Comp Coy, B Battalion 23 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 23^rd November 1917

Comp Company, B Battalion, with 152^nd Brigade, 6^th Division, IV Corps

B battalion had 13 tanks in action on 23^rd November 1917 ^(W2a):

Company Commander Major

4 company, 1 section - Capt Groves HBM

B8, 2556, "Banshee", 2Lt Chambers PC ^(WHM)

B14, 4588, "Belladonna", 2Lt Fox WE ^(WHM)

B19, 8029, “Black Prince II”, 2Lt Tew W ^(WHM)

5 company, 5 section - Capt Vans Agnew F

B21, 2864, f, "Bedouin", 2Lt Law RM ^(WHM)

B23, 8040, m, "Bandit II", Lt Dalby AA

B35, 4589, f, "Bogey II", 2Lt Doyle JE ^(WHM)

5 company, 6 section - Capt Birnie WJG

B28, 2080, m, "Black Arrow II", 2Lt Evans JO

B30, 2874, f, "Ballyhackle II", 2Lt Mercer TM

B36, 2869, f, "Bayardo II", 2Lt Christmas ^(WMH)

B24, 8035, m, "Brigand II", 2Lt Simpson AG

6 company

B45, 2868, "Blunderbuss", 2Lt Livermore SR ^(WMH)

B54, 4516, , "Behemoth II", 2Lt Lazonby JC

B57, 2873, f, "Blarney Castle", 2Lt Henderson T

Notes:

B19 was crewed by crew B2; B8 was crewed by crew B3 ^(WMH)

Some details from BHS ^(WHM), others from Ian Verrinder; OICS of B54 and B57 may be swapped ^(S78.p202). 2lt Henderson is the commander of "Barney Castle" in the table in 16 Infantry Brigade's war diary (WO 95-1607-1 p63 and 64)

Serial numbers of B23, B28, B30, B45, B57 and B54 from report on “Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917” ^(W2s) Note that 2868 is listed as B49 in this document, this is probably its original crew number (which would have been painted on the rear of the tank and thus visible to the salvage crew) , B45 being the crew aboard the tank on 23rd November.

Orders

Overnight on the 22^nd a company of "B" Battalion was ordered to proceed to a point on the road on the ridge overlooking Fontaine and then assist the 152^nd infantry brigade's attack on the village. "H" battalion would also assist in this attack. The tanks were to set off at 9.40am and reach the barrage line at 10.30am, (Zero hour ^(WHM) just as the barrage lifted. "B" Battalion was to assist in the capture of the village and then, when released by the infantry, proceed to the railway to the north of it. ^(W2a) Six tanks from "C" battalion were to support the attack, three to suppress the enemy in Folie Wood and three would enter the village ^(W3a)

B19's Objective was the right of Fontaine village

5 section were to enter the village by the Church and patrol the south-western area ^(S78.p133).

1/6 Seaforth on the left were to clear the slope between Fontaine and Bourlon Wood. The 1/6 Gordons on the right were to secure Fontaine itself and the Argyll were to come up and form a defensive flank on the right. ^(OH)

Account of Operations

Overview

The tanks reached the barrage line on time ^(W2a), all 13 tanks from "B" Battalion and three tanks from "C" Battalion entered the village ^(OH) and engaged the enemy. Meanwhile the flanking section from "C" company had failed to silence the enemy fire coming from La Folie Wood and the infantry were held up by this; some of the tanks retired from the village two or three times in an attempt to bring the infantry forward. At 1pm two tanks retired from the village, a female with all its Lewis Guns damaged and put out of action by enemy fire and a male which had expended all its ammunition ^(W2a). "H" battalion tanks helped clear the ground between the village and Bourlon wood, then they advanced on the village but were hit and knocked out on the main road west of the village (See "H" Battalion narrative) 7 crews eventually returned, though only 3 brought their tanks with them. 6 crews were missing (presumably B23, B28, B30, B57, B54) ^(W2a). The War History states 5 tanks rallied, including one from 5 and one from 6 Company ^(H2).

B19 moved from F8b.5.5. at 10am. Started from F26d.9.7, N of Cantaign Mill at 10:30am ^(WHM) leading the section, B8 and B14 following in line astern ^(S78.p133) The smoke barrage on the village covered the tank's advance and it was not fired upon until it reached F22a.5.5 close to hastily dug enemy fire trenches; the enemy retreated northwards and to the wood in F23c. the tank kept up continuous LG and 6 pdr fire, the right hand 6 pdr firing on the wood in F23b. When the tank reached the road in F16a.3.0 the smoke cleared and enemy MG fire became intense, the tank replied and silence many MGs. 3 crew were wounded. An enemy battery was engaged at F16a.3.0, 6 Pdr fired on guns and tank ran over the trail of one gun. Tank went round rear of village and then entered it, firing 6 Pdr on 3MGs in a house to the left of the church. As all the ammo was now exhausted the tank withdrew and rallied, zig zagging en route to avoid fire from a field gun. ^(WMH)

B8 followed the section commanders tank, went into Fontaine along the main street firing all guns on windows etc. Fired two drums of ammo on field gun. Went around village then re entered same and went up main street finding [C47 and C48] there. All guns were now disabled so the tank turned to rally, demolishing a wall of a house and being stuck for 5 minutes whilst doing so. The crew used revolvers to fire on the enemy whilst withdrawing. The tanks engine seized at L2d.8.6 ^(WMH)

B14 Right flank: Held fire until within 800yds of village, fired on bodies of enemy, some of whom fled towards the wood in F23a, these were dispersed; then silenced an enemy battery in F16c.9.1; the tank running over one gun’s barrel. Left flank: Silenced enemy fire from trench in F21a and fired on enemy in windows. All LG were out of action before Fontaine was entered. Entered village (even though effectively unarmed) then returned and rallied. ^(WMH)

B23, with the section commander aboard, led 5 section towards the village, it knocked over a telegraph pole and the right hand 6pdr became entangled in the telegraph wires and stuck sticking out at a 90 degree angle to the tanks side; the extra width proved to ve a major handicap in the narrow village streets. ^(S78.p133f) The tank eventually freed itself and went into the village, fighting near the church. It stopped in a small street to the south east of the village and engaged the enemy who were in the open between the village and La Folie Wood. ^(S78.p138) About 3:30pm B23 moved out to the edge of the village, met with B21 and agreed to follow her back to British lines. Whilst returning B23 suffered 3 direct hits and was Knocked Out. The 8 crew and the section commander, bailed out and ran, under fire, to Fontaine where they took cover in a house and were captured. 5 were wounded during the action ^(S78.p145f)

B21 started and was fired on by small shells from start point until entering the village. The tank followed B23 until it got stuck at the entrance to the village; it diverted 200 yards around the village firing on the enemy, then returned and entered village only to find B35 blocking one of the streets. Eventually B21 reached main street where it became one of four lined up before a barricade, which was being fired on by a 6pdr tank. B21's radiator was pierced by AP ammo fired from rear, 3 crew wounded, withdrew and broke down close to British outpost line. ^(WMH) at F21c ^(W2s)

B35 Dealt with an isolated trench on outskirts of Fontaine. Entered the village, ^(WHM) bypassing the stranded B23 ^(S78.p136) with wire round 6pdr. B35 then went through Fontaine, engaging the enemy. Charged a roadblock on main street, small gun therein got away before tank reached it. ^(WMH) Returned and rallied ^(S78.p144)

B24 was presumably knocked out or broke down whilst returning as it is listed as being at F21c in the "report of tanks handed to salvage" (W2s)

B28 led 6 section ^(S78.p136) got stuck at a junction on the far side of the village ^(WMH)

B30 advanced behind B28 and got into difficulties on the far side of the village.^(S78.p139)

B36 Started at 9:45am, climbed out of sunken road and headed for Fontaine. Third tank in line: male [B28], female [B30], female [B36], male [B24]. Fired on a lot. Entered village, after an hour passed the lead tanks (B28 stuck at junction) ^(WMH). Turned left and went a hundred yards along a road before being hit twice and and seriously damaged (OIC and driver wounded) ^(S78.p140), managed to limp back to F21a central where the engine seized up. ^(WMH) or at F21d ^(W2s). Two crewmen cross-decked to B54 ^(s78.p140)

B45 was fired on from trenches to the left whilst approaching Fontaine, replied with good effect. Entered the village, fired on doors, windows and loopholes, went to main street, tuned right, went 100 yards then turned right again towards church, went round church, back to main street then went east along it, engaged by light gun on leaving village, reversed, turned around and went back through village along main street. Fired on enemy in trench at western end of village. Turned to rally but hit and KO at F21b.3.3. guns and one wounded crewman transferred to a “C” Battalion tank [C47] which was hit and burnt out shortly thereafter (crewman escaped again). ^(WMH)

B54 and B57 both made it to the east side of the village where they were hit and knocked out, B54 was set afire and the crew killed either in the tank or as they tried to escape (See photographs in aftermath section below).

B23, B28, B30, B54 and B57 are listed as missing in Fontaine in the salvage report. ^(W2s)

2Lt Vans Agnew and crew POW ^(S78.p147); Lt Birnie, 2Lts Evans , Henderson, Lazonby Mercer and Simpson all killed ^(CWG)

A section of "C" battalion tanks (one male, two females: ( CW4 and C14 ^(W3a))) was supposed to silence the enemy in La Folie Wood and thus prevent their fire from enfilading the advancing highlanders. The section's male tank was KO at the start point and the females were unable to silence the Germans firing from the Château in the wood ^(OH) ; C14 ^(W3a) was set afire. The infantry advance was stopped by enfilading MG fire from La Folie Wood on their right, and heavy fire from the village ahead; they thus lost touch with the tanks who entered the village unsupported ^(OH)

In the village the Germans used AA guns mounted on lorries to good effect, knocking out several tanks with these.

Summary

Intended: 13

Reserve: 0

At start: 13

Started: 13

Engaged enemy: 13

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and knocked out: 10

Rallied: 3

The knocked out total includes tanks whose engines seized as a result of enemy fire piercing their radiators (B8, B21, B36).

Aftermath

B19 was brought back from in front of Fontaine to L27a on the 24th (WO 95-113-1 p42)

B8 was recovered by the Germans: X74.p25

IWM Q 29882: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205215593

B23 was recovered by the Germans:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3464434408/in/set-72157601074582281/

B24 photographed Knocked out: X42.p106 and (same photo)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4020114535/in/set-72157601074582281/

B28 was photographed several times by the Germans:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4260490877/in/set-72157601074582281/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8347460282/in/set-72157601074582281/

B30 was photographed presumably abandoned:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8346431635/in/set-72157601074582281/

B45 handed to salvage on the 27th November (WO 95-113-1 p42) listed as B49 in salvage report (WO 95-113-3 p26)

B54 was photographed after capture: Photos courtesy of Gwyn Evans.

B54 and B47 photographed after capture:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8337125775/in/set-72157601074582281/

B57 was photographed numerous times after capture:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3351539102/in/set-72157601074582281/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/5406694099/in/set-72157625639179301/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4101620278/in/set-72157601074582281/

and was eventually photographed being broken up by the Germans. (X6.p11), (X60.p72)

On 29 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 – 2 Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/109: Orders, Account of operations Nov 20^th – 23^rd,

W2s – 2 Battalion War Diary PRO WO 95/109: Tanks Handed to Salvage during November 1917

WMH - Henshall papers, IWM 73/126/1 - Battle History sheets

H2 - 2 Battlion War History, transcript form Bovington tank Museum.

OH - Official History, 1917 Vol 3. P.126 and p.127

S78 - Ian Verrinder (2009) Tank in Action

Fontaine 23 Nov 1917 - Map

Cambrai Narratives