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12 Company 20 September 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 20th September 1917
12 Company, D Battalion, with 5th Army
12 Company had 12 tanks in action on 20th September 1917 (W21):
9 Section Captain E.G Smith MC
D42, 2306, m, “Daphne”, 2Lt HH Sherwood
D43, 2515, f, “Delysia”, Lt AJ Enoch
D44, 2337, m, “Dracula”, 2Lt CL Symonds
D54, 2856, f, “Diadem”, 2Lt RA Jones
10 Section Captain H.G Head MC
D16, 2576, f, “Derek”, 2Lt JC Macintosh
D29, 2332, m, “Damon”, 2Lt JA Vose
D45, 2661, f, “Destroyer”, 2Lt JE Symond
D55, 2764, f, “Dragon”, 2Lt EJ Tritton
12 Section
D04, 2702, f,“Dryad”, 2LtJ McNiven
D21, 2026, m, “Dreadnought”, 2Lt HH Dobinson
D23, 2710, f, “Dashing Dragoon”, 2Lt E Owen
D30, 2777, f, “Dusky Dis”, Lt P Pasulet- King
Orders / Objectives (W21)
9 Section
D42 and D43: Objective: Malta House, Bavaroise House.
D44: Objective: New House, Malta House, Delta House, Rose House.
D54: Objective: Beer Trench, Cemetery, Bavaroise House.
10 Section
D16: Objective: White House, Delta House, Rose House, Delta Huts.
D29, D45 : , Objective: White House, Pheasant Farm, Rose House.
D55: Objective: White House, Delta House, Pheasant Farm, Kangaroo Trench.
12 Section
D4: Objective: White House, Pheasant Farm, Cemetery, Rose House.
D21, D23, D30: Objective: Pheasant Farm, Rose House.
Account of Operation
9 Section
This section was the only one that rendered any assistance to the Infantry. (W21)
D54 had her radiator pierced by a shell splinter just after leaving the start line. She thus broke down and was unable to attack. (W21)
The remaining three tanks of the section proceeded in single file up the Poelcapple Road (158/839) . Presumably D44 leading, followed by D42 and D43.
D42 suffered two direct hits at point U.30d4.4, these blew off her turret and put her right track out of action. (W21)
D43 was unable to pass the hulk of D42 and, at the infantry request fired 7900 rounds on Lewis gun ammunition in an indirect barrage over the top of Pheasant Farm (158/839). She then turned for home and became ditched but was successfully unditched. (W21)
D44 proceeded up the Poelcapple Road and (158/839) , despite being ditched and unditched four times (w21) almost reached Delta House before breaking down with engine trouble at V25a3.8 (158/839) . The tank was photographed by a German aircraft, possibly whilst proceeding up the Poelcapple road though more probably whilst lying derelict there (X38.p264).
The tanks of 10 and 12 sections appear to have started from about U29b0.2, leaving the road that ran parallel to the front at this point and setting off across country.
10 Section
D16’s crew were overcome by gas at U29b0.2. (W21)
D29 made it to U29b9.4. where she was hit twice and burnt out, two of her crew being killed. (W21)
D55 also ditched, [ probably at U29b.9.5 ], (though the Battlegraph may state U23d.9.5) (W21)
D45 progressed further than D29 and D45 according to the Battlegraph, almost making it to her objective before suffering a direct hit. The location of her demise is also given as U29b2.5 on the Battlegraph, not far from her start point (W21). U30b2.5, just south of Pheasant farm seems a more likely final resting place.
12 Section
D4 Ditched and broke down with engine trouble also at U29b0.2 (W21) near to D16
D21 Ditched at U29b0.3, just north of D4 and D16 and was unable to unditch as her unditching gear was broken. (W21)
D23 Turned back just after start with a leaking Radiator. (W21)
D30 Ditched and unditched four times, failed to make her objective and returned. (W21)
All but one of the thirty (sic) tanks allocated to support XVIII Corps ditched and failed to reach their objectives.The attack nevertheless succeeded. As Delta House was the sole tank objective reached D44 was presumably the successful tank. (OH)
Summary
intended: 12
At Start: 12
Failed to start: 0
Engaged enemy: 2
Ditched / Broke Down: 5
Hit and Knocked out: 4
Rallied: 3
Notes
The battlegraph indicates only D43 and D44 engaged the enemy.
Hit and knocked out includes D54.
Broke down includes D16 whose crew was overcome by gas.
Aftermath
D04, 2702; D42, 2306; D16, 2576; D21, 2026; D45, 2661 No further record
D29, 2332, Left derelict in field: Photographed postwar: X60.p89t, X55.p99t, X55.p100b. Eventually became Ypres presentation tank.
D44, 2337, On 9th October this tank would become fouled by the last tank in 11 Company’s 7 tank column and thus effectively prevented their retreat. The hulk of D44, 2337 was eventually blown up by British engineers in order to clear the road. (W21)
D30, 2777 In action on 9th October 1917.
D43, 2515 in action on 20 November 1917 at Cambrai.
D54, 2856 next recoded with 2nd Battalion in February 1918.
D23, 2710 next recorded with 5th Battalion in March 1918.
D55, 2764 next recorded with 12th Battalion in August 1918.
Sources
158/839 = PRO WO158 /839
W21 = 1st Tank Brigade War Diary (W21) relevant Battlegraphs and Précis of battle history sheets (latter also in WO158/839)
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.268
NOTE
D Battalion’s War diary. Transcription form Bovington Tank Museum. (W4) does not contain the reports pertinent to this action.
12 Company 20 September 1917 - Map
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