25 Company. 20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20^th November 1917

25 Company, I Battalion, with 61^st Brigade, 20^th Division, III Corps

25 Company had 12 tanks in action on 20^th November 1917 ^(W9):

Company Commander – Maj W Penn-Gaskell ^(H6)

1 Section. Capt OH Curry

I1, 2Lt FE Crick

I4, Lt G Darling

I5, Lt WH Turner

2 Section. Lt J Lewtas

I6, 2Lt TW Gudgeon

I7 2Lt HL Roney

I8, 2Lt JN Truelock

3 Section. Capt JP Rigby

I13, 2803, 2Lt WA Parker

I15 2Lt M Moran

I10, 2Lt JP Duggan

4 Section. Capt H Lane

I18, 2Lt CH Sykes

I19, 2Lt CL Roney

I20, 2Lt AD Carmichael

Notes

I13 serial number from Tank Corps Daily Tank sheet log dated 10-2-18, presumably 2803 was also I13 at Cambrai WO 95-118-8-2 Pg 76

I Battalion Spare tanks

According to the War Diary (25 Oct) 5 Spare tanks accompanied the battalion to Beaumetz.

7 unattached tanks are listed on the Battlegraph:

IW3 and IW4 are listed as spares; I17, I32, I41, I46 and I52 are just listed, the battlegraph indicates these tanks did not go into action on the 20^th.

An eighth tank is listed in the war diary (19^th Nov): I11 broke down whilst en route to the front (replaced by I10)

Supply Tanks

According to the War Diary (25 Oct) six Supply tanks accompanied the battalion to Beaumetz. These had previously (14 Oct) been described as fighting supply tanks and thus were presumably female top towers, four of which would be detached as wire pullers on 20^th November 1917.

Wire Pullers

The War Diary states “I” Battalion had some Wire pulling tanks, one of which was numbered IW3 (Nov 19^th) the actions of these tanks are not recorded. As "C" battalions wire pullers were numbered CW1 to CW4 “I“ battalions were probably numbered IW1 to IW4; IW3 and IW4 are listed as spares on the battlegraph according to which they did not see action on the 20^th; they may have been performing thier wire pulling duties on this date.

Orders ^(W9)

25 Company was to attack in the second and third waves.

1 and 4 sections were to attack on the right of the second wave K.O.Y.L.I.

2 and 3 Sections were to attack on the left of the third wave with the 12^th D.C.L.I.

Account of Operations ^(W9)

1 Section

Followed first wave around the right of La Vacquerie, passed through them and assaulted the Hindenburg Line, silencing 4 MG nests. I1 ditched and Unditched on the Blue line. I4 and I5 helped infantry mop up the Hindenburg line, I4 aiding in securing the surrender of two bombing parties. All three tanks rallied. (I5 mistakenly noted as KO on the map ^(w9m) , tank I6 is meant)

4 Section

This section dealt with several MG nests and forced enemy infantry into dugouts whence they surrendered to the British infantry as they occupied the Trenches. All three tanks rallied.

2 Section

I6 suffered a direct hit and was burnt out at R5c.4.6 (R5c.6.7, mistakenly noted as I5 on the map ^(W9m) ) The crew evacuated and accompanied infantry to the Brown Line. I7 suffered a direct hit and was burnt out at R5c.2.5 (R5c.8.3 ^(W9m) ). I8 reached first objective near Les Rues Vertes and then Rallied.

3 Section

This section reached their objective. I13 bellied on the Blue line but got out and helped infantry against MG fire. All three tanks rallied.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 2

At Start: 12

Started: 12

Engaged enemy: 12

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 10

Aftermath