1company4october1917

3 Company 4 October 1917

The Tanks at 3^rd Ypres. 4^th October 1917

3 Company, A Battalion, with 62^nd and 64^th Brigades, 21^st Division and 95^th brigade, 5^th Division X Corps. ^(OH)

1 Company had 4 tanks in action on 4^th October 1917 ^(W22):

9 Section

A41

A42

A43, 2512

10 Section

A46

A48

A49, 2552

A50, 2033

12 Section

A56, 2840, "Amazon", Sgt Davies D

A58, 2369, Lt Foxwell VHG

A59, 2032, "Amphibian", 2Lt Ehrhardt JA,

A60, 2566, 2Lt Hunnikin FS

NOTE:

9 and 10 section serial numbers from Battalion list in Battalion War Diary dated approximately September 1917. ^(W1)

A59 also given crew No. A45.

2840 name from November records.

Orders

9 Section - Remain in reserve at Observatory Point.

10 Section - Remain In Reserve at Clapham Junction.

12 Section

To support the attack of 21^st Division; which attacked with two Brigades in line. No tanks were allocated to 5^th Division as the ground there was though too difficult. ^(OH)

A56 and A58 to help infantry capture Pill boxes at J.11.d.2.6.

A59 and A60 - to support infantry South of Reutel and if necessary deal with Juniper Cottages and J.11.d.4.1.

Account of operations

12 Section

A56, 2840 and A58, 2369 both passed through the infantry, engaged and dispersed the enemy. A56 advanced to Reutel and Judge Cottage and knocked out several MGs. Meanwhile A58 advanced to Reutel cemetry and knocked out several more MGs. A58 Suffered a Direct Hit which wounded 6 ORs. Both tanks rallied.

Only one of these tanks is mentioned as supporting the attack of the 3^rd / 4^th Queens (62^nd Brig.) and 9 / KOYLI (64^th Brig.) , Lt Clement Robinson was awarded a posthumous VC for his action in leading the tanks forward on this day. ^(OH) The first VC awarded to the tank Corps.

A60, 2566 was damaged by shell fire which wounded 2 ORs; the tank was able to proceed later in day.

A59, 2032 moved into 5^th Divisions area and engaged Cameroon Covert, silencing MGs within it ^(OH) near Juniper Cottage ^{( )} and enabling the advance of the 1 / Cornwall LI. ^(OH) The tank then ditched ^{( )} in the marshy ground near the junction of the two brooks near the objective ^(OH) , the crew debussed into shell holes. One OR missing. ^{( )}

Summary

Intended: 4

Reserve:

At Start: 4

Failed to start: 0

Engaged enemy: 3

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 3

Aftermath

2840 - With crew A47 at Cambrai

2369 - not recorded again.

2566 - With 8th bttn. in March 1918.

2032 - Not recorded again. Probably photographed ditched: X38.p338

Sources

W1 - War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W22 – War Diary 2nd Tank Brigade– Relevant Appendices and Battlegraphs

OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.312f

3 Company 4 October 1917 - Map

3rd Ypres Narratives - By date

3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit