20 Company

20 November 1917

20 Company 20 November 1917

Cambrai 20^th November 1917

20 Company, G Battalion with 185^th Brigade, 62^nd Div, IV Corp,^(H7) 3^rd Army

20 Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 20^th November 1917. ^{(W21) (S96.p247)}

20 Company was attached to 21 Company, Major Broome commanded the combined unit.

Green Group

G14, f, “Grunter”

G28, m, “Geisha [ II ]”

G31, m, "Galetea"

G22, f, “Geyser”

G33, f, “Ganymede”

G32, m, “Gargoyle II”,

Blue Group

G34, f, “Ghurka”

G13, f, “Greenock”

G29, m, Gorganzola [ II], 2Lt AG Baker

G27, f, “Gasper”

G35, m

G24, f, “Gridiron”

Supply tank

G21, f, “Grasshopper II”

The company possibly included another supply tank, possibly G25 ( named “Goldilocks” on 16^th August ) or G31 ( named "Galetea" on 16th August).

Note:

The crew numbers and sexes in the above list are based on a trench map showing "G" Battalion's intended tank routes reproduced on P247 of Peter Chasseaud's book (S96 p247), from an original held at Bovington tank museum. The reproduced map is very small, the author has scanned it at a high resolution and is thus able to make out the tank numbers.

The tank names in the above list are based on an overlay relating to intended operations on 16^th August in PRO 95/100; the overlay gives crew numbers and names, where the same crew number appears on the map above and the overlay the tank has been assigned the name from August, this may be incorrect.

G29, Gorgonzola was commanded by 2Lt Baker on 19^th August 1917; he was also in action at Cambrai (see narrative below), he may have been with a different tank or crew.

in addition on 19th August 1917 G32, "Gargoyle" was commanded by Lt Morgan ET; G28, "Geisha" was commanded by Lt 2Lt Close AV; 2Lt Kane CRH was with crew G31; on 31st july 1917 2Lt Killey GC was with crew G26: all these officers may have still been with 20 Company in November 1917.

G21, "Grasshopper II", a female tank was at Cambrai as it was later photographed knocked out in Bourlon Wood (X60.p58), other photos of this tank in Bourlon Wood also exist (Bild 146-1984-056-36A) : http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1984-056-36A,_Westfront,_zerschossene_englische_Panzer.jpg

Crew number visible on rear of tank on this photograph: https://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/5407427892/

Crew G21 were with "Grasshopper II" in September when the tank is referred to as "being fitted with Wireless". This may be G Battalion's second Wireless Tank at Cambrai (the other set was carried on G65, "Enchantress" with 19 Company). G21 is not included on the intended tank routes map and thus may be one of the two Supply tanks that may have been with the company.

Crew G21 had been with "Geyser" on 16th August, the author has assigned "Grasshopper's" August 16^th crew number (G22) to this tank, this is a guess.

Several other tanks should probably carry the post nominal II after their names: G28, “Geisha” G29, “Gorgonzola”, and G31, "Galetea" were both lost on 19^th August 1917: the original G21, G24 and G30 were all handed over to "D" battalion for their 22^nd August attack. The original G32,"Galetea" was handed to tank HQ on the 18th September 1917 ^(W7)

Sex of G34 is also confirmed by photographs of it knocked out in Bourlon Wood ^(S51.p14).

G23, G26 and G30 fought with either 19 or 21 Companies at Cambrai.

Orders

20 and 21 Companies attacked with the 185^th Brigade on the right of 62^nd Division.

The Blue Group of six tanks were to attack the second objective (Brown line) (W185b p77)

The map of intended tank routes indicates they were to attack in line abreast, left to right in the order listed above.

The Green Group of six tanks (w185b p77) can only have been those allocated to support the attack of the 2/6 West Yorks on the first objective on the left of the brigade. The attack was actually being launched by A company 2/5 W Yorks that was attached to 2/6 W Yorks for this operation. These routes are marked in green on the map (S96 p127)

Initially the five (sic) tanks would help capture the outpost line in clearing the outpost line in K34c and K33d. (W2/6Wyrk p182)

The other wo tanks were to advance along the road through the woods to K3d.9.1 and K34c.2.4 where they will wait until they see the infantry enter the trenches at these points then they would proceed to wards the Hindenburg Line. (W2/6Wyrk p182)

These tanks would then be followed by one platoon of D company 2/6 West Yorks in front and one platoon of C Company in rear advanced. The D Company platoon were to occupy the Hindenburg front trench and the C Company platoon the rear trench. (W2/6Wyrk p182)

On the right of the battalion front two tanks would advance up the Glade and road in K34c being followed by the remining two platoons of Company who would occupy the front and rear Hindenburg lines. (W2/6Wyrk p182)

Once the tanks have passed over the Grand Ravine A and B Companies were to push on 100 yarsd behind them, advancing along the road running from K26d.1.0 to K28c.6.7. at which point B Company will enter the village. A company will press on and enter the village at about K22a.5.9. Both platoons will help mop up the village ensuring no enemy escape towards Flesquires. (W2/6Wyrk p182)

W2/5Wyrk p98

A company 2/5 W Yorks was split into four platoons for this operation.

One platoon assembled in D Sap

One platoon assembled in E sap Tunnel Avenue

Two platoons assembled in trench west of Oxford road at Q3a.7.9

One tank with each of the right platoons (D Sap and E sap) and three tanks with the two left platoons.

On the left three tanks (two tanks on the map: G14 and G28 (S96 p247)) were to advance in front of two platoons of A Company 2/5 West Yorks, skirt Mow Cop (K3d) and assist in clearing the outpost line, then they were to advance to the south and east of the lake ( Q34a) and proceed towards Havrincourt dealing with any survivors in the Hindenburg front line in Havrincourt park.

One tank (G51 on the map (S96 p247)) was to advance along the road ( Q3b.7.7 to Q34a.7.0) and assist another platoon of the 2/5 West Yorks in clearing the outpost line.

Two tanks (three tanks on the map: G22, G33, G32 (S96 p247)) were to advance along the road from Q34c.0.6 to Q34a.9.0) and assist the fourth platoon of the 2/5 West Yorks in clearing the outpost line.(W2/6Wyrk p182)

Once the 2/6 West Yorks advanced the three tanks were to lead them through the Hindeburg line, crossing it at K34c.0.1 and K34b.3.4, two of these tanks were presumably those that were intended to patrol at the rear of the line in Q34a.

The attack on Havrincourt was to be supported by eight tanks (presumably from 21 company) that would have crossed the Hindeburg Line in front of the 2/8 West Yorks to the right ^(W2/6WY)

The Blue group of tanks was to be joined by the survivors from the first wave, assemble in the road behind "T" Wood" and support 2/5 and 2/7 West Yorks advance on the Brown Line.

Once the Brown line was secured the tanks were to continue the attack towards Graincourt

19 Company was to support the attack between Graincourt and the canal. Whilst 20 and 21 Company headed for Graincourt. ^(W2/5YL)

Account of Action

The Blue Line

The three tanks on the left advanced and reached the enemy trenches; as per orders the infantry then advanced. The infantry were opposed by MGs in K34d.9.4 and took many casualties before they overcame these. Likewise the platoon starting from D sap attacked when its tank reached the enemy line and it was captured, 30 prisoners and 2 MGs being taken. (W2/5Wyrk) The tanks are not mentioned again and presumably pressed on ahead and were KO in front of Havrincourt château.

The tank allocated to the right platoon of the 2/5 didn't arrive so they didn't advance up to the Glade. (W2/5Wyrk )

Two tanks failed to arrive, the one to support the attack on the Glade and one to advance up Trescault valley road. (W185b p91)

The enemy outpost line was not subdued, when the 2/6 West Yorks advanced they suffered considerable casualties and were held up until trench mortars subdued the enemy. The 2/6 eventually captured the Hindenburg Front Line and continued onto Hindenburg Village, Park and Château. The delay in the outpost line meant Havrincourt park was not entered until Zero +3 hours and the park and village were not secured until Zero +4 hours. (W185b p91)

Six tanks were knocked out before Havrincourt, five of these may all have come from 20 Companies Green group

The Brown Line

Six tanks from 20 Company lined up near "T" wood in order to assault the Brown line: G13, G24, G27, G29, G34, G35 (S37.p60)

Beyond the Brown line

20 and 21 Companies lost six tanks to direct hits caused by two enemy light field guns in front of Graincourt ^(H7) (G8, G26 from 21 Company and presumably G13, G27, G35, and G24 from 20 Company's blue group), the guns were dealt with by the 6pdr guns of two tanks, one from each company. (H7t)

The 20 company tank was possibly "Gorganzola" as 2Lt Baker was awarded a bar to his MC for knocking out an AT gun just west of Graincourt after the gun had KO other tanks in his company. Gunner Philips was awarded an MC for using his 6pdr to knock out an AT gun to the west of Graincourt after the gun had knocked out several tanks, it is possible Gunner Philips was a gunner in 2Lt Bakers tank which indicates it was male tank. (BOH)

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 0

At Start: 11

Started: 11

Engaged enemy: 11

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 9

Rallied: 2

According to the Narrative ^(W21) 28 G Battalion tanks rallied at Havrincourt on the 21^st. According to my calculations 29 rallied.

Note:

The rallied tanks are "Ghurka" and “Gorganzola”. The tank that failed to start presumably also survived as did “Grasshopper II” and the other supply tank.

Aftermath

Only “Grasshopper II”, and "Gurkha" are recorded again, both through photographs of them knocked out in or near Bourlon Wood which suggests they were were two of the five tanks 20 company presumably committed to action on the 21^st. The other three tanks tanks are presumably "Gorgonzola", the non starter from the green group and the other supply tank.

X51.p14

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2995425047/in/set-72157601074582281/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3805555927/in/set-72157601074582281/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/6007185274/in/set-72157625639179301/

Sources

W1tb - 1st Tank Brigade War Diary pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-98-7

p1ff - Summery of operations 20th November to 23rd November 1917

p15 - Diagram of Tank attack formation. Diagram II.

p56ff - Battlegraphs

W7 - G / 7 Tank Battalion War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew,

PRO-WO-95-100-1_1 and PRO-WO-95-100-1_2

H7t – G / 7 Tank Battalion War History, pdf download from PRO Kew, in PRO-WO-95-100-1_2