2company31july1917
2 Company 31 July 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 31st July 1917
2 Company, A Battalion, with 25th Brigade, 8th Division, II Corps, 5th Army
2 Company had 12 tanks in action on 31st July 1917 (W22):
2 Company
5 Section – Capt Blackburn E.D.
A21, 2022, "Andromeda", Lt Saul CL,
A22, 2677, "Auldreekie", 2Lt McCrostie HC,
A23, 2678, "Aviatik", 2Lt Green HG,
A25, 2030, "Aristotle", 2Lt Dunman CN,
6 Section – Capt Care W.H.
A26, 2687, "Adventuress", Lt Blackwood WL,
A27, 2681, "Aberdonia", 2Lt Munro W,
A28, 2027, "Amulet", 2Lt Wooton KE,
A30, 2051, m, "Argyle", 2Lt Barker JS,
8 Section – Capt Skelding J.
A36, 2023, “Ariadne”, 2Lt Burns WF,
A37, 2002, “Albatross”, 2Lt Fraser AJ,
A38, 2519, “Amy”, 2Lt Flanegon LC,
A39, 2691, “Anne” 2Lt Rogers JR,
NOTE: Tank names and Section Numbers from Battalion list in Battalion War Diary probably dated 31 July 1917. (W1)
Orders
Company to start from: Dormy House, J.23a.6.5 at Zero plus 2 hrs
5 Section
A21, 2022 and A23, 2678 - Objective: Strong points at J.9a.4.4 and J.9a.4.9
A22, 2677 and A25, 2030 - Objective: Strong points at J.3c.1.9 and J.3c.2.5
6 Section
Objective: mopping up between Black Line and Hannebeke. Thence to Zonnebeke redoubt and Anzac Cross Roads.
8 Section
Objective: Strong Points and Dug Outs on South Side of Railway Embankment and Strong Point at D26.b.9.4. Zonnebeke Redoubt.
Account of Operations
5 Section
Presumably went through the Hooge Gap.
A23, 2678 was hit and KO at the Start point (W22)
The other three tanks all came under heavy Mg and artillery fire as soon as they crossed the German front line (W1r)
A25, 2030 almost reached the Black line and then ditched just inside the new British Front line (W22)
A21, 2022 almost reached the Black line (W22) and fired on enemy Infantry in Glencourse Wood (W73) before it was hit and burnt out on the new British front line. (W22)
A22, 2677 almost reached the Black line (W22) and fired on enemy Infantry in Glencourse Wood (W73) before it was hit and KO by 2 shells in front of the new British front line. (W22)
6 Section
Presumably went through the Hooge Gap; coming under heavy Mg and artillery fire as soon as they crossed the German front line (W1r)
A28, 2027 crossed the German Front Line, fired on the enemy and then broke down halfway to the Black Line. .
A27, 2681 also fired on the enemy and proceeded a little further than A28 before it ditched.
A26, 2687 ditched halfway between the German front line and black but was unditched, and reached the Black Line (W22); where it attacked MGs in Glencourse Wood (W73) before it was hit and KO by 3 shells (W22)
A30, 2051 ditched just before crossing the original British front line and again halfway to the Black Line. The tank was unditched and made it to the Black
Line (W22) where it silenced Machine Guns at J8a.15.35 and in the house at Ja8.25.30 at request of 2nd Royal Berks. The tank also fired on enemy Infantry in Jabber Trench and scattered them with MG and 6 Pdr fire, 2 or 3 Germans were captured by British Troops. (W73) A30 stayed with the infantry for 4 hours in case it was required to help resist a possible counter or in case more tanks came forward to continue to support the advance. The tank was then ordered to return by the 25th Brigade GOC (W1r). Whilst returning the tank ditched just before re-crossing the old German front line (W22) The map held in PRO WO 95-108 indicates this tank attempted to return via the north of Chateau Wood.
Artillery fire was believed to have been directed onto the tanks of 5 and 6 sections from enemy aeroplanes which flew overhead (W1r)
8 Section
Presumably attempted to proceeded north of Chateau Wood. (W22) The tanks ditched a total of 16 times, only A38 and A39 reached the black line, but did so too late to be of any use. (W1r)
A37, 2002 crossed the German Front Line, and ditched.
A36, 2023 crossed the German Front Line, then Broke down and ditched twice. (W22)
A38, 2519 and A39, 2691 both ditched twice between the German front line and the Black Line then turned back just before the Black line and rallied. (W22) Both tanks are indicated as ditched and left in the field on the map in PRO 95-108.
The first wave of 8th Division took their first objective on time; the second wave passed through and followed the Barrage onto the second objective. Unfortunately this could not be held as it was fired on from the front by the German positions 500 - 800 yards away across the Hanebeke Valley, and also enfiladed from the south due to the failure of 30th division on this flank; this southern three quarters of the Division was thus forced to withdraw back to the shelter of the Westhoek Ridge. (OH)
Note:
The map in PRO 95-108 gives different final positions from those indicated above, the map is inaccurate as demonstrated by the Aerial photograph taken on the 5 Aug 17: IWM BOX 159-818-1917 see link below.
Summary of fighting tanks
Intended: 12
Reserve: 0
At Start: 12
Failed to start: 1
Engaged enemy: 6
Ditched / Broke Down: 6
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 2
Notes
Aftermath
For sources see relevant page on this website.
2 Company did not see action again as a unit at Ypres.
A21, 2022 - Photographed whilst derelict: X60.p56 (Photograph mis-identified as A2)
A22, 2677 - Photographed whilst derelict, possibly post war:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936760879/in/set-72157601074582281
A23, 2678 - In action again with same crew and name at Cambrai (W1a)
A25, 2030 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date
A26, 2687 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date
A27, 2681 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date
A28, 2027 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date
A30, 2051 - In action again with same crew at Cambrai (W1a)
A36, 2023 - In action with crew A31 at Cambrai (W1a)
A37, 2002 - In action with crew A34 at Cambrai.
A38, 2519 - Probably used as a Wireless Carrier Tank on 20th September 1917.
A39, 2691 - Probably used as a Wireless Carrier Tank on 20th September 1917.
"A" Battalion drew 11 replacement tanks in early August 1917.
Sources
W1 - War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
W1r - Summary of Tank operations with 2nd Corps on 31st July 1917 - transcript entitled "papers relating to 1st (sic) tank Battlion .. at ... Ypres. "
W1a - War Diary No1 / A Battalion Tank Corps / A Coy HBMGC 1916 - PRO WO 95/109
W22 – War Diary 2nd Tank Brigade – Relevant Appendices and Battlegraphs
W73 - Preliminary report on tank operations on 31 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 104
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.156, Pg. 157
S60 - Track Prints (2009) Richard Pullen
A & B Battalions 31 July - Map
3rd Ypres Narratives - By date
3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit
Account of Operations