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The Tanks at Cambrai. 30th November 1917
2 Company, A Battalion, with 3rd Coldstream Guards, Guards Division, Corps
2 Company had 6 tanks in action on 30th November 1917 (W3):
8 Section. Section Commander Captain Burns
A23, 2678, f, “Aviatik”, 2Lt Bradbeer
A30, 2051, m, “Argyle”, 2Lt P Hardy
A33, 8073, m, “Ace II”, 2Lt Baldwin EJ – Not crew A33, a composite crew
A36, 2575, f, 2Lt Fraser AJ
A37, 2826, f, 2Lt Dudley GH
A39, 2610, f, 2Lt Pettigrew GR
Note.
8073 was actually crewed with a composite crew, A33 has been used in the account below for convenience.
A36, A37 and A39 were all used as Wire pullers on the 20th November, thus they were presumably female tanks.
Tank's names and sexes from 20thNovember records.
Background
When the Germans counter attacked on the 30th November the three tank brigades were in the process of being withdrawn (OH.p170). At 10am the II tank brigade was ordered to send one battalion to attack Gouzeacourt directly and another to attack the village for the direction of Hendicourt, the tanks were made ready as quickly as possible. At 12.40pm 22 tanks of "B" battalion moved towards Gouzeacourt, followed by 14 "A" Battalion tanks which made for Revelon Ridge. I tank brigade, in Havrincourt Wood also sent 10 tanks from "E" Battalion and 17 from "D" Battalion, but these did not get into action. (OH.p189)
Orders (W1a)
At 11.15am Company ordered to Revelon Ridge to form a defensive Line against enemy counterattacks.
At 2.30pm the company was ordered to attack the east side of Gouzeaucourt village and clear it of the enemy. 2 Company were in the centre, 1 Company on the right and 3 Company on the left.
Account of Operations (W23)
The six tanks left Fins tankodrome at 11.30 and proceeded to W16b.5.9. where they deployed at 100 yd intervals until the top of Revelon Ridge was reached.
At 3.15pm the six tanks attacked towards Gouzeaucourt, in line ahead formation, A36 leading, A23 fourth, the positions of the other tanks are not known but A33 followed A30.
According to the section commanders report 5 tanks reached the village at about 3.45pm, the sixth, A39 suffered form autovac trouble and thus either didn’t reach the village until 5.20pm (according to the section commander) or failed to reach the village (according to the tanks OIC).
Three tanks were hit by enemy fire from a 77mm battery:
A23 was hit twice whilst proceeding to Gouzeaucourt but was able to continue; it fired on some enemy on the right whilst skirting the east side of the village prior to entering it and discovering it was in British hands, then the tank spent three hours as a strongpoint at G36c.7.6. (or Q37c.7.6 according to the company commanders report) [probably Q36].
A37 didn’t fire on the enemy before it was hit 3 times and set ablaze as it reached Gouzeaucourt at R31c.5.8, two crewmen were wounded.
A36 was the lead tank, it was hit 200 yds from the village at R31c.6.8, and suffered a broken track the crew abandoned the tank and took the Lewis guns into Gouzeaucourt where they joined a company of Coldstream guards, engaging the enemy.
The remaining two tanks, A30 and A33 both engaged the enemy prior to reaching Gouzeaucourt. A30 fired on enemy guns about 1500 yds away on the opposite ridge at Villers Guislin. A33 silenced some enemy MGs to its right and thus enabled a group of 40 infantry to proceed towards the British front line. Both tanks moved into Gouzeaucourt, A33 found it empty of both friendly and enemy infantry, and thus rallied after patrolling for about half an hour; A30 ascertained that the village was in British hands and also rallied.
Both rallied at R31c3.4 to await counter attack where they remained until midnight.
According to the section commanders report the company only suffered two casualties.
The 2nd Tank Brigade's account of operations says the brigade sent 36 tanks into action, 22 from "B" and 14 from "A" Battalion. 5 tanks were knocked out (W22) The BHS indicate "A" Battalion sent 20 tanks forward (W1a).
Summary
Intended: 6
Reserve: 0
At start: 6
Started: 6
Engaged enemy: 3
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 3
Aftermath
On 1st December:
A23 withdrew to Fins and was declared unfit for further action and handed over to workshops.
A39 attempted to return to Fins but it suffered a broken track at W16a.0.2.
A30 and A33 both proceeded to Queens Cross, Q28d.4.3 where their crews were relieved at 6pm.
Sources
W1a – A Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/109
Section 8 Commanders reports
Narrative of Operations and relevant Battle History sheets
W22 - 2nd Brigade Tank Corps. Report on Operations. November 20th to December 1st 1917. PRO WO 95 / 101
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