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The Tanks at Cambrai. 20th November 1917
5 Company, B Battalion, with 16th Brigade, 6th Division, IV Corps
5 Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 20th November 1917 (W2a):
5 Company - Company Commander Major Henshall, 2IC Capt Diamond MV
5 Section. Capt Vans Agnew F MC
B23, 8040, m, "Bandit II", Lt Dalby AA – Advanced tank
B21, 2864, f, "Bedouin", 2Lt Law RM - Left tank
B35, 4589, f, "Bogey II", 2Lt Brockwell SA – right tank
6 Section - Capt Crouch TA
B28, 2080, m, "Black Arrow II", 2Lt Evans JC – Advanced tank
B36, 2869, f, "Bayardo II", 2Lt Christmas HW - Left tank
B30, 2874, f, "Ballyhackle II", 2Lt Mercer TM – right tank
7 Section – Capt Porter GE MC
B22, 2037, m, "Buccaneer", 2Lt. Thompson GEV – Advanced tank
B34, 2795, f, "Buffoon", 2Lt Crerar A- Left tank
B26, 4671, f, "Bison II", Lt Clark NJG – right tank
8 Section – Capt Auden EM
B27, 2077, m, "Bloodstone II", Lt Hoyland WL – Advanced tank
B31, 2619, f, "Bohemian II", 2Lt Peel GL - Left tank
B37, 2872, f, "Bushranger II", 2Lt Chick JJ – right tank
Spare Tanks
B24, 8035, m, "Brigand II", 2Lt Simpson AG
B25, 2679, f, "Blackleg", 2Lt Doyle JE
Wire pulling tanks
B29, 6017, “Bijou”, Lt Lynch-Staunton LA
B32, 6013, “Baron II”, 2Lt Allison JA
Lt Dingley PN
Notes
See link to OB page below.
Orders
5 Company was to support the first wave: 5, 6 and 8 sections leading the infantry to the first objective, Hindenburg front line system; 7 section was to follow the first wave of infantry infantry and support the attack on the blue line. (W2a) (WMH) (S78.p101)
5 and 6 sections were to attack on the right of the first wave assisting the 2nd York and Lancs in the capture of the Hindenburg line between Coilette Wood and the infantry battalion's western boundary. 8 section was to proceed along the right flank east of Coilette Wood. 5,6 and 8 sections were then to to assist 1 Buuffs onto Blue line. (WMH)
7 section were to support one compony of the 1 Buffs onto the blue Line; en route to proceed in single file along the western edge of Coilette wood assisting 2/ York and Lancs in clearing it. (WMH)
5 Company were to rally at about L32d.30.50 and then at Zero + 2 hr 40 mins to attack in the third phase towards Marcoing followed by a company of the 9th Suffolks, the objective being to seize the bridges across the Canal de St Quentin. The tanks were issued detailed orders on how to position themselves to subdue the town and then, once the town had been subdued, where to position themselves on the eastern Bank to secure the Bridgeheads (W2a) .
If 5 Company did not have its full complement of 12 tanks deficiencies were to be made good by attaching tanks from 6 company (W2a).
5 and 6 sections were to attack in Wedge:
5 Section: B23 leading, B21 left, B35 right.
6 Section: B28 leading, B36 left, B30 right.
7 and 8 sections were to move in file:
7 Section: B22 (second number unclear) followed by B34 and B26 at 75 yd intervals
8 Section: B27 followed by B31 and B37 at 75 yd intervals (W2a)
Objectives (W2a) :
5 Section: Hindenburg front system between R2a.40.80 and R2a.55.75
6 Section: Hindenburg front system between R2a.55.75 and R2a.70.70
7 section: Blue line between the west of Couilette wood and L32b.35.75. it will co-operate with 1 company of 1st Buffs, En route to this position this section will proceed in file along the Western edge of the Wood and assist the 2nd York and Lancs in clearing it.
8 Section will proceed along eastern edge of Couillette Wood, enter the wood at the enemy’s front system and then cross front and support lines of that system.
Start points (W2a) :
5 Section - west of Sunken Road,
6 and 7 sections - east of sunken road.
8 section - road west of railway.
B29 was to clear wire along a a 50 yard wide path from Villers Ploich to Marcoing.(BHS)
B32 was to lay a telephone cable for the cavalry from Villers Ploich to Marcoing (BHS)
Account of Operations (W2a)
5 Company successfully crossed Hindenburg front system and rallied, they only had ten tanks at this time so two of 6 companies tanks were detailed to assist with the third phase capture of Marcoing.
5 and 6 companies followed 4 company's advance to the 2nd phase objective.
The two missing tanks from 5 company caught up thus 14 tanks attacked Marcoing, reaching it about 11.30pm. The Company met pockets of resistance in Marcoing, Capt Crouches’ section dealing with enemy MGs along the top road. The tanks remained, unsupported in the village for an hour before a party of royal Engineers arrived to assist them.
The gun carrying tank arrived late. The other seven supply and spare tanks moved forwards to the RP just beyond the grand ravine at H + 1 hr 30 minutes, reaching there at 1.30pm.
5 section
B21 Followed the section commander in B23. Met no opposition in outpost line and little in main line, copied other tanks that had successfully crossed the front line without using their fascines but became ditched for half and hour. Formed a composite section with Lt Nirnie [??] then went to point A1 in Marciogn before moving to point A5 in the centre of the village. Rallied. (BHS)
B23 crushed enemy wire then fired on the front line, it fell into a sunken road in no mans land but was able to drive out and use its fascine to cross the (presumably front line) trench. B23 then pulled another tank free of a trench and went towards and entered Marcoign (S78.p105f) . The tank then led B26 to point A2, the Canal Railway bridge, where the tank's OIC prevented the enemy from connecting wires to the charges under the bridge. (W8a) (BHS of B26)
B35 - no BHS
6 section
B30 had all its MGs put out of action and 4 crewmen wounded before it reached the Crucifix. 4 crewmen from B37 cross decked and the tank proceeded into Marcoign where it was joined by 2077, both tanks then proceeded to the canal bridge [ presumably point B4] which was destroyed as B30 approached. (2077 BHS, B37 BHS)
B28 and B36 - no BHS
7 section
B22 advanced at Zero -10mins, followed by 1st East Kents. It fired on enemy in Couilette Wood with Mg and 6 pdr; using the Fascine on the Hindenburg front line. The tank then went along west side of wood, occasionally firing on enemy and potential MG emplacements and fireng on enemy in a communication trench. The tank rallied at L35a.1.4. then advanced again. Went NE for 300 yards then turned and drove down the valley alongside the road leading directly to Marcoign. The tank silenced an enemy MG which had fired on the tank at L27d.2.5. Possible gun emplacements were spotted in the valley at L27b.8.3. B22 crossed the stream at L21d.7.5 and entered Marcoign village going to point A1 as instructed by section commander. (BHS)
B26 started at 6:10am and went along the northern side of Coulete Wood. Reaching the Hindenburg support line and then at the request of infantry silenced a small enemy post. Crossed Hindenburg front and support trenches via fascines and rallied. B26 Advanced once more along Cooilette wood. Crossed Hindenburg support line on Villers Plouch- Marcoign Raid and then fired LG on enemy field gun battery in L27b.9.4 which shortly afterwards appeared to receive a direct hit from a heavy shell; the gunners ran back towards Marcoign and were fired upon. B26 found the stream at L21d.6.4 to be un crossable so crossed at the bridge in L21d.7.5.Marcoign was entered at 10:30am and enemy in the outskirts of the village and at point A1 were dispersed. At 11:10am Capt Porter arrived in B22, B26 followed Lt Dalby’s tank B23 to point A2 at the Canal railway bridge which was reached at 11:40am. An enemy counter attack was dispersed by fire from the two tanks. AT 12:20 the infantry arrived and the bridge was made safe by an engineers. Cavalry arrived at 1:45pm. The tank then rallied. (BHS)
B34 advanced at 6:20am, but wasn't fired on until the main system was reached; the Fascine was dropped in the second trench of the first system.
The tank entered Marcoing and went to point 2B where it fired on an enemy MG at the bridgehead until it was rushed by infantry. (BHS)
8 section
2077 supported the 2nd Buffs, starting at 6:10 the tank went along the railway in front of the infantry to the outpost line then crossed the railway and lost its Fascine whilst doing so. The tank re started and silenced an enemy MG with the left 6Pdr, and silenced enemy fire coming form Château and Coilette Wood road which had been pinning down the infantry. The tank then silenced MG fire coming from the corner of a wood (small coppice on bank on right hand side of railway). before Crossing Hindenburg line and Hindenburg support line, capturing 26 Germans, destroying an MG emplacement on the left with 6pdr fire. 2077 then came down the hill towards the railway and fired on MGs in the farmhouse on the far side of the railway. The tank entered Marcoign and went to its allocated place, point B4 [ presumably the canal Bridge] with tank B30 whose MGs were all out of action. 2077 stayed at point B4 until 2:30, silencing an enemy MG which was firing from the right. (BHS)
B31 became entangled in wire whilst it was crossing the outpost line; this caused the loss of the unditching beam and fascine and disabled one LG. The tank entered Marcoign and went to point 4B. B31 rallied at 4pm. (BHS)
B37 was the rearmost tank of 8 section. It crossed the enemy wire then moved to the right where enemy fire was pining down the British infantry. The enemy surrendered to the tank and the infantry resumed their advance. B37 also silenced an enemy MG, then went through the wood to the Crucifix where tank broke down. Some of crew joined B30 tank, 4 crew of this tank having been wounded.
Misc
B29 successfully Cleared a lane 50 yards broad through the wire from Villers Plouich to Marcoign (BHS)
B32 successfully laid cable to Marcoing for the cavalry, finishing at midday on 21st. (BHS)
Note: Ian Verrinder's book (S78) contains more detail than given above.
Summary
Intended: 12
Reserve: 2
At start: 12
Started: 12
Engaged enemy: 12
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 12
Total does not include spare, wire pulling and supply tanks.
Aftermath
The spare tanks rejoined the company on the 21st
The Wire Pulling tanks re joined the company on the 22nd
B21, 2864; B23, 8040; B24, 8035; B35, 4589; B28, 2080; B30, 2874; and B36, 2869 were all in action on 23rd November.
On 29th November 1917 5 company had the following ten tanks on strength:
5 section
B35, 4589, 2Lt Doyle
B31, 2619, 2Lt Peel GL
6 section
B27, 2077, Lt Hoyland WL
B34, 2795, 2Lt de Pass CA
B22, 2037, Lt Thompson GEV
7 section
B25, 2678, 2Lt Crerar A
B26, 4671, Lt Clark NJG
8 section
B29. 6017, Lt Lynch Staunton
B32, 6013, 2Lt Allison
B37, 2872, 2Lt Chick JJ
Sources
W2a – Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/109
Orders, Account of operations Nov 20th – 23rd,
Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917
W2 – Battalion War Diary transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W8a – War Diary of 8th tank Battalion PRO
Appendix G to order No. 1. Communications, Supplies. HQ positions
W23 – 3rd Tank brigade war Diary PRO 95/ XXX
WMH - Henshall papers, IWM 73/126/1
"Battle Distribution revised dated 9 November 1917".
"16th Infantry brigade Operational Order No 232. 14th Nov 1917".
BHS - Battle History Sheets, 20th Nov. 1917 for tanks: 2077; B37; B34; B32; B31; B29; B22; B21; B26 held in IWM Henshall papers
S78 - Tank Action in the Great War (2009) Ian Verrinder
OH - Official History, 1917 Vol 3. p55
B Battalion OB. 20 November 1917
2nd Tank Brigade. 20 November 1917 - Map
B / 2nd Battalion List of narratives
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