11company27august1917
11 company 27 August 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 27th August 1917
11 Company, D Battalion, with 144th Brigade, 48th Division, XVIII Corps, 5th Army
11 Company had 4 tanks in action on 27th August 1917
9 Section Capt E.G Smith MC. (W21)
D25, m, “Delia”, Lt E Sartin Sherwood
D26, “Don Quixote”, Lt H.H. Puttock
D27, “Double Dee”, Lt G. Edwards
D28, “Drakesdrum”, Lt P Lloyd
Orders
An infantry attack by (W21) 1 / 7th and 1 / 8th Worcesters (S35) , tanks to assist when called upon to do so. The attack covered by a smoke, shrapnel and gas barrage.
Tanks to lie up in St Julien until Zero hour (1.55 pm) then to proceed up Poelcapelle Road to Triangle Farm and to wait there until called upon by the infantry. (W21)
Account of Operations (W21)
D28 slipped off the road and ditched whilst skirting a fallen tree at C12a.5.1. before reaching Hillock Farm. A sponson was wedged between two tree stumps and the tank could not be moved.
The other three tanks reached Triangle Farm and almost immediately assisted the infantry, attacking several enemy strongpoint’s.
D25 reached approximately C6d.0.4 and from there fired forty rounds into each of several blockhouses near Vancouver Farm. The enemy retired form these and at least fifty of them were killed with the tanks Lewis guns. The infantry established an new line facing North East through C6d.1.2 and C6d.4.1 but were later forced to abandon it by an enemy counter attack. Following this counter attack the tank became ditched at C6d.0.3. whilst attempting to plug a gap in the British line about 50 yds behind the tank. The unditching gear had by now been blown away so the tank was abandoned.
D26 moved towards Springfield, slipped off the road and became ditched twice but was successfully unditched both times. At C12b.4.7. the tank ditched for a third and final time with water above the engine. The tank was abandoned.
D27 reached the crossroads at C6d.2.1 and engaged a large block house in C6d.3.0. Moved east when D26 ditched, heavily engaged a strongpoint at C12b.40.95 and fired upon enemy retiring from Vancouver, killing about 30, only two being seen to escape. At 4.45pm the tank moved forward to assist the 145th Brigades attack on the block house in C6d.3.0., unfortunately after 80 yds the road was blocked by a blown up derelict tank at C6d.5.1 [ identity unknown ]. The Lewis guns were fired at enemy in shell holes and some who were retiring, at least 20 of them being shot down.
At 5.50pm a mass of enemy in the trench in C6d.8.1 were fired upon. At 6.15 pm the infantry withdrew as they were in danger of being outflanked, the tank was manoeuvring to bring its Lewis guns to bear when the petrol tank was pierced by a shell splinter and the tank thus rendered immobile across the raod. By now the tank was surrounded by the enemy and was thus abandoned at C6d.4.1. One crewman missing and one wounded. (W2a, W21)
The three tanks thus helped the infantry capture Springfield and Vancouver Farms. (OH)
Summary
intended: 4
At Start: 3
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 3
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 0
Notes
Engaged enemy includes D26.
Hit and knocked out is D27 as it was rendered immobile by enemy fire.
Aftermath
There is no further record of any of the tanks.
Sources
W4a - 4th [sic] Battalion tank Corps War Diary Appendices PRO WO 95/110
W21 = 1st Brigade War Diary. Narrative of Operations for 27th August 1917.
S35 = Chris McCarthy (1995) Passchendaele. The Day by Day Account
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.208
NOTE
D Battalion’s War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum. (W4) does not contain the reports pertinent to this action.
PRO WO158 / 839 does not mention this action.
11 Company 27 August 1917 - Map
3rd Ypres Narratives - By date
3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit