F Battalion. Afternoon 20 November 1917

The Tanks at Cambrai. 20^th November 1917. Morning – Second Phase

Composite Company, F Battalion, with 88^th Brigade, 29^th Division, III Corps

Composite Company had 13 tanks in action on the late morning of 20^th November 1917 ^(H6):

F7, m, “feu de Ciel II”

F27, m, “Fighting Mac II”

F26, m, “Fearless II”

F22, m, “Flying Fox II”

F23, “Foggie II”

F30, “Flaming Fire II”

F13, “Falcon II”

F1, 2730, “Firespite”

F6, 2310, “Feu d’Artifice”

F50, 2704, f, “Fay”, 2Lt WA Duke

F51, 2547, f, “Fortuna”, 2Lt NL Hanford

F52, 2375, m, “Foam II”, 2Lt WA Paton

F54, 2396, m, “Festina Lente”, 2Lt C Handford

Notes:

F1 serial number from photograph IWM Q 7279: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205239107

F6 serial number from list of 3^rd Brigade Tanks dated 13 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 91. Courtesy of Gwyn Evans.

F50, F51, F52 and F54 WD numbers, all tank sexes and all section and tank commanders names from OB taken from Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorczynski (1999) Following the Tanks, Cambrai ^(S37); The Author has been unable to locate an original source for this information.

Orders ^(H6)

Originally 16 Company were to send 12 tanks to the Bridge Head at Masnieres. All three companies eventually provide tanks for this purpose.

Account of Operations ^(H6)

F50 broke down and did not proceed to bridge. Repaired and rallied at midday on the 21^st.

F52 dealt with a sniper in La Vacquaerie valley then broke down.

F7 was the first tank to enter Masnieres at 11.55am, as the enemy were evacuating. The tank reached the bridge with a platoon of infantry at 12.30am. the tank opened fire on the enemy being relieved by F6 when the 6pdr ammunition was used up. The tank rallied at 11.30 on the 21^st.

F27 arrived at bridge and was detailed to hold it, did so until all 6pdr ammunition was exhausted then relived by F26

F26 relieved F27, borrowed 50 rounds of 6Pdr off F22 and moved onto bridge. 3 men were wounded and gears jammed whilst on bridge, towed clear by F22 which then relieved this tank.

F22 demolished the bridge whilst attempting to cross it. Abandoned. Photographed numerous times (see below).

F23 arrived at 1.15pm, stayed until 9am on the 21^st when it rallied at RP.

F30 arrived shortly after F23 also rallied at 9am on the 21^st.

F13 arrived at 12.30 and remained until 8.45am on the 21^st, rallied with other tanks at the RP at 11.30. Whilst in Masnieres fired on windows of houses suspected to contain enemy, OIC wounded by splinters from MG fire.

F1 went straight to bridge, OIC and crew took over as the bridge Guard tank, F6 from 6am to 9.30am on the 21^st. Rallied at 11am on the 21^st.

F6 Relieved F7 as bridge Guard. Crew of F7 took over this tank from1pm to 6 am, when they were relieved by the crew of F1. This tank (presumably with its original crew) rallied at 9.30am on the 21^st. Whilst en route to RP OIC and Driver both wounded.

F51 Arrived at 12.15pm detailed to hold wooden bridge to north of main bridge, relieved by F54 at 3pm. Refuelled and refilled then held the main bridge, under heavy fire, from 8pm on the 21^st to until 8.15pm on the 22^nd It rallied at 11pm on the 23^rd.

F54 arrived at 12.15pm, fired on the far side of the canal to cover assault on wooden bridge. Parked overnight on the main street. Relived Bridge Guards at 8am on the 21^st. under continuous shell fire form 11 to 6.30 on the 21ast. At 11pm the tank moved away form the bridge but kept if under observation. This tank let for the RP at 6.30am on the 23^rd, reaching RP at about midday.

Summary

Intended: 12

Reserve: 1

At Start: 12

Started: 11

Engaged enemy: 11

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 11

Aftermath

F22 would remain in situ until after the war acting as a bridge support.

Photographed numerous times: