3 Company 20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20^th November 1917

3 Company, A Battalion, with 89^th Brigade, 29^th Division, III Corps

3 Company had 14 tanks in action on 20^th November 1917 ^(W3):

9 Section. Capt Ingham G, 86^th brigade^{(W1a )}

A41, f, 8028, “Autogophasta”, 2lt Jones JE

A42, f, 2858 , “Atlantic”, 2Lt Urquhart

A44, m, 8038 , “Ahmed II”, Lt Paxton Hall AE

A45, m, 8082, “Astica”, 2Lt Mathews G

10 Section. Capt 88^th brigade^{(W1a )}

A46, f, 2373, “Artimus II”, 2Lt Timmis J

A47, f, 2840, “Amazon”, 2Lt Rushworth H

A48, m, 8075, “Abdullah”, 2Lt Campbell CR

A50, , 8084 “Autowin II”, 2Lt Turvey JC

11 Section Capt Raikes DT. 87^th brigade^{(W1a )}

A52, m, 8091, “Artful Alice II”, 2Lt Charles

A53, m, 8087, “Angelina II”, 2Lt Wright

A54, f, 8079 “Adsum II”, 2Lt Johnson

A55, , 2878, “Aggressive II”, 2Lt Lipscombe

12 Section.

A56, 2885, “Amazon II”, 2Lt Grove A

A59, 4586, “Ambrosia II”, 2Lt Ehrhardt

A60, 8056, “Atalanta II”, 2Lt Hunnikin

Note: All 12 section details from 30 Nov records.

10 Section sexes from “Following the Tanks”.

According to orders issued on 12^th November 3 Company was to consist of three sections of four fighting tanks and two Wireless tanks. ^(WTC)

Orders ^{(W1a )}

9, 11 and 10 sections, each with four tanks, were allotted respectively to 86^th, 87^th and 88^th brigades, 29^th Division. This division was to pass through the leading waves at the Brown Line and then assault toward the Bridges in Marcoing and Masnieres.

12 section had two spare tanks, each was equipped with a radio set and allotted to 86^th and 88^th brigades.

One tank was to tow a sledge from Villers Plouich to Company RP at Marcoing. It has been assumed that this was a fifteenth tank not one of the twelve fighting tanks; this is not made clear in the text. This is possibly A59 which has a 45** serial number which is normally an indication that the tank was fitted with Top Towing equipment; though "A" Battalion's known Top Towers (the four Wire Pullers) were not 45** tanks.

9 Section Orders: to precede 86th Brigade to Nine Wood then patrol around N of Wood whilst infantry consolidated., “Aggressive II”, 2Lt Lipscomb

10 section Orders: With 87th Div, start in no mans land. R8d.4.3. advance when 3G's sounded from bugle. To capture Bridges over canal in Marcoing then advance to Flot Farm and assist infantry in capturing trenches from Flot farm to G14d.5.0.

11 Section. With 87th Div, start R14b.5.9. advance when 3G's sounded from bugle. To capture Bridges over canal in Marcoing then advance to Flot Farm.

With 88th Div, start R14b.5.9. To capture crossing over canal in Masnieres then establish infantry in trenches from B20c.6.9. to G21a.9.6 Rally at Sugar Factory

Account of Operations ^(W1a)

9 Section started on time at at Z+30 from behind Sugar Factory in Beaucamp. Advanced in File A45 leading, A41 second, A43 third, and A44 last; reached the British Front line at Z+60 as arranged and stopped in ravine to allow infantry to closed up. A45 used its Fascine to cross the Hindenburg Line and the other tanks crossed over it. A41 and A44 silenced MG and snipers in Couilet Wood then silenced an MG in Marcoing before A41 split from the section and attacking along road through Nine Wood and silencing enemy MG therein (final objective). Meanwhile A44 proceeded along Right of Nine Wood and silenced enemy MG therein (final objective). A42 moved towards Nine Wood and then travelled along the South of the Wood silencing MGs and snipers therein.

10 Section.

A48 led the other tanks to the sunken road at R4a7.4. without seeing any enemy. A46 crossed the road first and engaged a field Battery 400yds beyond the road, knocking out one gun. A46 then returned to the section and all four tanks advanced on the battery together. A48 was leading and was hit twice and knocked out; A50 moved to the right of A48 and was itself hit 3 times and knocked out; A46 attempted to attack the battery from the left but was hit and set afire 3 Other ranks wounded.

A47 passed to the right of the battery without spotting it despite having its fascine shot off, it then developed engine trouble and retired, breaking down in the Hindenburg Support Line.

11 Section

The section stared from at L38b.8.1at Z+ 3.45. The lead tank A54 was asked to turn half right and deal with two enemy MGs that were holding up advance and did so. The other three tanks proceeded to Marcoing A53 smashed its right sponson door on the post of the level crossing and remained there for some time fixing it, it was joined by A54 which had to re affix its unditching gear.

A52 and A55 crossed the Canal and then fired into the rear of Talma Chateau before proceeding to the left and right of Flot Farm. The infantry however didn’t advance and A52 retired; A55 was lost at this point according to “Cambrai 1917” (S40p184) possibly due to penetration by AP ammo (S40p185) , the Company commanders report also indicates one tank was out of action in the German Lines, the OIC 2Lt Lipscombe was reported missing.

A second attack was launched at 5pm: A53 advanced without infantry, going along the trenches on the right of the railway and dispersing some infantry there; A52 advanced with a Company of Border Regt and attacked trenches in front of Flot Farm but got lost in the dark; A54 was ordered to support 1st Inniskillings in attacking trenches from Flot Farm to Rumilly the infantry didn’t attack but the tank conducted a recce to the front.

All three surviving tanks then rallied at Marcoing station.

12 Section

The radios proved of little use as the Phone lines were in almost as soon as the radios were made ready.

The supplies arrived late as the sledges broke before leaving Desart wood and the allotted tank developed engine trouble.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 0

At Start: 12

Started: 12

Engaged enemy: 12

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 4