20company16august1917

20 Company 16 August 1917

The Tanks at 3^rd Ypres. 16^th August 1917

20 Company, G Battalion, with 11^th and 48^th Divisions, XVIII Corps, 5^th Army

20 Company failed to get 16 fighting tanks into action on 16^th August 1917^(W7):

Start Point: Steenbeek crossings (never reached) ^(W7).

5 Section

G13, “Greenock” from 19 Company

G14, “Grunter” from 19 Company

G33, “Ganymede”

G34, f, “Ghurka”

6 Section

G21, 2306, m, “Geyser”

G22, 2325, m, “Grasshopper”

G23, “Germicide” ^(W7a)

G24, 2539, f, “Gridiron”

7 Section

G25, “Goldilocks”

G26, “Goodbye” or “Goodbye-ee” ^(W21b), 2Lt G.C. Killey ^(W7c)

G27, “Gasper”

G28, f, “Geisha”, 2Lt AV Close, ^(W7b)

8 Section

G29, m, “Gorganzola”, 2Lt AG Baker ^{(W7a) (W7b)}

G30, 2764, f, “Gazeka”

G31, f, “Galetea”, 2Lt CRH Kane ^(W7b)

G32, f, “Gargoyle”, Lt Et Morgan ^{(W7a) (W7b)}

Supply Section(?)

Two Supply Tanks (Mk I or II)

OICs

Two of the tanks listed above were commanded by:

2Lt Bewsey

2Lt Austin

Notes

Note: G26 "Goodbye", 2Lt G.C. Killey is given the crew number G26 on 31 July Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

Crew numbers and Tank names from map in Appendixes to "G" Battalion's War Diary ^(W7a) PRO WO 95/100

G21, G22, G24 and G30 transferred to "D" battalion on 21^st August. Serial numbers, sexes and confirmation of names from "D" Battalion’s 22 August Battlegraph in 1^st Brigade War Diary. PRO WO95/98

Commanders names from narrative of action on the 19^th August.

Sex of G34 “Gurkha” from photograph of the tank knocked out in Bourlon Wood ^(S51.p14).

The “Grasshopper” that was photographed knocked out in Bourlon Wood ^{(Bild 146-1984-056-36A)} was probably a different vehicle as 2325 was handed to D Battalion.

Orders

5 Section.

Support right of 11^th Division attack. Intended order of tanks from left to right: G13, G34, G14, G33

6 Section.

Support left of 11^th Division attack. Intended order of tanks from left to right: G21, G24, G23, G22

7 Section.

Support left of 48^th Division attack. Intended order of tanks from left to right: G25, G26, G27, G28

8 Section.

Support right of 48^th Division attack. Intended order of tanks from left to right: G31, G32, G30, G29

Supply Section. Supply Tanks to empty themselves at Oblong Farm and return to Canal Area ^(W7a).

Account of Operations ^(W7)

No tanks reached Oblong Farm and Juliet Farm, thus none took part in the attack on the 16^th.

On the 15^th the following tanks ditched:

2Lt Bewsey’s tank ditched within 300yds of Juliet Farm

2Lt Austin’s Tank ditched in the old German front line.

4 or 5 more tanks were ditched at Foch Farm where the ground was more or less a swamp.

The Official History states 8 tanks were to support the attack but the support orders were cancelled as the tanks were unable to proceed off road and the roads were already congested. ^(OH)

Aftermath

G28, G29, G31 and G32 all in action with composite company on 19^th August 1917.

G21, G22, G24 and G30 transferred to D battalion on 21^st August.

G23 “Germicide” and G30 “Gazeka” fought with 12 Section 21 Company on 20^th November 1917. ^(W21b),

G26 “Goodbye-ee” fought with 11 Section 21 Company on 20^th November 1917. ^(W21b),

Ghurka and Grasshopper II were both photographed derelict in Bourlon Wood after 23 November 1917.

Grasshopper II was a replacement tank that was used as a radio tank.

Summary

Total Tanks: 16

Failed to Start: 16

Engaged enemy: 0

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 0

Sources

W7 - G Battalion War Diary, transcription from Bovington Tank Museum.

W7a - G Battalion War Diary, Entry for 15^th August; Order No 4 dated 10 Aug 1917; and the amendment to that order dated 13 Aug 1917.

W7b - G Battalion War Diary, narrative of action on the 19^th August.

W7c - G Battalion War Diary, Narrative of action on the 31^st July

W21 - 1^st Brigade War Diary. D Battalion 22 August Battlegraph. (20 Company handed over 4 tanks to D Battalion on 21^st August ^(W7))

W21a ^- 1^st Brigade War Diary. G Battalion 31 July Battlegraph

W21b - 1^st Brigade War Diary. G Battalion relevant 20 November Battlegraphs

OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.199

Note: G / 7^th Battalion War Diary, transcription from Bovington Tank Museum ^(W3), does not contain any more details of this incident.

3rd Ypres Narratives - By date

3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit