The Tanks at Cambrai. 20th November 1917

22 Company, H Battalion, with 71st, Brigade 6th Division, III Corps

22 Company had 12 tanks in action on 20th November 1917  (W2tb)

Company Commander

1 Section. Capt Reay JK (in H1)

H1, 8014, m, Hilda, 2Lt Leach TH deB - Advance guard tank

H2, Hector, f, 2Lt Scott C - left tank

H3,  Harrogate, 2Lt Ogden WF - right tank

2 Section. Capt the Hon Edwards C (in H4)

H4, m, Harvester, 2Lt Davis RC - Advance guard tank

H5, f, Hornet's Beauty, 2Lt Maycock CH - left tank

H6, 2865, f, Hermit, 2Lt Ferguson JGW - right tank

3 Section Capt Batten PW (in H7)

H7, Harrier, 2Lt Hassell TG - Advance guard tank

H8, Huntsman, 2Lt Fraser EL - right tank

H9, 2870, Hoick Halloa, 2Lt Halbert ML - left tank

4 Section. Capt Jeffery CE (in H10)

H10, f, 2867, Huntress, 2Lt Farland JM - Advance guard tank

H11, f, Helen, 2Lt Fyffe DR - left tank

H12, m, 8021, Hielen Laddie, 2Lt Phillips AL - right tank

Notes

Tank positions as given in tabulated orders. W71b, W2tb

3 of H Battalion’s tanks failed to make the start point, they were replaced by 3 reserve tanks. (4 tanks in the Brigade report of operations (W21))

The above tanks are listed in the orders and preliminary report, thus possibly 3 (or 4) of the above tanks may not have participated in the attack.

H1 serial number from Jan War diary in PRO. H1 sex from “The Boiler Plate War” p136

H2, "Hector" was a female tank : S94.p32 and two other photographs discovered by Gwyn Evans.

H8 and H9 are listed with each others tanks in the preliminary report.

H6, H9, H10 and H12 serial numbers and sexes from march 1918 Battle History sheets and reports

Sexes of 2 and 4 section tanks from 9 Suffolks war diary (W9Suf p72) 

Reserve, Wire pulling and Supply tanks.

H Battalion took 40 tanks to the Fins area on the 14th. These were supplemented by 4 Wire pullers, 2 supply and one gun carrying Tank. At 3.30 on the 19th in Dessert Wood the battalion had 36 fighting tanks, 4 spare tanks and the two supply tanks complete with sledges (W8a).

The battalion was also provided with a Gun carrying tank (GC122), one of the Supply tanks was to carry the Brigade's radio. On the orders of OIC “B” [indistinct] Battalion the other supply tanks were to proceed with the 4 reserve tanks to L26b [indistinct] (Dessert Wood ?) and there form a Brigade dump, later proceeding to Villers Plouch (R13b.4.3) and Beaucamp (Q12c.9.6) respectively (Appendix G to order No 1).

Orders

The orders are a little unclear (W71b) (W2tb). It appears that:

4, 2 and 1 sections (left to right) were to support the 9th Suffolk's in the first wave.

1 Section was to stop on the Hindenburg line and await 3 Section.

1 and 3 sections were then to support the 9th Norfolks in the second wave.

The second wave of infantry was to be supported by all available tanks (so presumably 2 and 4 sections as well)

4, 2 and 1 sections to attack in advance at H - 10 minutes.

3 section to advance at H+10 minutes.

See link below for diagram of start positions and more discussion of the orders..

1 Section.

Move through Hindenburg to Road Junction turning right at L25d.33.33 and crossing Ravine at L26c.00.92 then holding points L25b.37.70. L25b.35.50 and L25b.41.23 until Ribecourt is secured or No 3 section tanks catch up. Advance to Number 10 area. Once Brown Line is secured advance to Premy Chapel and hold it until infantry have consolidated the Red Line to Nine Wood inclusive.

Start from Q12d.7.7, cross British front line at R7a.0.5 and Hindenburg Front Line L31c.96.34. Magnetic Bearing 33 degrees from start point. If necessary assist Infantry in mopping up.

2 Section.

Clear up Hindenburg Line in Co operation with infantry and advances as soon as possible to fire upon Blue Circle 1. When this is disposed of proceed via Road Junction to number Nine Area and if necessary assist at Premy Chapel.

Start from Q12d.50.99, cross British front line at Q12b.68.58 and Hindenburg Front Line L31c.7.3. Magnetic Bearing 33 degrees from start point.

L31c.8.6 to L31c.58.68

4 Section.

Clear up Hindenburg Line in Co operation with infantry and advances as soon as possible to fire upon Blue Circle 2. One tank to cross south of Ravine crossing at L26b.70.80 reminder north of Ravine to number 9 area.

Start from Q12b.2.2, cross British front line at Q12b.48.85 and Hindenburg Front Line L31c.29.29. Magnetic Bearing 31 degrees from start point British front line is crossed..

 L31c.28.30 to sunken road L31c.06.40 – L31c.52.68 to L31c.31.75

3 Section.

Follows 4 section to Road Junction and Ribecourt then tanks to successively turn right at L25a.85.26, L25d.05.85 and L25d.33.33. When Ribecourt is taken proceed to brown line and then assist at Premy Chapel.

Start from Q12d.2.9, cross British front line at Q12b.48.85 and Hindenburg Front Line L31c.29.29. Magnetic Bearing 31 degrees from point British front line is crossed..

 Cross front system at L31c.38.30 in support and make track through the front system wire.

 All sections to support No 6 and 7 sections in attack on Support system

 22 and 23 companies will rally on Brown Line

Account of Operations (W2tb) 

First Objective: Hindenburg front line system

22 Company successfully carried out the first part of the attack crossing over the Hindenburg Line using the Fascines, the first wave reaching the position before 7.05am and the second wave by 7.15am. After leading the rightmost section of the battalion with Brigadier Hugh Elles aboard H1 ditched on the support line of the first Hindenburg system.

Second Objective: Ribencourt and the Blue Line beyond it

The remaining 11 tanks were released by the infantry at 7.15am 1 and 3 sections (5 tanks) attacked Ribencourt and the Blue Line beyond it, the other six tanks following in support; little opposition was encountered but some MGs were silenced in Ribencourt and 1 and 2 sections silenced MGs east of the village.

Third Objective: Hindenburg Support system

At 10am 23 Company passed through the other two companies and led the attack on the Brown Line. 22 and 24 companies followed up in support. All eleven 22 company tanks reached the Hindenburg Support line, en route 2 section worked up the Grand Ravine and silenced an enemy MG emplacement, a number of enemy troops surrendered and were handed over to the infantry, meanwhile 3 section helped the 11th Essex advance by flattening wire which was holding them up. H4, H7 and H8 were all knocked out on the Brown line presumably whilst covering the infantry’s consolidation. Section 2’s OIC (Edwardes) was killed when a shell penetrated the front of the tank he was riding in (H4), the shell didn’t explode but Edwardes died of Shock. (S61.p101ff) 2Lt Frasher (H8 OIC) was also killed (CWG)

Fourth Objective: Nine Wood – Premy Chapel

At 11.30 am the infantry released the tanks; H2, H3, H5 and H9 all attacked alongside 10 tanks of 24 Company. The 22 Company tanks reached their objective by 11.45am, before the 24 company tanks.

H2 and H3 then patrolled along a line between Marcoing and Premy Chapel silencing enemy MGs. H5 and H9 split up, one tank patrolled around Premy Chapel, the other covered the infantry attack on Nine Wood.

Meanwhile the ten tanks of 24 company patrolled along the Line from Premy Chapel to Nine Wood, clearing the wood of the enemy before the infantry arrived in support.

These four tanks and the ten tanks of 24 Company were released by the 29th Division once they had consolidated at 1.15pm.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 1

At Start: 12

Started: 12

Engaged enemy: 12

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 8

The battalion had four reserve tanks, the author has allocated one to this company, their actual disposition is unknown.

Note in The Battalion War Diary (PRO copy) all tanks except H4, H7 and H8 rallied.

Aftermath

“Helen” (H11), “Heilan Laddie” (H12) all in action on 23rd

“Hector” (H2), “Harrogate” (H3), “Hornet's Beauty (H5) and “Huntsman” (H8) all in action on the 1st December.

“Hilda” (H1) is next recorded in the battalion's war Diary in January 1918. It’s WD number (8014) does not match any of those given for the tanks in action on the 1st December. The tank was lost during the march retreat whilst bearing a new name. 

 "Hilda" was photographed whilst entrained after the battle: X83.p103

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4263010495/in/set-72157601074582281/

Notes

“Hilda’s” starboard 6pdr gunner is quoted in “The Boiler Plate War” P136f

2Lt Hassell, “Harrier” (H7) OIC is also quoted in “The Boiler Plate War” p135f. He states that "Hong Kong’s" OIC was Lt Cecil Edwards and that “Hong Kong” (H23), “Harrier” (H7), “Huntsman” (H9) and “Harvester” (H4) were knocked out by direct hits from a gun at Flesquieres. This is almost certainly incorrect, "Edwards" was probably aboard "Harvester " when it was KO. 

Sources

W8a – War Diary of 8th Tank Battalion PRO

            Tank Corps order No. 1

Appendix B to Order No. 1 showing tank scheme of attack.

Appendix G to order No. 1. Communications, Supplies. HQ positions

Preliminary report on Assembly and Movement Forward and Actions of 20th, 21st  and 23rd November 1917.

W2tb - 2nd Brigade Tank Corps report on Tank Operations November 20th to December 1st 1917 Appendix 5 to Brigade War Diary in PRO WO 95 / 101

W71b - War Diary of 71 Infantry Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO-WO-95-1619-5_2 p44 

W9Suf - War Diary of 9 Sufffolks - Pdf Download from PRO Kew -WO-95-1625-1_2 p72

S61 – Rolling into Action (1936) Capt DE Hickey

S30 – The Boiler Plate War (1963) George Foley

WO 95-1619 -  71st Infantry Brigade Operational order No. 251 and attached tables (dated 17th Nov 1917) in 71st Infantry Brigade War diary War Diary.

Cambrai start H Battalion 

Cambrai Narratives