9 Company. 23 November 1917
Cambrai. 23rd November 1917
9 Company, C Battalion, with III Corps
9 Company had 6 tanks in action on 23rd November 1917 (W3):
9 Section.
C46, m, 2049, Challenger, 2/Lt. C.G. Walker
C47, f, 4651,Conqueror II , 2/Lt. W. Moore
C48, m, 2048, Caesar, 2/Lt. M.T. Archibald
12 Section
C56, f, 2604, Crusader II , Lt. E.J. Ball
C57, m, 2055, Cayenne , 2/Lt. F.D. Hinds
C58, m, 2596, Chili II , 2/Lt. A. Elsbury
Note
Sexes from the Battlegraph in the Brigade War Diary (W23).
Tank commanders names from list in Battalion War Diary
Orders(W3a)
To attack Fontaine Notre Dame and Bourlon Wood from La Justice.
Account of Operations (W3a)
Tanks shelled heavily all the way to their objectives.
Tanks dealt with strong enemy opposition in a trench SW of the village, C46 getting a direct hit on an MG emplacement; the enemy fled toward village. C47 and C48 entered the village where everything initially seemed quite. C46 followed later and successfully engaged enemy who were occupying a trench north of the Church in some strength; the tank then broke up an enemy counter attack coming form the road in F15c. C46 then rallied, out of ammo.
C47 and C48 went through the village to the heavily garrisoned church; the garrison were dealt with 6pdr fire then both tanks turned back; C47 was penetrated by AP ammo which set spare petrol in the tank afire and burnt out the tank. C48 made it back to the British lines where it received a direct hit.
12 section proceeded between the Wood and village of Fontaine. C57 suffered a direct hit soon after starting. C56 and C58 both proceeded, silencing fire from village en route, they then both reached their objective at NE of Wood. Both tanks moved along N edge of Wood under heavy bombardment but didn’t see any infantry, own or enemy. Returned to assist infantry held up in a sunken road West of Fontaine Notre Dame. Patrolled NE of wood whilst waiting for Fontaine to be mopped up. One tank, probably C56, broke down.
Summary
Intended: 6
Reserve: 0
At Start: 6
Started: 6
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 2
Aftermath
C47 was photographed in Fontaine after capture by the Germans (X60.p62) and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3038066883/in/set-72157601074582281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2977990141/in/set-
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2238520151/in/set-72157601074582281/
C53 was possibly the tank photographed with H46 “Hyena” and H48 “Hypatia” (X60.p66 and X11.p111). Richard Pullen identifies the tank as C53 but, according to the records, this tank was not in action again after the 20th. It is possible that the records are mistaken and that another crew took C53 into action, thus replacing one of the tanks listed above.
C48 photographed in German workshops: X74.p54
Some C battalion tanks were readied for action on the 30th but were not engaged.
On 10th December C battalion was told it was to be renamed 3rd (Light) battalion and convert to whippets.
By 17th December all tanks and personnel had withdrawn from forward Area.
Sources
W3a – C Battalion War Diary, Battlegraph and Narrative of Operations PRO WO 95/106
W23 – War Diary of 3rd Tank Brigade , relevant battle graph and narrative PRO WO 95/104
H3 - C Battalion War History PRO WO 95/104
S31 -
S60 – Track Prints (2009) Richard Pullen