1company4october1917
3 Company 4 October 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 4th October 1917
3 Company, A Battalion, with 62nd and 64th Brigades, 21st Division and 95th brigade, 5th Division X Corps. (OH)
1 Company had 4 tanks in action on 4th 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 21st Division; which attacked with two Brigades in line. No tanks were allocated to 5th 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 3rd / 4th Queens (62nd Brig.) and 9 / KOYLI (64th 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 5th 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