17company31july1917
17 Company 31 July 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 31st July 1917
17 Company, F Battalion, with 165th and 166th Brigades, 55th Division, XIX Corps, 5th Army
(W63)
17 Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 31st July 1917(W23):
Company Commander: Maj. Hawkins CF MC
5 Section. Capt Bond BC
F21, 2540 , f, “Five Knights”, 2Lt Tolley CJH
F22, 2542, f, “Flying Fox”, 2Lt Farrar W
F23, 2543, f, “Foggie”, 2Lt Start W
F25, 2547, f, “Fums up”, 2Lt Emery GW
6 Section. Capt Storey SE DSO
F28, 2548, f, “Formidable”, 2Lt JSutherland JL
F27, 2326, m, “Fighting Mac”, 2Lt Walker J
F30, 2549, f, “Flaming Fire”, 2Lt Sutton F
F26, 2324, m, “Fearless”, 2Lt Thurston JA
8 Section. Capt Start AR
F37, 2328, m, “Ferocious”, Basil Evans D
F39, 2538, f, “Formosa”, Strachan C
F38, 2551, f, “Fireman”, Coleman E
F36, 2327, m, “Furious”, 2Lt Fletcher AW
7 (?) Supply Section.
F32, ?, Supply Tank.
F34, ?, Supply Tank.
Note:
Mk IV crew and WD numbers from list of 3rd Brigade Tanks dated 13 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 91. Courtesy of Gwyn Evans.
OIC names from Appendix 7 of War Diary in PRO WO95 / 107 (W6a)
Tank names from Appendix 7 of War Diary in PRO WO95 / 107 (W6a) and 3rd Tank Brigade War Diary (W23)
Crew numbers from 3rd Tank Brigade War Diary (W23)
WD numbers from Salvage records (W32)
Supply tank details from the Preliminary report on tank operations on 31 July 1917 (W63) in PRO WO 95 / 104
Orders - (W3b)
All sections to advance from blue line at Zero + 1 Hour 15 mins then assist the infantry of 165th and 166th Brigades in attacking Black Line.
5 Section. – In centre of attack on Black Line in following order from the right. Supporting 9th Kings Liverpool Regt.
F21 and F22 to support 9th Kings Liverpool Regt.
F23 and F25 to support 1/5th South Lancashire’s
6 Section. – On right of attack on Black Line in following order from the right.
F28, F27, and F30 to support 7th Kings Liverpool Regt.
F26 to support 9th Kings Liverpool Regt.
8 Section. Capt A.R Start - On left of attack on Black Line in following order from the right.
F37, F39, to support 1/5th South Lancashire’s
F38, F36 to support 10th Liverpool Regt.
Account of Operations
All twelve tanks crossed Oxford Road at Zero, all reached their objective but, with the exception of F36 and F38 were very late due to the state of the ground. (W3b)
5 Section.
F21, Silenced four MGs at Plum Farm (W23) (preliminary report states Apple Villa (W63) , but Brigade War Diary and War History both state Plum Farm (W3b) ), enabled infantry advance. Drove Garrison out of Pommern redoubt, Patrolled in front whilst infantry consolidated. Returned and rallied. 1 OR casualty. (W23)
F22, Attacked. Crossed German Front Line, Ditched and abandoned by about midday at C29b.60.95 (W23) .
F23, Arrived late, proceeded to Bank Farm in response to infantry request for assistance. Enemy retires to Pommern Redoubt, tank broke down (W23) with leaky radiator (W63) 100yds from Plum Farm; C24c.7.4 at 9:45 am.
F25, Attacked. Crossed German Front Line, ditched at Jasper Farm, Clutch Slipping. (W23)
6 Section.
F26, 5:53am - Ditched in British front line, 100yds N.E. of Pagoda Wood in large shell hole full of water; Penetrated by shell fragments. Abandoned 11.30. (W23)
F27, Attacked. Crossed German Front Line, Ditched and broke down in German front line system, 20.n.W. C29a.95.55 (W23) (or C29b.4.5, see sketch map) .
F28, Ditched just beyond Blue line, unditched. Attacked Pommern Redoubt at infantry's request (W23), 6 crew wounded by MG fire (W3b). Ditched at 8.15am , unditched by 3:10 pm then tank returned, Rallied. All crew Wounded. (W23)
F30, Attacked. Crossed German Front Line, ditched Camel support trench at 6:00 am, direct hit, broke down (W23) , burnt out. (W3b)
7 Section.
F36, Ditched in British front line, unditched. Advanced to black line, captured two Germans by a field gun and Knocked out an MG in Border House by 7:50 am. Ditched at Border house before 8:20am (W23) (probably nearer to Corn Hill, see sketch map). OIC wounded. (W3b)
F37, Attacked. Ditched in British front line, unditched. Crossed Blue Line, broke down before 9:40 am at C24a.2.1. (W23)
F38, Advanced to black line, Knocked out MG 160 yds SW Spree Farm; (W23) patrolled along black line, received four direct hits and was burnt out. OIC wounded or killed. (W3b)
F39, Dispersed snipers and knocked out MG in Capricorn Trench (W23) (Ran NW from Bank Farm), also cleared 20 Germans from a communication trench leading to Capricorn (W23) Keep (W3b) Returned and ditched just in front of original German front line. (W23) War History states she rallied (H6) but this is probably a mistake as: 1 Aug - To Salvage (W63) .
8 (?) Supply Section.
F32 - Supply Tank. Probably did not go into action. 1 Aug - At Rallying point
F34 - Supply Tank. Probably did not go into action. 1 Aug - At Rallying point
Bank Farm was only captured by the 165th Brigade after a tank [presumably F23, though may be F39 ] arrived to support them. Likewise the 166th brigade only captured Spree Farm after two tanks silenced the MGs therein (OH)
Summary of fighting tanks
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At Start: 12
Failed to start: 0
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down: 8
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 1
Notes
More tanks may have engaged the enemy
Knocked out includes F26
F28 rallied in the afternoon, it is included in the ditched total.
Aftermath
F28 in action with same crew on 20th November 1917 at Cambrai.
F21 in action with same crew on 27th November 1917 at Cambrai.
F25, 11 Aug - From 2nd Brigade to No 2 Salvage Coy for Salvage. 24 Aug - Salved whole from G29.6.4.6 to Reigersburg Chateau, broken chain and badly ditched (W32)
F27, 1 Aug - Hit in Radiator, being worked on by Battalion Workshops and tank crews (W63). 9 Aug - Being salved at C29b.20.74 (W3) 19 Aug - Salved whole to I.3a.5.5 hit twice left hand side. 22 Aug - From I.3a.5.5 to Reigersburg Chateau. 31 Aug - Loaded for CW (W32)
On 1 August F22, F26, F30, F36, F37, F38 and F39 were all handed to salvage as they were all hit and too badly damaged to repair (W63)
F36 is not referred to in the salvage company's reports, there is no further reference to this tank.
F22, 5 Aug - Preparations made to Salvage whole. 7 Aug - Salved whole to I.3a.5.5. 14 Aug - From I.3a.5.5 to Reigersburg Chateau (W32)
F23, 2 Sept - Salved whole from C24.b.6.5 to St Jean. 8 Sept - From Salvage to CW (W32)
F26, 11 Aug -Salved whole on improvised radiator to I.3a.5.6 23 Aug - Heavily shelled at I.3a.5.5 whilst attempting to move 24 Aug - From I.3a.5.5 to Reigersburg Chateau 31 Aug - Loaded for CW (W32)
F30, 5 Aug -Preparations made to Salvage whole 17 Aug - Salved Whole to I.3a.5.5 22 Aug - From I.3a.5.5 to Reigersburg Chateau 31 Aug - Loaded for CW. (W32)
F37, 5 Aug -visited by Salvage team. 20 Aug - Salved Whole to I.3a.5.5, turret Hit. 23 Aug - From I.3a.5.5 to Reigersburg Chateau 31 Aug - Loaded for CW (W32)
F39, 14 Aug - Salved Whole to I.3a.5.5. 22 Aug - From I.3a.5.5 to Reigersburg Chateau. 31 Aug - Loaded for CW (W32)
F38 photographed with F48 whilst disabled, presumably after recovery by salvage team in September as F48 was in action on 22nd August and 20th November : http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8498156997/in/set-72157601074582281/
Sources
W32 = War Diary of 2 Tank Field Salvage Coy in PRO WO 95 / 96
W6 = F Battalion War Diary, transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
W6a = F Battalion War Diary, appendix 7, in PRO WO 95 / 107
W23 = 3rd Tank Brigade War Diary in PRO WO 95 / 104
W63 = Preliminary report on tank operations on 31 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 104
H6 – F Battalion War History in PRO WO 95 / 107
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.158
Note: F / 6th Battalion War Diary, transcription form Bovington Tank Museum (W3), does not contain an account of this action.
F / 6th Battalion War history in PRO WO 95 / 107 contains a detailed tank by tank account of this action