4 Battalion 9 August 1918

Amiens, 9^th August 1918

4^th Battalion with 2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division

4^th Battalion had 12 tanks in action on 9^th August.

A company

9130 Lt Owen

9116, 2Lt Boulton

9448, 2Lt Harrowing

9182, 2Lt Pogue

9399, 2Lt Heath

C Company

10 section – Lt Bender MD

9161, 2Lt Baykliss

9125, Lt Killey.

9431, 2Lt Beak

11 section – Capt Clark JT

9154, 2Lt Mason

9107, Sgt Gordon

9389, 2 Lt Churchill

9189, 2Lt Watheston

Note

Details from WMH, some of the names are unclear. The author will add more detail when he has accessed the BHS held therein.

9154 listed as 9134 in authors notes, presumably a transcription error

Orders

A composite company; 5 tanks from “A” company and 7 from “C” company.

A Coy: To capture Beaufort and Waverilles with 1^st Canadian Infantry Brigade Start E15a cent ^(WMH)

C Coy: First objective Warvillers, second objective Rouvroy. Start: E19c.4.5. Start: 1:30pm

To assist 2^nd Canadian Brigade ^(WMH). 5^th and 8^th Canadian Battalions ^(OH)in their advance from the Old Amiens Defence line to Warvillers and Rouvroy. ^(W4a)

Account of operations

Zero was delayed until 1pm, the tanks arrived half an hour late and didn’t assist the advance of the first Brigade ^(OH)

At some point during the attack an enemy Anti Tank gun battery was silenced before it had a chance to deal with the tanks. The tanks successfully dealt with much opposition in Warvillers. Once Warvuillers had been secured the infantry pushed onto Rouvroy accompanied by several tanks; but the tanks were not needed. ^(WMH)

A company

9399 stayed in reserve. ^(WMH)

The other four tanks arrived just in time to break up a feeble enemy counter attack, then cleared the enemy out of the copse E23a where infantry were being badly held up. ^(WMH) Then they cleared Beaufort and Warvillers of the enemy and then rallied at E15a central out of ammo. ^(WMH)

C Company

11 section

9134 and 9389 helped clear Beaufort wood, ^(WMH) upon leaving Beaufort Wood the tanks successfully silenced a battery of field guns 200 yds away, but not before two tanks were knocked out. ^(W4a) 9134 was hit twice, rallied and was then hit and burnt out, 2 men KIA, rest wounded. 9389 then went forward, was engaged by an enemy battery at 200 yds range and hit twice, wounding all crewmen except two. Tank rallied. ^(WMH)

9107 at request of infantry engaged Vrely, put out of action many MGs and AT guns. The tank then ran out of ammo so rallied at E15c. ^(WMH)

9189 cleared Warvillers and reached Rauroy, doing considerable execution, rallied at E15c at 8:30pm ^(WMH)

10 section

9125 helped capture Beaufort Wood then went through Warveillers and onto Rauroy. Where they found the infantry held up here by intense MG fire. Returned to Warvillers and bought up 9189 and 4 whippets. Returned to Rauroy to find inf holding a line 200 yds in front of village, where they had been ordered to remain. Tank returned and rallied. 3 crew were wounded during the day. ^(WMH)

9161 broke down, eventually got to within 200 yds of Rouroy where OIC and 3 crew were wounded. Tank rallied. ^(WMH)

9431 reached Rauroy but became badly ditched 300yds from the village whilst returning, all crew missing. ^(WMH)

All ten surviving tanks rallied by the time it became dark. ^(W4a)

The 2^nd Canadian infantry brigade advanced over flat country covered in growing corn and immediately came under heavy fire, especially form Hatchet Wood. The tanks did service in supporting the infantry. The 5^th CIF Battalion captured the old German front line half an hour before the 8^th CIF Battalion did the same, the 16^th Lancers (3^rd cavalry Brigade) failed to mop up a copse behind the advancing Canadians. Warvillers village and Wood were captured by 4:30pm, the 5^th Lancers assisting in capturing the village. The 8^th CIF Battalion was stopped in front of Vrely. At dusk both battalions reached the Rouvroy – Meharicourt Road and consolidated there ^(OH)

Summary

Total Tanks: 12

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 10

Aftermath

9107,

9116,

9125,

9130

9134

9161,

9182,

9189,

9389,

9399,

9431,

9448,

Sources

W4a - Summary of Tanks on Strength – August 1918. - PRO WO 95-110

4^th tank Battalion. Report on operations with 1^st Canadian Division. Warvillers. Rouvroy. August 8^th 1918 - PRO WO 95-110

WMH – Henshall Papers, IWM 73/126/1

OH – Official History 1918, Vol. 4, pg.99

Amiens