21compnay31july1917
21 Company 31 July 1917
3rd Ypres. 31st July 1917
21 Company, G Battalion, with 51st and 39th Divisions, XVIII Corps, 5th Army(W7)
21 Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 31st July 1917(W21):
9 Section. Captain Munday
G41, 2305, Grenadine, 2nd Lt Fearney
G42, 2559, Gladys, 2nd Lt Chaddock
G43, 2536, f, Gordon, 2ND Lt Courts
G44, 2757, Glangarry, 2nd Lt Knight
10 Section. Captain Kessal
G45, 2317, Gunner, Lt Merchant
G46, 2582, f, Gina, 2nd Lt Browne
G47, 2525, m, Gitana, 2nd Lt Allden
G48, 2534, Gullah, 2nd Lt Brassingham
12 Section. Captain Kinnison
G49, 2309, Goff, 2nd Lt McConneil
G50, 2313, m, Gog, Lt Stafford
G51, 2727, Goliath, 2nd Lt Clarke
G52, 2756, Guisley, 2nd Lt Claughton
Cable Layer
G12, 2753, Galway, 2ND Lt Christy - Cable Layer and Wireless carrier. Note: G13 in Battalion War Diary (W7)
Note: G12 is presumably one of the three spare tanks received by the Battalion on 21st July
Sexes from Battalion War Diary (W7)
Orders
Start Point: C20a.3.1(W7)
With 51st Division
12 Section: To Mop Up on the Black line, then advance with infantry to Green Line and cover the crossing of the Steenbeek (First Echelon). (W7)
9 Section: To Cross the Steenbeek and cover the consolidation of the bridgeheads (Second Echelon). (W7)
With 39th Division
10 Section: (In company with 1 Section, 19 Company) To Mop Up on the Black line, then cross the Steenbeek and assist the infantry at the Green Dotted Line and then advance with them to the Green Line and cover the consolidation (First Echelon). (W7) The four tanks were tp proceed to C16 central where they would split up. G45 and G46 going to the left of Kitcheners wood and attacking Alberta from the rear (NE). G47 and G48 would go to the right of the wood and Attack Alberta from the Front (SW) (S39.p35)
Account of Operations
9 Section.
G41, Started at 3.50 am, passed through the German barrage and reached the blue line, unfortunately ditching there. The secondary gear shaft became twisted as the tank was unditched; thus 200yds in front of the blue line the vehicle was abandoned and handed over to salvage. (W7)
G42, Started at 3.50 am, possibly ditched in No mans Land (W21), but reached blue line without opposition. Proceeded to black line, suffering some temporary stoppages en-route. The Infantry were well ahead when G42 reached the Black line. The tank then became ditched for some time before proceeding along Black line in fruitless hunt for strongpoints still in German hands. The crew stopped to (W7) help British wounded before proceeding to Britannia Farm and rallying there(W21). The tank was presumably abandoned at this point as on the 8th August 2nd tank Field Company were preparing to salvage her whole (W32)..
G43, Started at 3.50 am, briefly ditched just beyond German front line. Reached Ascot Cottage and was fired on by a small calibre gun. At this point at the infantry’s request the tank silenced some enemy MGs. The tank then proceeded to Ferdinand Farm via an apparently deserted Von Werder Farm. Another MG was silenced at the SW corner of Ferdinand Farm (W7) and dispersed infantry in Shell holes near here (OH). Stopped on near side of Steenbeek as infantry were digging in here and Lt Courts didn’t want to risk crossing the stream in a lone female tank. The tank was harassed by some enemy artillery fire and so hid behind a hedge and then waited for two hours before retiring towards the refuelling point (presumably at Britannia Farm). Whilst returning stopped to help infantry repel counter attack (W7).
G44, Started at 3.50 am, became ditched for a short while in (German ? ) front line. The infantry were now well ahead but the tank followed them, becoming ditched once again for a short period. After unditching the tank eventually caught the infantry up at Hurst Park on the Black Line. The infantry were pinned down by MG fire from Hurst Park, but this stopped when the tank arrived (though it is not made clear if the tank actually fired on Hurst Park). G44 now advanced past Von Werder House and approached Ferdinand Farm, MGs in Ferdinand farm fired upon the tank and the accompanying infantry. The MGs stopped firing at the tank and the infantry captured the farm and pushed on forwards, suffering grievously from the enemy’s shrapnel Barrage. Eventually the twenty or so surviving infantry from the 6th Black watch stopped about 300yds for the Steenbeek, the tank patrolled up and down for a while, under fire from field guns, then headed to Britannia farm to rally. The tank was abandoned and camouflaged at this point (W7). On 1st August it was in the care of workshops (W21)
10 Section
G45 and G46 set off at Zero Hour. G47 was delayed for six minutes by a broken down tank. G45 ditched for seven minutes in the German front line system probably near Canadian Farm, and was overtaken by G46. G47 and G48 split to go either side of G45 and G48 became badly ditched at Canadian Farm, she would eventually be pulled clear by GS2 at 3 PM, too late to play any part in the attack. (W7)
G45 and G47 proceeded towards Kitcheners Wood, after crossing the German front line G47 has to stop to remove her roof camouflage which had caught fire. G45 lost both her camouflage and her unditching beam to enemy shellfire. G45 caught up and she headed towards Boche Castle in company with G46. G45 ditched at Bochcastle and was abandoned. G46 skirted South of Kitcheners wood, crossed the road and then turned North East parallel to woods face. Fired on enemy in Wood and in Von Werder House; then attempted to regain the road but was unable to turn and Ditched at C10b.5.3. (W7) on Black Line at Bochcastel (W21). Tank eventually abandoned (W7). Meanwhile G47 had passed Oblong Farm and headed for the middle of Kitcheners Wood. Silenced one MG in the wood then turned NW and proceeded along the southern face of the wood firing occasionally, reversed direction and proceeded to the Southern corner before turning NE. Engaged many retiring Germans in Kitcheners Wood and in communication trenches whilst moving towards Alberta. Twice Drove around three sides of Alberta and silenced MGs allowing 17th Sherwoods to take the position when the British Barrage lifted. The tank became ditched and was abandoned, but was recovered later in the day and rallied at Hill Top. (W7) Two tanks enabled the capture of Alberta according to the Official History (OH)
Note: 2Lt Browne wrote a detailed description of G46 and G45’s actions in “The Tank in Action” (1920) D.G.Browne, William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh.
12 Section
G49 crossed high command redoubt to the south side, then broke down on the Blue Line with a Cracked Sleeve. (W7)
G50, at Infantry’s request, trained a 6pdr on a German Strongpoint near to Caledonian Trench in the German front Line and caused its 20 man garrison to surrender. Then became slightly ditched, after unditching moved right to deal with an MG emplacement at infantry’s request; the ten or so Machine gunners also surrendered at the tanks approach. The tank turned half left and caused the surrender of another strong point by threatening it with a 6Pdr. A fourth strongpoint was similarly dealt with near the Black line. After crossing the Black line the Tank put six 6Pdr rounds into (W7) MacDonalds Farm (OH) on the right and thus caused the surrender of more than 70 Germans (W7) and allowed the 152nd brigade to capture the Farm (OH). Reached Varna farm and became badly ditched, unditched with unditching gear borrowed off G43, as own unditching gear blown off earlier. Lt Stafford was wounded by shell splinters whilst removing unditching gear. Sgt JWG Hinton took command of the tank and proceeded towards the rallying point at Britannia Farm, unfortunately the tank ditched whilst still 75yds short of the farm. The tank was abandoned and camouflaged. (W7)
Note: Battlegraph gives this tank crew number G59, this appears to be a mistake.
G51 followed behind infantry and reached first objective, Hurst Park at 6.50 am (Black Line). Patrolled along the (Black) line, possibly causing some enemy to surrender when they saw the tank. Lost direction and crossed front until just outside St Julien. Infantry in this area already being assisted by two tanks so swung back towards 51st Division front, ditched for twenty minutes near Kitchener's Wood. After unditching headed for Britannia Farm to refuel but became ditched and was abandoned just before reaching it. This tank didn’t fire her guns all day. This vehicle suffered a direct hit on 6th August. (W7)
G52 must have attacked on the far left of the British line as its first objective was Hindenburg Farm. It became ditched for half an hour in Calabash Avenue, about half way to Hindenburg Farm. Reached Blue line after infantry had pressed on. Followed Caledonian Avenue until junction with Cane trench was reached (Black Line), here discovered the infantry pausing to consolidate. The infantry attack recommenced and the tank moved forward with them until the Green line was reached, The tank patrolled along the green line for about an hour then returned (W7) and rallied at C13d.0.5. the tank apparently rallied with its Left Brake gone. A photograph on display in the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh Regiment in Brecon appears to show "Guisley" (the name is indistinct) with British infantry, presumably the 11th SWB who were on the right of 38th Division which advanced alongside the 51st Division. [ The caption states the infantry are the 11th Welsh but this battalion was in Salonika in 1917].
Cable Layer
G12 also carried a wireless set and wireless officer. Started form Frascatti at 3.50, started laying cables out when passing Boche Farm. Broke down for twenty minutes then, upon restarting made for High Command Redoubt; a shell carried away the unditching gear when about 200 yds from the redoubt. Crossed the German front line system and helped unditch tank G42 (though Tank G42’s account makes no mention of this). Proceeded to Kempton Park and dumped some cable, thence onto Sandown Park. Finally the tank approached to within 150 yds of Hurst Park which was found to still be in German hands. The wireless officer decided to set up the Wireless set at this point. G12 then proceeded towards another tank that was ditched near Kitchener’s wood, but the tank moved off before G12 could reach it. G12 thus returned and rallied at Frascati (W7)
Summary of fighting tanks
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At Start: 12
Failed to start: 0
Engaged enemy: 8
Ditched / Broke Down: 9
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 3
Ditched and abandoned includes G42 and G44 which reached the rally point but were subsequently handed over to salvage.
Aftermath
G41, 2305, On 1st August tank was in the care of workshops (W21)
G42, 2559, 8th August 2nd tank Field Company were preparing to salvage her whole (W32). Crew G42 were back in action at Cambrai, they may have been with tank 2559 (W21). .
G43, 2536, Not recorded again.
G44, 2757, On 1st August tank was in the care of workshops (W21). Crew G44 attacked on 19th August 1917 (W21). “Glangarry” broke down and did not attack on 20th November 1917(W21). 2757 attacked Tilloy with 7th (G) Battalion on 30 September 1917(W7).
G45, 2317, 31 July - Found to be in 2 foot of water in shell hole, Salvage team failed to recover tank (W32). . 2 Aug - Found surrounded by water, Salvage team abandoned tank (W7) . Note: The salvage records may have incorrectly identified this tank as this sounds very much like the condition of G46.
G46, 2582, Found to have broken sleeve to engine, Workshops attending. (W32)
Photographed still ditched in flooded shellhole in October 1917
IWM Q 6327: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205215480
G47, 2525, in action on 19 August 1917. (W21).
G48, 2534, in the care of workshops on 1 Aug 1917, wrongly listed as G43 (W21). Possibly back in action with crew G48 at Cambrai(W21).
G49, 2309, may have been restarted and moved, as on the 5th August it was at Welsh Farm when it suffered a direct hit which carried away the lower portion of the left sponson. The tank was immediately handed over to salvage (W7) who prepared to salvage it whole on the 8th and did so on the 11th, taking the tank to C.26.c.7.7 (W32). Possibly broke down with crew G49 at Cambrai (W21)
G50, 2313, The tank was handed over to workshops on the 1st August and unditched on the 2nd (W32), it probably wasn’t moved far as it suffered a direct hit on 6th August (W7). On the 8th preparations were made to salvage the vehicle whole (W32).
G51, 2727, This vehicle suffered a direct hit on 6th August (W7). G51 “Goliath” in action at Cambrai (W21)
G52, 2756, “Guisley” in action at Cambrai (W21)
G12, 2753, May have been in action a Cambrai with the same crew.
Sources
W32 - War Diary of 2 Tank Field Salvage Coy (W32).
W7 - G Battalion War Diary, transcription from Bovington Tank Museum (W7).
W21 - 1st Tank Brigade War Diary (W21)
W73 - Preliminary report on tank operations on 31 July 1917 (W63) in PRO WO 95 / 104
S39 - Martin Matrix Evans (2005) Passchendaele. The Hollow Victory
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.159 & 160
Note: G / 7th Battalion War Diary, transcription form Bovington Tank Museum (W3), contains a detailed tank by tank account of this action on which the above is primarily based.