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14 Company 26 September 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 26th September 1917
14 Company, E Battalion, with 3rd and 59th Divisions, V Corps , 5th Army (OH)
This was E Battalions Second Action, and 14 company’s only action prior to Cambrai on 20th November 1917.
14 Company had 10 fighting tanks and one supply tank in action on 26th September 1917 (W21):
5 Section
E22 2806, f, “Emma”, Lt Cifford
E24, 2354, m, “Ernest”, 2Lt Webster
6 Section
E26, 2348, m, “Egbert”, 2Lt Staniforth
E30, 2558, f, “Eliza”, 2Lt Hopkins
7 Section
E1, 2345, m, “Eyewitness”, 2Lt Cook
E2, 2815, f, “Escapade”, 2Lt Black
E32, 2841, f, “Ethel”, 2Lt Quainton
E34, 2844, f, “Edith”, 2Lt Fairbank
8 Section
E36, 2767, f, “Eve”, 2Lt Broome
E37, 2809, f, “Evangeline”, 2Lt Owens
E38, 2807, f, “Eileen” 2Lt Despard
E40, 2353, m, “Edward”, 2Lt Bion
Supply Tank
ES3, 715, “Europa”, 2Lt Cohen
Note: Tank sexes from Appendix to 5th Tank Battalions War Diary PRO WO 95 / 111.
E1 and E24 are both given the serial number 2345 in the battlegraph.
E1 is given the serial number 2345 and E24 is numbered 2354 on their respective battle history sheets.
Orders
5 Section
E22 and E24 objective D26.b.90.4. (W21). Supporting the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division (W5a).
6 Section
E26 and E30 final Objective: Otto Farm D15c20.97. Supporting the 2 / 5th Sherwood Foresters, 178th Brigade, 59th Division (W5a).
7 Section
E1 final Objective: Primrose Cottage D20.b.30.74 or Van Isackers D21a30.65 then Israel Ho or Jacobs Ho. (W21).
E2 final Objective: Cabbage Cottage D20.b.15.85 or Van Isackers D21a30.66 Levi cott. D21a. (W21).
E32 Final Objective: Dochy Farm D15c15.15. (W21).
E34 Final Objective: Lilac Cottage D20d.28.98 (W21).
8 Section Supporting the1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, 8th Brigade, 3rd Division (W5a).
E36 and E38 final Objective: Zonnebeke Station, D21d6.5 (W21) E36 and E38 Hill 40 (W5a).
E37 and E40 final Objective: Hill 40, D21d.3.8: (W21). E37 and E40 Zonnebeke Station (W5a).
Account of Operations
5 Section
E22, E24 and ES3 moved to position of deployment at Mill Cotts
ES3 deposited her supplies at Spree Farm and then returned and rallied at Reigersburg.
E22 and E24 both reached the railway crossing (at D26.b.90.40 (W21)) in thick mist without seeing the enemy. E22 patrolled searching for targets. Right forward gunners silenced a hostile MG that fired on tank; later left gunners used indirect fire on enemy at behest of some infantry Vickers gunners. Tank ditched twice then returned and rallied Reigersburg. (W5a).
Meanwhile E24’s commander ascertained that the infantry were well ahead of the tank; E24 patrolled along the railway embankment for 200 – 300 yds, thence proceded a similar distance down the Zonnebeke road. Finding no enemy and not being required by the infantry the tank returned and Rallied at Reigersburg. (W5a). At some point this vehicle was Photographed behind British lines: (IWM Q 3548),
(TM 202/B6), (X76.p93)
6 Section
E26 and E30 were caught up in an enemy barrage whilst in Frezenberg. Both tanks were hit and knocked out prior to the 5.50am Zero hour, thus neither fired on the enemy. E30 was hit and burnt out at 4.10am at C18d.5.5. (or C18d8.6(W21)) the OIC and five crewmen were wounded, one crewman killed and one missing. (W5a) E26 was hit at 5.10am whilst waiting at the starting point C18.91.67 (or C18d8.6 (W21)) and two crewmen were mortally wounded (W5a). Note: the map reference is near to Spree Farm, some distance from Frezenberg.
7 Section
E1 mistakenly put a can of water in the petrol tank and thus broke down near Spree farm. The matter was corrected too late for the tank to be of any use and thus it returned and Rallied at Reigersburg (W5a).
E2 left Spree Farm in thick mist and reached Lilac Cottages before the infantry. Checked Bearings with E32’s commander, then proceeded another 100yds and ditched. Unditched and Rallied at Reigersburg (W5a).
E32 and E34 refilled at Spree farm E34 then broke down with autovac trouble (C18d.3.3 (W21)) and thus did not go into action.
E32 set out for Starting Point at D19a.7.8. Stopped 50 yards east of the ramp at Spree Farm and hit by enemy shell which did minor damage. Set off for starting point at about 6am, ditched whilst attempting to pass a derelict tank ( possibly F13, knocked out on 31st July at D18d.5.1), unditched but broke unditching gear. Passed ahead of infantry and ditched 100 yards west of Cabbage Cottages (D20b.2.8.(W21)). Engaged enemy from the tank and shellholes until infantry came forward and occupied Cabbage Cottages. Attempt to unditch tank abandoned due to heavy enemy shellfire (W5a). direct Hit (W21).
8 Section
E36 left starting point and proceeded to Tulip Cottages via the right side of Hill 35 and Hill 37. The Tank ditched twice and lost its unditching gear so the OIC decided to return. Whilst returning E36 became badly ditched at Iberian Farm (D13c5.6 (W21) (probably D19b.5.6) and was abandoned there (W5a).
E38 left the starting point at Zero, 5.50am, and got lost in the fog whilst proceeding along the right side [left hand side] of Hill 35 and arrived at Martha Cottages.After travelling for some distance the tank became badly ditched and was abandoned (at D14c3.3 (W21)). The OIC was killed at some point (CWG) .
E37 left starting point at 5.55 am and moved east along right hand side [left hand side] of Hill 35 to Hill 37 thence to Douchy Farm. The tank Ditched 24 times between Hill 37 and Douchy Farm. E37 proceeded towards Zonnebeke Station, at some point firing its forward Lewis guns and accounting for a dozen or so enemy soldiers. The OIC was informed the tank would not be needed by an infantry runner and thus turned back, unfortunately the tank ditched six more times in 50 yards, finally coming to a rest at D14c5.2 (W5a) (or D14c8.2 (W21)).
E40 left starting point at Zero with first wave of infantry. Proceeded to left [right] of Hill 35 but got lost in Fog and wound up too far to left on left side of Hill 37.OIC contacted various infantry units and then proceeded towards Martha House. The tank ditched in several feet of mud (at D14c3.3 (W21)) and was eventually abandoned at 12.30am (W5a).
The infantry attack was mostly successful, the official history makes no mention of tanks (OH).
2Lt Bion (E40) has left a detailed account of his actions prior to, during and after the attack (S102.p338ff). His statement suggests the position of his tank as given to an intelligence officer after the bate was little more than guesswork
Summary
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At Start: 11
Failed to start: 3
Engaged enemy: 3
Ditched / Broke Down: 4
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 3
Aftermath
E22 2806, “Emma”;
E2, 2815, f, “Escapade”;
E1, 2345, m, “Eyewitness”;
E24, 2354, “Ernest”; - All next in action on 20 Nov 1917 at Cambrai.
E36, 2767, "Eve" : was salvaged by the battalion on the 29-Sep-17
and was in action on 20 Nov 1917 at Cambrai W5a
E26, 2348, "Egbert"- Was salvaged by No 2 Salvage Coy and entrained for Central Workshops (W32) and returned to the UK and used to sell War bonds. Numerous photographs exist:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937602072/in/set-72157601074582281/
E30, 2558, E37 , 2809, “Evangeline” - Were salvaged by No 2 Salvage Coy and entrained for central workshops (W32) No further record.
E32, 2841, "Ethel" - Was salvaged by No 2 Salvage Coy and entrained for Central Workshops (W32) With 12th Tank Battalion in 1918.
E34, 2844, "Edith" - Was salvaged by the Crew on 27 Sept 17 (W5a) In action with 8th Battalion in March 1918.
E38, 2807, “Eileen” - Was salvaged by No 2 Salvage Coy and entrained for Central Workshops (W32) In action with 4th Battalion, March 1918
E40, 2353, “Edward” - Was handed to No 2 Salvage Coy for Salvage on 3rd October 1917 (W32) No further record.
Supply Tank
ES3, 715, “Europa” - No further record, presumably handed to Central Workshops in October when Mk I / II supply tanks replaced by Mk IV top tower supply tanks.
Sources
W21 – 1st Tank Brigade War Diary – relevant Appendices and Battlegraphs
W5a – Appendix to War Diary of 5th / E Tank Battalion held in PRO WO 95 / 111
W5a - E Battalion Tank Corps. Report on Operations September 26th 1917. Download from PRO: WO-95-111-3 p10ff
W32 – War Diary 2nd Tank Field Salvage Company
S4 - Campbell, Christy (2007). Band of Brigands
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.288
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