7 June 1917 - 4 Company
The Tanks at Messines. 7th June 1917.
4 Company. B Battalion with New Zealand Division, II ANZAC Corps (H2), 2nd Army
4 Company intended to get 12 tanks into action on 7th June 1917 (W21)
4 Company - Maj. Bingham D
2 Section - Capt. Bennewith
B6, 2005, Lt Lowe
B7, 2011, 2Lt Marshell
B9, 2667, 2Lt Jones
B10, 2017, Lt Campbell
3 Section - Capt. Reardon
B11, 2708, Lt Hamilton
B12, 2050, 2Lt Haseler
B14, 2041, 2Lt Benjafield
B15, 2718, 2Lt Whittle
4 Section - Capt. Partington
B16, 2004, 2Lt Appleton
B17, 2043, 2Lt Coulson
B18, 2673, 2Lt Lane
B19, 2679, 2Lt Rice
1 Section, Supply - Capt. Groves
B1, 2Lt Goodall
B4, Lt Macartney
Note
In the list in the Battalion War Diary 4 Company has two supply tanks: 741 and 786, one of these may have been with crew B1 on this date.
On the 11th June 4 Company's OIC submitted a sketch showing the location of hits on a tank, this was most probably 2718, the only tank from 4 Company whose sketch is currently held in PRO WO 95-101 (W22).
B1 and B4 listed as supply tanks on diagram of orders (WO 95-101-2, p62)
Orders
To support the attack on Messines and the trenches to the east of the village on the Black Line (H2)
Attacked with 2nd New Zealand infantry brigade, New Zealand Division (WO 95-101-2, p62)
4 section start from U1d.3.9
Account of Operations
Three tanks were photographed moving forward watched by dark skinned New Zealand troops (TM 68/F3) (x76.p54), these are presumably "B" battalion tanks as the battalion was stopped near Maori troops on the 5th June, just before the battle (H2).
Three tanks became ditched in the Steenbeck, five ditched in the first German trench system, one reached Messines after the infantry had taken the town, 2718 and 2679 supported the attack on the Black line, silencing several MGs. (H2)
4 Section - Northern section
2004 was hit and burnt out at the SP, U1a.5.0, all but two of the crew becoming casualties. (W2a)
2043 ditched between German Front Line and Black Line (w22) at O32c.5.0 at 4:20am (w2a) was unditched and rallied (w2a)
2673 ditched between German Front Line and Black Line (w22) U2a.5.7 at 4:30am (W2a) 2 direct hits and burnt out (Pidgeon message)
2679 reached Fanny's farm, O33a.7.5 and supported the (w2a) Wellington and Aukland battalions there (OH) silencing several MGs (H2) the tank knocked in the walls and 100 infantry surrendered (OH) ; whilst returning ditched near Swains Farm, O32b (W2a)
2 Section - Centre Section
2005 broke down, (w22) ran out of petrol at 6am (W2a) and then was hit; just short of Black Line (W22) U2b.7.4 (w2a) presumably this is the tank that got into Messines three quarters of an hour after the infantry. (W2a)
2011 ditched just before German Front Line (w22), U2c.0.5 at 3:45am (W2a)
2667 ditched just after crossing German Front Line (w22), U2d.4.8 at 4:10am (W2a)
2017 ditched just after crossing German Front Line (w22), U2a.3.3 at 4:45am (W2a)
3 Section - Southern section
one tank ditched before crossing the British front line, a second in the British front line,
2708 ditched in German Front Line (W22) U2c.3.1. at 3:45am (w2a)
2050 ditched just after German Front Line (w22) U8a.3.7 at 3:15am (w2a)
2041 ditched between German Front Line and Black Line (w22) at U2d.4.8 for two and a half hours (w2a), tank was unditched and rallied (w22)
2718 passed over Ulcer Reserve, U3c central with the infantry, the infantry pressed ahead, the tank was 200 yards behind them when it reached its final objective in Zareeba, u3b.5.5 about 5am (W2a) it silenced several MGs (H2). The tank then rallied. (W2a)
1 section, Supply
The supply tanks worked well but Lt Macartney's was hit and knocked out whilst returning, the OIC and all but one crewman were killed. (w2a) B1 broke down before the start and again just after crossing the German front linereturned and rallied. (W2a)
Lt Benjafield wrote an account of 2041's action which was published in the "Kingsville Reporter on 9 August 1917: http://news.ourontario.ca/2356286/page/2?n=23&q=tank&docid=OOI.2356286. Found by Gwyn Evans.
Summary
Intended: 12
At start: 12
Failed to start: 0
Engaged enemy: 2
Ditched / Broke Down: 7
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 3
Aftermath
The surviving tanks were all renamed by 31st July.
2004, 2673, 2708 - No further record.
2005 was supposedly in action again at Cambrai, the author thinks this is incorrect. The tank eventually became Cambrai's presentation tank.
2011 was possibly in action on 27 Aug 1917
2667 was recovered on 9 June 1917; and in action on 20 Nov 17 at Cambrai.
2017 was possibly in action on 27 Aug 1917
2050 was recovered on 8 June 1917; and in action with 4 Coy on 20 Nov 17 at Cambrai.
2041 failed to reach the start point on 22 Aug 1917
2718 in action with 6 Coy on 31 July 1917
2043 was recovered on 9 June 1917; and in action on 23 Aug 17
2679 in action with 5 Coy on 20 Nov 17 at Cambrai.
Sources
H2 – 2nd Battalion War History. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.
W2 – 2nd Battalion War Diary. Transcript from BovingtonTank Museum.
W2a – 2nd Battalion War Diary, Appendixes in PRO WO 95 / 113
W22 - Messines Ridge Battlegraphs in PRO WO 95 / 101
OH - Official history. 1917. Vol 2. Pg 68.
7 June 1917 - B Battalion - Map