1company26september1917
1 Company 26 September 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 26th September 1917
1 Company, A Battalion, with 98th Brigade, 33rd Division, (W22a) ,
1 Company had 4 tanks in action on 26th September 1917 (W22):
1 Company: Capt. Miskin. (w1a)
2 Section - 2Lt Liles (w1a)
A6, 2855, "Angustura", 2Lt Lambert W (w1a)
A7, 2560, “Atlas”, 2Lt West H (W1a)
A9, 2014, “Arabia”, 2Lt Hayward W (w1a)
A20, 2686, “Apollo”, Keogh (W1a)
NOTE:
"Angustura" name from a photograph of a knocked out tank at Ypres (see aftermath below), a process of elimination has established "Angustura" is most probably 2855
Other tank names from Battalion list in Battalion War Diary dated to approximately the end of July 1917 (W1)
2560 is given the crew number A7 in the crews' after action reports, and the crew number A8 in the other sources.
2686 is given the crew number A20 in the crews' after action reports , and the crew number A13 in the other sources.
Orders
Starting Point: South West corner of Glencourse Wood.
Objectives:
A13 to go to Black watch corner then south of Polygon Wood to deal with strong points in Jerk house and Jute Farm (W1a).
A8 and A9 to deal with strong points in Cameron House and Cameron Covert (W1a).
Zero hour: 5:30am
Account of operations
A6 Failed to reach the start point (W22) , as its carburettor failed and the tank then caught fire and was burnt out 200 yds from start point (W22a), 2 ORs wounded.
The other three tanks all reached the start point at 10:15pm on the 25th, they were subjected to a heavy barrage from 3am until 4:45am, the barrage then intensified and was still falling at Zero. (W1a)
The other three tanks all started at Zero in thick mist made thicker by smoke from a dump of smoke bombs which was hit and exploded nearby; visibility was thus limited to a few yards and all three tanks lost their way whilst attempting to navigate by compass.
A7 bellied on a tree stump at J14b.6.35.
A20 (W22 ) veered right towards Verbeke Farm and was hit and knocked out a few hundred yards (Brigade account says 600 yds (W22a)) from the start point (W1a) 4ORs wounded. Crew reached Clapham Junction at 8:30 am. A7's narrative states A20 was Knocked out 50 yards behind A7; A7's crew salvaged two Lewis guns from A20.
A9 (W22 ) headed East North East, entered Glencourse Wood about J28b.65.55 and eventually reached Verbeke Farm , the tanks went a little further and met some infantry but was hopelessly lost so returned and rallied (w22a) before 8:30am (w1a) .
None of the tanks thus came into action. (W22a)
A German counter attack the previous day had disrupted British preparations, one of the two battalions allocated to the attack got lost whilst coming forward, the other was forced to ground by an intense German barrage, but did eventually manage to advance across the mist covered ground to Black Watch corner, 1000 yards short of its objective. the Official History makes no mention of tanks. (OH)
Summary
Intended: 4
Reserve: 0
At Start: 3
Failed to start: 0
Engaged enemy: 0
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 1
Note: The tank that failed to start was burnt out.
Aftermath
A6 is possibly "Angustura" photographed in situ:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4102988186/in/set-72157601074582281/
A7 possibly Photographed in situ
IWM Q 56244: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205305842
A8 photographed in situ:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4102999432/in/set-72157601074582281/
A9, 2014, was in action with crew A7 at Cambrai.
A20, 2686 not recorded again.
A photograph (no reference) purports to show A20, 2686, "Apollo" ditched and derelict in the tank graveyard West of Clapham Junction, this is almost certainly a mistake.
Sources
W1 - War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W1a - War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Appendixes in PRO WO 95 - 109
W22 – War Diary 2nd Tank Brigade – Relevant Appendices and Battlegraphs
W22a - War Diary 2nd Tank Brigade, Report on operations August 22nd, 23rd, 27th September 20th and September 26th. and 4th October in PRO WO 95-101
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.287
3rd Ypres Narratives - By date
3rd Ypres Narratives - By Unit