21 Company
20 November 1917
The Tanks at Cambrai 20th November 1917
21 Company, G Battalion with 185th Brigade, 62nd Division, IV Corp, 3rd Army
21 Company had 16 tanks in action on 20th November 1917. (W1tb)
Company Commander Major Broome (H7t)
9 Section
G4, m, Gloucester II, Lt Burton,
G5, f, Glenlivet II, 2Lt Coutts,
G8, m, Gossip II, 2Lt Coombes,
G44, f, 2757, Glangarry, Sgt White,
10 Section
G46, f, “Gina”, Lt. Harrington
G6, 2545, m, “Grantham”, Lt. Allden
G41, f, “Grenadine”, 2/Lt. Christie
G7, m, 2562 “Giggle”, 2/Lt. G.H. Adney
11 Section
G55, f, “Gadzooks”, 2/Lt. Reid
G51, f, “Goliath”, 2/Lt. Leeds
G26, f, “Goodbye-ee”, 2/Lt. Chaddock
G43, f, “Gordon II”, Sgt. Brown
12 Section
G11, m, 2768, “Glamorgan”, Sgt. Mayrick
G9, m, 2564, “Gondolier”, 2/Lt. J.S. Bubb
G30, f, “Gazeka”, Lt. J.A.E. May
G23, m, “Germicide”, 2/Lt. J.D. Straus
Note:
Serial number for G44 “Glangarry” correct on 19th August 1917 may thus be incorrect on 20th November 1917.
On 31st July G41 “Grenadine” was destroyed, G46 “Gina” was abandoned in a shellhole and G51 “Goliath” also ditched, neither of the latter were apparently recovered. G30 “Gazeka” was handed over to D Battalion on 21st September 1917. Thus these three tanks should probably have the post nominal II after their names.
Census numbers for G6 “Grantham”, G7 “Giggle”, G9 “Gondolier” and G11 “Glamorgan” correct on 31st July 1917 may thus be incorrect on 20th November 1917.
Orders
"G" Battalion's War History states that the Battalion was split into two 30 strong composite companies.
20 and 21 Companies attacked with the 185th Brigade on the right of 62nd Division.
On the Division’s Right flank 185th Brigade deployed their infantry as follows:
In the first wave: 2/6 West Yorks on the left, 2/8 West Yorks on the right.
In the second wave: 2/5 West Yorks on the left, 2/7 West Yorks on the right.
The orders contained in the 185th Brigade's Infantry War diaries state 28 tanks were to provide support (W185b p77) ; as indicated below 21 Company provided sixteen tanks and 20 Company twelve tanks. The two missing tanks are presumably "G" Battalion's supply tanks.
These tanks were split into three groups, red, green and blue (W185b p77).
The Blue group of six tanks from 20 Company (S96. p247) were to attack the second objective (Brown line). (W185b p77)
G34, f, “Ghurka”; G13, f, “Greenock”; G29, m, “Gorganzola [ II ]”, 2Lt AG Baker; G27, f, “Gasper”, G35, m; G24, f, “Gridiron”.
The Green group of six tanks were those allocated to support the attack of the 2/6 West Yorks on the first objective on the left of the brigade; they were the other six 20 Company tanks (see 20 company narrative).
The Red group of sixteen tanks was also to attack the first objective, presumably in support of the 2/8 West Yorks. This Group it was further split into three sub groups:
four wire crushing tank ; six tanks numbered G11 to G6; and six tanks numbered G55 to G5 (W185b p77).
The map on intended tank routes indicates the tanks were to advance in line abreast, from left to right (S96. p247):
12 section: G11, G9, G23, G30; 10 Section: G7, G41, G46, G6; 11 Section: G55, G26, G51, G43; 9 Section: G8, G44, G4, G5
The wire crushing tanks are not identified but presumably one tank from each section was chosen to carry out these duties.
The Blue and Green groups will be dealt with in 20 Company's narrative.
The Red group was to form up in three lines, the wire crushers at the front, followed by tanks G11 to G6 and then tanks G55 to G5 ((W185b p77).
At zero -5 the wire crushing tanks were to move off, followed by the fighting tanks at zero -1. The tanks were to initially advance in this formation presumably along the road running from K4b0.6 to Q35a.o.4. When they passed the "The Tip" they were to deploy, (W185b p79). the map indicates the tanks were to fan out into line abreast formation from about K4b.4.8
This manoeuvre was presumably necessary to avoid the tree stumps and fallen trees in the devastated Havrincourt Wood / Femy Scrub.
Ernest Thwaites, a crew member with 21 company states his tank was ordered to keep to the extreme right of Havrincourt Wood. (s40.p138f)
The tank's formation is not given, but the main body tanks were presumably in wedge formation as indicated on Diagram 2 (W1tb p81)
Infantry platoons were not allotted sections of tanks to follow, they were simply to advance on their objective; this was done so the infantry would not be confused of tanks broke down or failed to follow their allotted routes. (W185b p89)
The 2/8 West Yorks were preceded by C Company of the 2/7 West Yorks which was to advance 150 yards behind the tanks and clear the outpost line.
Once the 2/8 were established on the Hindenburg front and support lines eight tanks (10 and 12 sections) were to veer left, advance along the rear of the Hindenburg line and support the attack of the 2/6 West York's (A and B companies) on Havrincourt (W2/6WY) (S96. p247): . Meanwhile 9 and 11 Sections were to carry on straight ahead and support the 2/8 West Yorks (D and B companies) attack on "T Wood" and the Blue line (Q28a and Q28b). (S96. p247):
Once the Blue line was secured the tanks were to rally on the road running in front of T shaped copse (Q28c.6.6 to Q28d.9.8). The survivors were then to join the blue group in leading the 2/5 and 2/7 West Yorks to the brown line.
The wire crushing tanks were to stay as close to the barrage as possible. The main body tanks were to cross the enemy trenches then turn left and proceed along them until the infantry were established; then the tanks were to return to their allocated routes. (W185b p77)
The infantry were to follow at least 100 yds or more behind the tanks, to this end C Company of 2/7 West Yorks was to leave their forming up place in B Sap when the last wave of tanks passed the Tip, probably at Zero -10; thus they would be 150 yds behind the tanks. When the second wave of the above company passed The Tip, at about Z -12 the 2/8 West Yorks were to leave their assembly positions, this would place them 200 yds behind C Company 2/7 (W185b p87).
Account of Action
G44 and G30 both broke down and failed to reach the start (W21); or G30 was hit on the start line (S37.p60)
The other tanks all attacked as intended , the lead tanks crossing the outpost line at Zero. (W185.b p90), G41 was late (S37.p60)
The outpost line was taken without much difficulty, one hundred prisoners and four MGs being captured. (W185b p90)
Likewise, by Zero +30 [6:50 am], the front Hindenburg Line was taken with little difficulty, eighty prisoners, six MGs and a Trench mortar were captured, the enemy were cowed by the tanks. (W185b p90)
The tanks led the infantry to the Grand Ravine, considerable opposition was experienced from "Triangle Wood" just across the Brigade's right boundary which had to be captured by the 2/8 West Yorks as the 153rd Brigade had been held up. The Grand Ravine was captured by Zero + 1 hr [ 7:50 am ). (W185b p90)
The tanks now led B and D Companies of the 2/8 West Yorks to the Blue Line. The right company's flank was in the air and it was fired on from the right, suffering about 40 casualties; a tank was called to help protect the flank. The left company also met with considerable opposition and suffered heavy casualties, including all the officers. Two MGs were captured by the infantry without the help of tanks. The Blue Line was held by large numbers of the enemy, many were killed and 110 prisoners taken. (W185b p90)
At Zero +45 the 2/5 and 2/7 West Yorks had started from their assembly areas, moved forward and deployed in the road below "T Wood". At Zero +140 they moved off behind the surviving tanks reinforced by the extra six tanks from the second wave.
The 2/5 had to secure part of the Blue Line as the 2/6 had been held up capturing Havrincourt village as indicated below. The 2/5 had to deal with several MGs: one in Femy Scrub was silenced by rifle grenades; one in the western edge of T Wood was dealt with with the help of a tank; MGs in Havrincourt village which stopped the infantry advance for 18 minutes until they were silenced by tanks' 6pdr guns; a tank silenced enemy MGs in K22a and K22b; one MG in northern Havrincourt village was silenced by the infantry after the tanks had moved on. The 2/5 captured their portion of the Brown Line and 70 prisoners by Zero + 4 hours. Meanwhile the 2/7 had also completed their advance, capturing 200 prisoners and some MGs in the process. (W185b p91)
The first wave had reached the Blue line by 10am (except for some pockets of resistance in Havrincourt); the second wave then leapfrogged through them and reached the Brown line by about 10am. (H7t)
G41 broke down but was repaired and attacked late, successfully engaged the enemy and reached the third objective prior to rallying.
G43, G46, G6, G51 and G26 all ditched and unditched before crossing the Blue Line; G43 broke a track just after crossing the Blue line;
G6 Unditched too late to see any further action and eventually reached the Brown Line and rallied; G51 unditched then rallied; G23 reached its objectives and eventually rallied with 2 wounded other ranks. (W1tb)
The Brown line was reached by 10am. There was a pause whilst the 186th Brigade passed though, at 11am the remaining tanks
led 186th Brigades attack on the 3rd and 4th objectives. (W1tb)
G7, G9 and G11 all reached their objectives and rallied. G7 had 4 crew members wounded, G9’s OIC and one other rank were wounded. (W1tb)
G46 eventually ditched on the 3rd objective West of Graincourt, 2 crew members were wounded. (W1tb)
186th Brigade then passed through and assaulted towards Graincourt at 11am. (H7)
G4, G5, G8, G26 and G55 all attacked Graincourt (W1tb) presumably with survivors from 20 Company's Blue group.
20 and 21 Companies lost six tanks to direct hits caused by two enemy light field guns in front of Graincourt (H7t p90):
G26 suffered a Direct Hit at Graincourt which wounded 2 crew members and killed another, it managed to rally;
G8 was hit and had a track blown off (W1tb);
presumably the other four victims were from 20 Company's blue group,
The guns were dealt with by the 6pdr guns of two tanks, one from each company. (H7t) Then a male tank led 2/4th Duke of Wellingtons into Graincourt (S41.p60ff) , this may have been G55 which turned back twice to fetch infantry (W1tb. p56)
G4 and G5 both rallied and then attacked Graincourt for a second time in the afternoon; G4, G5 and G55 all rallied. (W1tb)
Graincourt was captured by 3.30pm, a patrol of tanks was sent towards Bourlon (S41.p61), this returned and the Division rallied around Graincourt.
21 Company’s Battlegraphs indicate none of their tanks proceeded beyond the 3rd Objective (Graincourt) and imply they weren’t intended to.
Summary
Intended: 16
Reserve: 0
At Start: 14
Started: 14
Engaged enemy: 14
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 10
Knocked out includes G8 which was hit and broke a track
According to the Narrative (W21) 28 G Battalion tanks rallied at Havrincourt on the 21st.
Aftermath
G46 was recovered on the 21st November.
7 tanks were inaction on the 21st – G4, G5, G6, G7, G9, G11, and G47
6 tanks were in action on the 23rd – G5, G7, G9, G11, G46, and G51
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.
p56 ff - 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
W185b - 185 Infantry Brigade War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-3080-2
p77 - Offensive Instruction No.7. 17th November 1917
p79 - Amendment to above dated 18th Nov. 1917
p87 - Offensive Instruction No.13. 19th November 1917
p89ff - Narrative of operations, commencing 20th November, 1917
S30 – The Boiler Plate War, (1963), John Foley
S37 - Following the Tanks, Cambrai. (1999) Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorczynski
S41 – Beyond the Green Fields (2008), Richard Pullen
S44 – Flesquires, Cambrai (2003), Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave
S96 - Mapping the First World War (2014) Peter Chasseaud, p247
NOTE
G Battalion’s War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum. (W7) does not contain the reports pertinent to this action.
Cambrai start Formations 20 and 21 Companies G Battalion
1st Brigade 20 November 1917 Map