Tanks dated 13 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 91. Courtesy of Gwyn Evans.

2721 serial number confirmed on 22 Aug records, the tank was handed back to the crew by the salvage company.

2704 may have been F4, "Flirt" at 3^rd Ypres.

F41 sex from German photos of captured tank (X60.p65).

F45, F52 and F58 sexes from War History account of action on the 27^th November.

F54 sex from War History account of action on the 27^th November.

F56 details from WO 95-95-6 Pg 33

All other serial numbers, all other tank sexes and all section and tank commanders names from OB taken from Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorczynski (1999) Following the Tanks, Cambrai ^(S37); The Author has been unable to locate an original source for this information.

2341 had been christended

The War History states Crew F56 were with tank “Fly Paper” on 20^th November, the tank had been re named "Fan Tan" before Cambrai. WO 95-95-6 Pg 33

Orders ^(H6)

18 Company were to advance with the second wave and assault the Brown Line. 9, 10 and 11 Sections deployed to the South of La Pave Road and 12 Section to the North. 18 Company were to stay on the Brown Line and cover the infantry’s consolidation.

Account of Operations ^(H6)

F41 had difficulty crossing the British front line, eventually did so and reached the Blue in time to cover consolidation. Ditched in blue line but was pulled clear by F50. Reached brown line and covered consolidation there, rallied at 4pm.

F42 started late due to magneto trouble, followed F41 (presumably joining her on the Blue Line) and rallied with her.

F45 reached Blue line at 8.45am. Silenced an MG with 6pdr fire when 200yds west of Sonnett farm ,thus enabling the infantries advance. Fascine fell off in sunken road on Blue line and was cut free under heavy MG fire. Reached brown line at 9.30am. Patrolled, lost unditching Gear in Wire, twisted right secondary gear shaft and ditched. Unditched and rallied at noon.

F47 Broke track 500yds form start point, finally started at 8.50am and mopped up en route to and on the Brown line. Rallied at RP

F49 forced the surrender of enemy close to Sonnett Farm, crossed main road NE of Sonnett farm at 8.10am. Patrolled Blue line until 8,50 when the tank ditched and lost its Fascine. After unditching the tanks patrolled along the Hindenburg support line (Brown Line) at the request of an infantry officer. A cavalry officer than requested the tank support him on the ridge from Pam Pam Farm, whilst patrolling along the ridge the tank was his by a shrapnel shell which burst inside the tank Severely wounding the OIC and three other ranks. As a result of this hit the tank rallied at 4pm ^(H6). 2Lt Philips died ^(CWG)

F50 had clutch trouble just after starting, reached Blue line at 8.30 and towed out F41 Reached brown line at 9.50, engaging enemy to left en route. Ordered to bridgehead.

F51 reached Blue line early and patrolled along it engaging MG nests. Left blue line at 8.50am, reached blue line at 9.54am engaging god targets en route. Ordered to bridgehead.

F52 also reached Blue line early and patrolled along it. Attacked Brown line engaging MG nests with 6pdr fire. Rallied once line was consolidated. Ordered to bridgehead.

F54 past the first wave of tanks just the other side of the German front line system and took the Blue line without seeing any enemy. On approaching the Brown line engaged a group of about 100 retiring Germans with 6pdr fire from 2000 yds. Patrolled Brown line taking many prisoners until infantry arrived. Ordered to bridgehead.

F57 reached Blue line at 9.50am, broke down there with a burst radiator. Rallied later after a temporary repair was affected. Presumably did not engaging enemy.

F56 whilst passing South of La Vacquerie it was seen to still be in enemy hands, the tank thus turned and passed to the West, visiting the 4 or 5 “I” battalion tanks Knocked out here. Engaged farm with 6pdr but after three shots tank was hit by field gun which knocked out the 6pdr. Tank continued to Blue line where it silenced an enemy MG at request of infantry then joined another group of infantry and forced surrender of about 20 enemy. Reached and patrolled along Brown line. Rallied at 4pm. Did goos work at Pam Pam farm on the road to Masnieres WO 95-95-6 Pg 33

F58 Followed F56 to la Vacquerie, reached blue line at 9.50am. Was with F56 when prisoners were taken. Patrolled Brown line and rallied at 4pm.

In the Boiler Plate War (p.154) Donald Richardson, the Driver of Lt Hodge’s tank ( presumably F41) states four “F” Battalion tanks were sent to La Vacquerie, “Fly Paper” [F56's old name] and three others; on p.151 James Cameron, a Driver in "I" battalion also states 4 "F" battalion tanks were sent, presumably the others were F57 and F58 (all three 12 section tanks reached the Blue line at 9.50am.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 0

At Start: 12

Started: 12

Engaged enemy: 11

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 12

Aftermath

F45 and F49 not recorded again.

F50, F51, F52, F54 were all in action at Masnieres in the afternoon, see separate narrative.