24 & 25 Companies. 23 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 23^rd November 1917

24 and 25 Companies, H Battalion, with 154^th Brigade, 51^st Division, IV Corps

24 and 25 Companies had 12 tanks in action on 23^rd November 1917 ^(W21):

Company Commander Maj Pratt MC ^(H8)

HW1, 4580, f

HW2, 4563, f

HW3, 4565

H8, “Huntsman”, 2Lt Fraser EL

H11, “Helen”, 2Lt Fyffe DR

H12, 8021, m, “Hielen Laddie”, 2Lt Phillips AL

H41, “Horsa II”, 2Lt Mustard H

H46, m, “Hyena”, 2Lt Rees-Brown WH

H47, 8086, “Henry VIII”, 2Lt Lyness I

H48, f, “Hypatia”, 2Lt Hancock BC

H49, f, “High Flyer”, 2Lt Pitt G

H51, 2893, “Hiawatha”, 2Lt Jefferies ROG

Notes

^“^{Huntsman” (}^H8^{) is recorded as being Knocked out on the 20th; H8 is thus presumably a spare tank named "Huntsman II"}

HW1 and HW3 serial numbers from "H" battalion War Diary entry in January 1918

HW2 serial number an educated guess, 4563 with battalion on 1^st December, this serial number is very possibly that of a wire puling tank.

H12 serial number and sex from march 1918 Battle History sheets

H46 and H48 sexes from photo (X60.p66)

H47 and H51 serial numbers are educated guesses based on March 1918 Battle History Sheets

Orders^(H8)

The composite company was to support the 51^st divisions attempt to retake Fontaine. 6 tanks were detached to assist with the attack on Bourlon Wood. The start point was a sunken road near La Justice Farm.

Account of Operations ^(H8)

The tanks set off at 10.15am at Z-15mins, they followed the valley past Annaux and thus reached the Baupame Cambrai Road without casualties. Here the tanks spilt. The six tanks that attacked Bourlon Wood proceeded in front of the infantry, inflicting casualties and silencing MGs, the infantry followed and consolidated in the NE corner of the Wood. The six tanks then turned towards Fontaine to assist the other half of the company.

Meanwhile the other six tanks had moved into Fontaine. Here they were engaged in severe fighting, the Germans refusing to retire and engaging them at point blank range with AP ammo and hand grenades. Lt A Mustards tank (H41, “Horsa II”) broke down for 45 minutes in the village and was attacked by Germans with bundles of Grenades, including some who crawled on the roof; the tank was eventually started and escaped. The tanks were not successful in subduing the enemies fire sufficiently for the infantry to follow them into the village and the 51^st eventually consolidated on the southern edge of the village and the tanks were withdrawn. Three tanks H46 (Hyena), H48 (Hypatia) and H49 (Highflyer) were all knocked out on, or by, the main road and were abandoned.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 0

At Start: 12

started: 12

Engaged enemy: 12

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 9

Aftermath

H46 and H49 photographed knocked out in situ: X60.p66.

IWM Q 67594: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205314861