B Battalion OB.
20 November 1917
B Tank Battalion
OB on 20th November 1917
4 Company - Company Commander Major
1 Section. Capt Groves, Basil
B2, 2005, "Black Prince", 2Lt Tew W – Advanced tank
"Bulwark", 2Lt McNaught – Left tank
B8, 2556, f, "Banshee", 2Lt Chambers - Right tank
2 Section - Capt Haseler, William
B7, 2050, "Bantam", Lt Marshall – Advanced tank
f, "Barbarian II", 2Lt Dickens – Left tank
B9, 2667, "Black Bess", 2 Lt Jones Leigh - Right tank
3 Section – Capt. Rearden MC
B13, 2707, “Bushranger”, 2Lt Wakefield – Advanced tank
B11, 4587, “Bellerophon II”, Lt Fox - Left tank
B14, 4588, “Belladonna II”, Lt Haskett - Right tank
4 Section – Capt. Benjafield
“Bystander”, 2Lt Kerr – Advanced tank
B6, 2555, "Boadicea", 2Lt Sharpe - Left tank
B3, 4661, “Bluebird II”, 2Lt Greenwood - Right tank
Spare tanks
B19, 8029, "Black Prince II"
"Bulwark", “Barbarian II” and “Bystander” are presumably three of the following four tanks which are listed in the Salvage report, the other tank is presumably the second spare.
B1, 2682
B10, 2860
B12, 4667,
B16, 2364
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 - attached to Cavalry on 20 Nov, towing sledge with communication cables (WMH)
6 Company - Company Commander Major ??
9 Section – Capt Harcourt
“Bulawayo II”, 2Lt Evans MC – Advanced tank
“Birkenhead”, 2Lt Smallwood – Left tank
“Ben-my-Chree”, 2Lt Tuite – right tank
10 Section – Capt Scrutton
“Battering Ram”, Lt Woodcock – Advanced tank
“Bellicose”, Lt Black – Left tank
“Berserk”, 2Lt Dancy – right tank
11 Section – Capt Parr
“Baksheesh”, Lt Marchant – Advanced tank
“Beersheba”, 2Lt Palmer – left tank
“Bacchus”, 2Lt White – right tank
12 Section – Capt Palmer MC
“Brain Boru II”, Lt Hamlet – Advanced tank
“Blackthorn”, Lt Clarke – Left tank
B57, 2873, f, "Blarney Castle, 2 Lt Henderson – right tank
Spare Tanks (?)
B49, 2868, f, "Blunderbuss II"
B54, 4516, f, "Behemoth II"
Nine of the eleven tanks that have no crew or serial numbers are presumably the following:
B42, 2871
B44, 2637
B48, 2095
B51, 2034
B53, 4576
B56, 2866
2661
4672
8024
Notes
4 Company
1 to 4 sections tactical positions, tank names and commanders given in the undated “Distribution of tanks” tables in 16 Infantry Brigades orders (W16b).
The 23rd November Battle History Sheets in the Henshell papers give the following details:
B8, 2556, 2Lt Chambers PC crew B3
4588, 2Lt Fox WE crew 14
B19, 8029, “Black Prince II”, 2Lt Tew crew B2. B19, 8029 was presumably one of the spare tanks on 20th November, named “Black Prince II” by crew B2 when they cross decked to it.
Tank names, crew number, Serial numbers and OICs names are given in the undated list contained in the transcript of 2nd Battalions War Diary from Bovington p.25. The note to this list indicates it is from the notebook of AG Woods the list appears to have been written just before 3rd Ypres.
This list confirms the names and crew numbers of tanks B2, B6, B8, B9.
The list also gives the following details
“Bantam” is tank 2050 but was with crew B12
“Bushranger” is tank 2707 with crew B33 in 5 company
"Bulldog", 2011 with crew B7
"Bellerophon", 2708, was with crew B11.
"Belladonna", 2041 was with crew B14
“Bluebird", 2520 was with crew B3, KO 23 Aug;
"Bulwark", 2043 was with crew B4, hit and burnt out 23 Aug;
“Bystander", 2511 was with crew B5, KO 23 Aug;
“Barbarian“, 2663 was with crew B25 at 3rd Ypres (“Barbarian II” listed above)
Tank B1, 2673 is “Billikin”, there is no indication a tank with this name served at Cambrai so B1, 2682 may be a different tank.
The report on “Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917” undated but after 29th November 1917 (W2t), gives crew and serial numbers for tanks B1, 2682; B3, 4661; B7, 2050; B8, 2556; B10, 2860; B11, 4587; B12, 4667; B14, 4588; B16, 2364.
It seems reasonable to assume crews B3, B11 and B14 were with new tanks with the same names and the II post nominal. Thus, the tanks with these crews and serial number in the salvage report have been assigned to the tanks with these names in the 16th Infantry Brigade’s orders.
As the original "Bystander", 2511 and "Bulwark", 2043 , were probably lying derelict at Ypres having been KO on 23 August "Bystander” was presumably "Bystander II" and Bulwark was presumably "Bulwark II", although they are listed as simply “Bystander” and "Bulwark" in the 16th Infantry Brigade orders.
"Barbarian II" was photographed on 28th December in German hands, no crew or serial numbers are visible on the tank.
Ian Verrinder quotes Captain Groves (S78.p109) who gives a slightly different version of the composition of 1 section, he gives the tank’s names and OICs:
Groves substitutes “Bystander”, 2Lt Goodhall for “Banshee”, he also has 2Lt Chambers in charge of “Bulwark”.
“Bystander is listed with 4 section, 2 Lt Kerr in the 16th infantry brigade orders.
Interestingly Ian Verrider lists B8, “Banshee”, 2Lt Chambers with 1 section in his 23rd November OB (S78.p200)
Ian Verrinder also quotes 2Lt Jones Leigh’s post war interview (S78.p110) 2Lt Jones names the same three tank commanders and Section commander. He says his tank was B9 “Black Bess” which agrees with the infantry orders. He states the section commander Lt Haseler was with Lt Marshall and crew B12 in “Bulldog”. He also states 2Lt Dickens was with crew B6 in "Boadicea". According to the infantry orders “Boadicea” was with 2Lt Sharpe in 4 section. “Bulldog”, 2011 may have been lost at 3rd Ypres whilst with crew B7, the last written reference to it is in the undated pre 3rd Ypres tank list.
According to Ian Verrinder 4 company only lost two tanks to direct hits on the 20th November, B12 “Bantam” and B7 “Bulldog”.
In the Salvage report B7, 2050 is in Dessart Wood with engine defects and B12, 4667 is at Q.36.d.7.3 with a track hit. Note that the salvage report swaps the crew numbers given to the named tanks by 2Lt Jones.
Ian Verrinder says Bantam was B12 and Bulldog was B7, the salvage report indicates B7 was 2050 which was "Bantam" at 3rd Ypres and B12 was 4667 which was "Bulldog" at 3rd Ypres; it is possible the tanks name have become confused.
The infantry orders list "Bushranger" with 4 company and "Bushranger II" with 5 company. This is the only evidence the author has found of two tanks with the same name serving at the same time.
Tanks 2860, 2679 [“Blackleg”] and 2050 [“Bantam”] had all been moved from 6 to 4 company on the 12th September (WO 95-113-1 p28). 2679 [“Blackleg”] them moved from 4 to 5 Company of 24th October (WO 95-113-1 p32).
5 Company
All information above except for tactical positions and serial numbers of B29 and B32 from Henshall papers, battle distribution revised dated 9-11-1917
This is confirmed in the Nominal role of fighting crews dated 11-11-1917 also in the Henshall papers.
The Company Role dated 29-11-1917 also in the Henshall papers has an amended organisation, lists the tanks by crew number, serial number, and gives OIC and crew names. It thus confirms the identity of the following tanks:
5 Section: B31, B35 (2Lt Doyle)
6 Section: B34 (2Lt Pass), B27
7 Section: B25 (2Lt Crerar), B26, B22
8 Section: B37; B29, 6017; B32, 6013
Tank crew numbers and tactical positions given in 5 company operational order No 7 dated 18 -11-17 (WO-95-113-3 p16).
Tactical positions, tank names and commanders correspond with those on the undated “Distribution of tanks” tables in 16 Infantry Brigade orders (WO 95-1607-1 p64 and 65).
The report on “Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917” undated but after 29th November 1917 (WO 95-113-3 P26) confirms the crew and serial numbers for tanks B21, 2864; B23, 8040; B24, 8035; B28, 2080; B30, 2874; B36, 2869.
Sex of B23 from photo (X25.p151)
6 Company
9 to 12 sections tactical positions, tank names and commanders given in the undated “Distribution of tanks” tables in 16 Infantry Brigades orders (W16b, WO 95-1607-1 p64 and 65).
B49, 2868, f, "Blunderbuss II" and B54, 4516, f, "Behemoth II" are not listed in the infantry orders and thus presumably spare tanks.
The report on “Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917” undated but after 29th November 1917 (W2t, WO 95-113-3 P26) gives the crew and serial numbers for tanks B42, 2871; B44, 2637; B48, 2095; B49, 2868; B51, 2034; B53, 4576; B54, 4516; B57, 2873
Tank names, crew number, Serial numbers and OICs names are given in the undated list contained in the transcript of 2nd Battalions War Diary from Bovington p.25 the note to this list indicates it is from the notebook of AG Woods the list appears to have been written just before 3rd Ypres.
As 6 Company almost all its tanks in the tank graveyard on 31st July 1917 the list is of little help on 20th November 1917.
The list gives the following details
“Brian Boru” was with crew B50, 2Lt Hamlet FA
“Bulawayo” was with crew B43, 2Lt Evans CM
It seems reasonable to assume crews B43 and B50 were with new tanks with the same names and the II post nominal.
2611 and 8024 both joined 6 Company on 24th September 1917 (W2t), they were presumably still with the company at Cambrai.
2868 had moved from 4 to 6 Company on 23rd October (W2t).
2868 was in action on 23rd November with crew B45
4672 had joined 5 Company on 7th November (W2t), it was not with 5 company at Cambrai and may possibly have been transferred to 6 company.
2866 given Battalion number B56 in Tank Corps daily tank Log dated 23 Jan 1918 in (Wtt,) and is also recorded as being with C Company in Jan 18 in 2nd Battalions war diary (W2) presumably 2866 was thank B56 at Cambrai.
2095 and 2862 were both with 2nd Battalion in Jan 1918
5 Jan 18 work on 2095 completed,
16 Jan 2862 moved to tank maintenance barn (W2t)
2871 – hit by shell on 30th Nov 1917 but rallied at tankodrome (W2t)
Spares and Wire pulling tanks
"B" Battalion only had 4 spare tanks and 3 supply tanks at Cambrai (Preliminary report on operations. Dated 27-11-17 W2t,WO 95-113-3 p19), not the six spare tanks it should have deployed. Thus the battalion should have had a total of 45 tanks.
According to the war Diary; Wire Pulling tanks 6013 and 6017 were received by 5 company on 14 November (W2t)
4 company also had two wire pulling tenders which arrived at Dessert wood on the 18th November (W2t)
Four Wire pulling tanks were allocated to "B" battalion on the train timetable (W23).
The following tanks were with the battalion in March 1918 (only serial numbers recorded at this time) (W3tb)
8027
2735
B52 not 2774 “Benbow” (derelict at Ypres)
B48
2866, 6 Coy (2 Jan 18 moved to new tankodrome) W2t, WO 95-113-1 p50
8007
2631
B41
8052
2078
2555, B6 “Boadicea” – W2t, WO 95-113-3 p42
2641
2650
8029, B19, “Black Prince II”
2819
4570
2334
2641, “Blacklook”
2055, C57, “Cayenne”
4671, B26, “Bison II”
2795, B34, “Buffoon”
6017, B29, “Bijou”
6013, B32, “Baron II”
2037, B22, “Buccaneer”
2872, B37, “Bushranger II”
2679, B25, “Blackleg”
4589, B35, “Bogey II”
2619, B31, “Bohemian II”
2381, C19, “Clyde II”
Sources
Wtt - War Diary of Tank Corps Training Centre - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-118-8-2 P49
W3tb - War Diary of 3 Tank Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-93-5
p48 to 51 Summary of Battle History Sheets of 2 Battalion Tank Corps
W2 – War Diary of B /2nd Tank Battalion transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W2t - War Diary of B /2nd Tank Battalion - Pdf Download from PRO Kew -
PRO WO 95-113-1 - War Diary by date, page numbers usually not given refer to the date.
PRO WO-95-113-2 - Appendixes, May 17 to August 17
PRO WO-95-113-3 - Appendixes, November 17 to October 18
p19ff, Preliminary report on operations. Dated 27-11-17
p26, Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917” undated but after 29th November 1917
WMH - Henshall papers, IWM 73/126/1
"Battle Distribution revised dated 9 November 1917".
BHS - Battle History Sheets, 20th Nov. 1917 for tanks: 2077; B37; B34; B32; B31; B29; B22; B21; B26.
23rd Nov 1917: B19
W16b - War Diary of 16 Infantry Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO-WO-95-1607-1
p64 and p65, “Distribution of tanks” tables
S37 – “Following the Tanks”
2nd Tank Brigade. 20 November 1917 - Map
B / 2nd Battalion List of narratives