I Battalion. 27 November 1917
The Tanks at Cambrai. 27th November 1917
I Battalion, with Guards Division (H9), IV Corps
I Battalion had 4 tanks in action on 27th November 1917 (W9):
Section Commander – Capt Padfield (H9):
I24, 2Lt Mcredy, 26 Coy
I8, 2Lt Truelock, 25 Coy
IW4, 2Lt Palfrey, 25 Coy
IW3, 2Lt Warren, 26 Coy
Orders (W9)
Attack Fontaine with "F" Battalion tanks
Account of Operations (W9)
Started from F19 central at 5:58am, reached exit from wood at F14a.3.3.
The map in the war diary indicates all the tanks proceeded around the southern and eastern edges of the wood to F14c.
I24 bellied on a tree stump at F14a.3.3, it was eventually freed with unditching beam, too late to attack.
The ap further indicates the other three tanks all attacked Fontaine from the west, all three entering and traversing 15a, b, c and d before rallying. The map doesn't indicate which tank is which.
I8 entered Fontaine from North and passed through Village silencing 2 MGs en route. Rallied at 11am
IW4 approached village from left. Cleared enemy out of sandpit F15a.3.2. At request of infantry drove north along sunken road and flushed about 100 enemy into open who were then all but annihilated. Thence to the SE of the village, via the centre F15c.8.9; asked to proceed to church by guards officer but unable to cross ground. Went along Cambrai Road to F16c.2.7. and returned to crossroads at F15d.2.0 thence to RP.
IW3 also reached it objectives and rallied (H6).
Note: There is no written account of IW3’s actions in the War Diary.
Summary
Intended: 4
Reserve: 0
At Start: 4
Started: 3
Engaged enemy: 3
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 3
It is assumed IW3 also engaged the enemy
Aftermath (W23)
12 I battalion tanks made ready to attack on 29th but not required. Battalion withdrawn to Sorel on 30th and entrained on 7th December (W6).
30 tanks were brought back to the tankodrome (H6), this may have been the Brigade's total, not the Battalion's.
This was "I" Battalion's last action with MkIV tanks. All the tanks were handed to 6th, 8th and 10th Battalions in February 1918.
The serial numbers of the tanks that were handed over were:
A Company: 2832, 2659, 2824, 2822, 2814, 2355 and 6016
B Company: 2651, 2570, 2874 and 2622
C Company: 2358, 2695, 2075, 2831, 2579, 2645 and 6017.
Ten other tanks were also handed over. Some of these tanks may have been the battalion's survivors from Cambrai, note that 6017 is recorded as being with "B" Battalion at Cambrai.
Sources
W9 – 9th (I) Battalion’s War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
H9 – 9th (I) Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum