3company31july1917

3 Company 31 July 1917

The Tanks at 3^rd Ypres. 31st July 1917

3 Company, A Battalion, with 8^th Division, II Corps, 5^th Army

3 Company had 12 tanks in action on 31^st July 1917 ^(W22):

Company Commander Maj. Lakin ML

9 Section ^(W1a) – Capt Coche G.J.

A41, 2028, “Autogophasta”, Lt Ingham G,

A43, 2512, “Aurora”, 2Lt Love JB,

A44, 2557, “Ariel”, 2Lt Paxton Hall AE,

A45, 2032, “Amphibian”, 2Lt Matthews G,

10 Section ^(W1a) – Lt Lee- Jones J.D.

A46, 2031, “Auld Gasper”, 2Lt Thorogood WJ,

A47, 2688, “Aphrodite”, 2Lt Hemphill RD,

A49, 2552, “Arcadia”, 2Lt Rayden LG,

A50, 2033, “Archie”, 2Lt Bradney W,

11 Section ^(W1a) – Capt Raikes D.T.

A52, 2670, “Artful Alice”, 2Lt Peel GW,

A53, 2680, “Angelina”, 2Lt Shillaker AC,

A54, 2003, “Adsum”, Lt Cottle SJ,

A55, 2666, “Aggressive”, 2Lt Loveridge JL,

Supply tanks (W1a)

A57, 703, Armadillo, 2Lt Scrutten FS

A59, 717, Alligator, 2Lt Ehnhardt

NOTES:

Tank names and supply tank WD numbers from Battalion list in Battalion War Diary probably dated 31 July 1917. ^(W1)

Cpl Lee left an account of his tank "Revenge" which was ditched and unditched ^(S76.p70) This was presumably A55 (2666) ."Revenge" being the tank's original name prior to the adoption of official names starting with the Battalion's letter sometime in June or July. Lee also mentions another tank "Iron Rations" which was knocked out, all crew killed, ^(S76.p70) this tank had operated with "Revenge" on 7th June ^(S76.p54) and is most probably 2003. Lee may be mistaken as to "Iron Ration's" actions on the 31^st July as his description on this date would imply "Iron Rations" was tank 2670.

Orders

9 and 11 sections were to start at Zero and follow the infantry to the black line, assisting is called upon, then cover the infantry's consolidation on the black line before rallying. 9 section was to advance to the north of Chateau Wood, 11 section to go though the Hooge Gap.

9 Section – To support 23 Brigade on the left. 2 Middlesex on the left, 2 Scottish Rifles on the right. ^(w1a)

Start From: I17c.5.3 at Zero.

Objective: Only operate in attack in Infantry held up. If Attack successful take up positions behind Black Line to repel Counter Attacks

10 Section – To support 2 Royal Berkshires 25 Brigade when it advances for Green to Red line. ^(w1a)

Start From: I23a.6.4 at Zero plus 2hrs 30 mins

Objectives: (1) Road 4.b.1.5 – D2b.8.5 – D2b9.8 – D21d.5.4.

(2) Line of defences East of Zonnebeke from D22 central to D.29.c.0.3.

(3) Should these be unoccupied tanks to accompany infantry to Red Line.

11 Section – To support 24 Brigade on the right. 1 Sherwood Foresters on the left, 2 East Lancs on the right. ^(w1a)

Start From: I23a.8.48 at Zero.

Objective: Only operate in attack in Infantry held up. If Attack successful take up positions behind Black Line to repel Counter Attacks

Supply - A57 to remain at Dormy house; A59 to move to J3c.2.4 and provide 10 section with a fill after the advance to the Green Line ^(W1a)

Account of Operations

9 section

Started on time, at Zero. ^(W22) but became lost and thus failed to get into action ^(W1r)

A41 (2028) ditched before reaching the start point ^(W22).

A44 (2557) was knocked out by shellfire in the original no mans land ^(W22)

A43 (2512), A45 (2032) crossed the the German Front Line and Ditched; A45 twice. A43's OIC was wounded, ^(W22) both tanks remained ditched.

11 section

Started on time, at Zero. ^(W22)

A54 (2003) reached the British Front Line and was knocked out by shellfire, the OIC was killed ^(W22). all the crew being killed ^(S76.p70)

A53 (2680) crossed the German Front Line, (W22) got off the proscribed route ^(W1r) and thus ditched and broke down ^(W22).

A52 (2670) almost reached the Black Line in company with A55 (2666) ^(W22) They passed through the infantry to deal with MGs which were stopping the advance after going a short distance ^(W1r) A52 was hit 6 times and knocked out ^(W1a) A55 became ditched on the black Line, the crew dismounted into shell holes from where they fired 3000 SAA rounds braking up an enemy counter attack ^(W1a) along ridge J13b.1.0 to J14a.0.3 ^(W73) The tank was unditched using the unditching beam recovered from A52 ^(s76.p70) gathered stores and guns from the other tanks in the section ^(W1r) and then rallied ^(s76.p70). According to the battlegraph A55 was hit by a shell whilst returning to Rally ^(W22).

10 section

All except A49 (2552) started on time, at Zero plus 2hrs 30 mins. A49 was knocked out on the start point ^(W22)

A46 (2031), A47 (2688) and A50 (2033), all crossed the German Front Line and Ditched; The OIC's of A46, and A47 were both wounded. A47 remained ditched. A46 and A50 managed to extricate themselves and rallied ^(W22)

None of the tanks in this section engaged the enemy. ^(W1r)

A59 caught fire and was burnt out at Elton point. ^{(Map in WO PRO 95-109)}

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)

Summary of fighting tanks

Intended: 12

Reserve: 0

At Start: 11

Failed to start: 1

Engaged enemy: 2

Ditched / Broke Down: 6

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 3

Note:

The non- Starter was A49 which was hit at the start point and repaired several days later

Aftermath

For sources see relevant page on this website.

3 Company did not see action again as a unit at Ypres.

A41, 2028 - Photographed derelict , unable to reference.

A43, 2512 - Possibly recovered as A43 was in reserve on 4^th October 1917, this may be 2512.

A44, 2557 - Recovered, 2557 was with 4^th Battalion in March 1918 when it was destroyed.

A45, 2032 - In action on 4^th October 1917 with crew A59, when it was abandoned.

A46, 2031 - Possibly recovered as A46 was in reserve on 4^th October 1917, this may be 2031

A47, 2688 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date. Photographed, presumably whilst ditched ^{(AWM C00448)}

A49, 2552 - Was out of action for several days but was eventually repaired. A49 was in reserve on 4^th October 1917, this may be 2552. 2552 is recorded as being with 4^th Battalion in March 1918 when it was destroyed.

A50, 2033 - A50 in reserve on 4^th October 1917, possibly this is 2033. 2033 is recorded as being with 5^th Battalion in March 1918 when it was destroyed.

A52, 2670 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date

A53, 2680 - Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date -

possibly photographed whilst derelict;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/5483874208/in/set-72157601074582281/

or may be the female ditched in this Photograph;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4127321715/in/set-72157601074582281

A54, 2003 – Presumably not recovered as no record exists of this vehicle after this date.

A55, 2666 - Possibly unfit for further use as no record exists of this vehicle after this date