5company31july1917

5 Company 31 July 1917

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

5 Company, B Battalion, with 30^th Division, II Corps, 5^th Army

Company Commander: Maj F. Tucker. 2IC: Capt G.B. Cokell. R.O: Lt S. Doward

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

5 Section Capt Dudgeon EB

B22, 2037, m, “Buccaneer”, 2Lt Crerar A,

B23, 2700, f, “Bandit”, Lt Simpson W,

B24, 2019, m, “Brigand”, Lt Vans Agnew F

B25, 2663, f, “Barbarian”, 2Lt Brockwell S.A.,

6 Section Capt Lambert RG in B29

B26, 2786, "Bayardo", 2Lt Cox L.H.

B27, 2007, m, "Bloodstone", 2Lt Hoyland WL,

B28, 2038, m, "Black Arrow", 2Lt Ramsden W.G.,

B29, 2674, f, "Ballyhackle", 2Lt Birnie W.J.G,

7 Section Capt Diamond HW

B31, 2020, m, "Bohemian", 2Lt Porter G.E.

B32, 2039, m, "Baron", 2Lt Thompson G.E.V.

B33, 2707, f, "Bushranger", 2Lt Gordon Clarke N.J.

B35, 2675, f, "Bogey", 2Lt Doyle J.E.

Supply

B39, 712, “Badger” 2Lt Thomas EA

B40, 726, “Buffalo”, Lt Craig WA

Notes:

Tank Names and Supply tank details from list in B Battalion War dairy ^(W2).

Tank Sexes from 7^th June (Messines) Battle graph in 2^nd Brigade War Diary ^(W22).

Other information from 31^st July Battle graph in 2^nd Brigade War Diary ^(W22).

In "Following the Tanks" Barbarian II" is given serial number 2663, it is possible the serial number is correct and the original "Barbarian" fought at Cambrai.

Orders

Company to help secure Black Line

Start from: Valley Cottages at Zero; position of readiness J20c.10.95 objectives dependant upon calls from infantry.

7 Section Capt Diamond H.W.

Black Line Orders: Support 21^st Brigade, 30^th Division

Green Line Orders: Start J20b.80.90, Zero + 6hrs 20 mins.

Objective: Mopping up between green and Black lines, working North.

B31 and B35

Objective Mopping up between green and Black lines, working South.

B32 and B33

5 Section Capt Dudgeon E.B

Green Line Orders: Start J14b.40.10, Zero + 6hrs 20 mins. Objective: Black Watch Corner and Carlisle Farm

B22 and B23

Green Line Orders: Start J14d.40.70, Zero + 6hrs 20 mins. Objective: Northampton Farm, Veldhoe, with patrol; to enemy trench.

B24 and B25

6 Section Capt Lambert R.G.

Green Line Orders: Start J20b.90.70, Zero + 6hrs 20 mins. Objective: Junction of 17^th and 39^th brigades on Menin Road with patrols to J21b.3.1

B26 and B27

Green Line Orders: Start J20b.30.45, Zero + 6hrs 20 mins. Objective: Tower Hamlets with Patrol. Enemy Trench J27a.40.70

B28 and B29

Supply – Start from Valley Cottages at Zero + 4 hours

B39 and B40 ,

Account of Operations

7 Section

This section presumably went forward at Zero

B32, Suffered a Direct Hit and KO at start point ^{(W22) (95-109).}

The other three tanks proceded to Bodmin Copse and then, after contacting the infantry, engaged enemy MGs in houses East of Bodmin Copse, on west side of Dumbarton Woods and in houses in J20 central.

B35 suffered a direct hit and was knocked out at J19b8.5.(95-109).

B31 destroyed an enemy MG near Bodmin Copse, then captured an enemy MG in Inverness Copse ^(158/839) became ditched and got out once, but then ditched for a second time at J20a3.6., the tank sunk suddenly and difficulty was experienced getting the doors open, the unditching gear had been lost and thus the tank was abandoned.

B33 ditched but was successfully unditched, the unditching being covered by a dismounted LG in a shell hole ^(95-109) The enemy were engaged enemy near Bodmin Copse then the tank patrolled in front of Liverpool and Manchester Regt near Dumbarton Lakes keeping down enemy fire ^(158/839) MG emplacements were engaged West of Dumbarton Woods, most of the crew were wounded so the tank withdrew and rallied ^(95-109)

6 Section

^{This section started forward at Zero plus 1 Hours 40 minutes}. ^(95-109)

^{All Four tanks reached J19 central where they caught up with the infantry. After contacting the infantry the tanks engaged MG Emplacements and Strongpoints to the SE of Stirling Castle. The tanks then moved against Inverness Copse and the West Side of Dumbarton Woods, the infantry were unfortunately too disorganised to co operate. (95-109) B27 engaged MGs 100 yds in font of Inverness Copse at request of Kings Liverpool Regt. Hit (158/839) found the enemy MGs in front of Inverness Copse were in concrete emplacements against which the 6pdrs had no effect. B27 was eventually penetrated by AP bullets which set it afire and burnt it out (95-109)}

B28 Crossed the German front line ^(W22)_, killed 7 or 8 man MG crew and destroyed an MG at J19b.7.1^(158/839), west of Dumbarton Woods ^(W73), at request of Manchester Regt. ^(158/839), Hit and burnt out ^(W22) whilst trampling wire in front of Java Avenue ^{(W73) (95-109).}

^{B29 worked with B28 until it was hit, the infantry were unable to advance and B29's crew were exhausted so the tank was ordered to retire by Capt Lambert. B29 was hit on the track at I24c.8.3 (95-109)}

B26, Attacked. Crossed German front line and engaged enemy ^(W22) near Inverness Copse ^(158/839); B26 became ditched at J19b.8.7. ^(95-109) and was unable to unditch due to enemy fire.^(W22)_.

5 Section

Lt Ley, OIC of B23 was killed at the start point, Captain Dudgeon was wounded. Lt Simpson took over command of B23. ^(95-109)

^{This section started forward at Zero plus 2 Hours 10 minutes}. ^(95-109)

^{B24 failed to get past Observatory point, as its radiator and engine were giving trouble, the tank returned to the SP and rallied. (95-109)}

B22 and B23 both Ditched about J19c.4.6. B22 broke its unditching gear, B23 successfully unditched but then ran into a tree which couldn't be knocked down over, B23 couldn't reverse due to the presence of B22 directly behind it. ^(95-109)

B25, Attacked. Hit after crossing German front line, continued, ^(W22) caught up with the infantry in J19b ^(95-109) and then engaged enemy in Dumbarton Wood ^(W73), near J20a.1.3, then patrolled in front of Kings Liverpool Regt. whilst they consolidated, ditched, unditched ^(158/839), patrolled in front of infantry until crew were exhausted and then returned and rallied ^{(95-109) (W22)}_. At some point Lt Brockweel was wounded, the tank went on with Cpl Hilton in charge, Lt Brockwell rejoined after his wounds were dressed ^(95-109)

Supply

B39 and B40 - no information, but B40 presumably broke down as it was brought back to new Elton point on the 1^st August.

The 30^th Division struggled through the shattered remains of the wood and lost touch with the barrage. The first objective (Blue Line) and Stirling Castle were eventually taken but the strong-point to the North East of Clapham Junction was not. The Germans dropped a very heavy barrage on Sanctuary and Château Woods which severely disrupted communications. Heavy enemy fire prevented the Division advancing to the Second Objective (Black line). ^(OH)

Summary

Intended: 12

At Start: 12

Failed to start: 2

Engaged enemy: 7

Ditched / Broke Down: 4

Hit and Knocked out: 4

Rallied: 2

Summary doesn't include supply tanks.

Failed to start includes B24 and B32

Hit and Knocked out includes B29

Aftermath

B22, 2037, m, “Buccaneer”,

12-Aug-17 - Work on tank ^(W2)

15-Aug-17 -Crew unditches tank B22 ^(W2)

21-Aug-17 - Brought back from J.19.a.1.0 ^(W2)

23-Aug-17 - Brought back to New Elton Point ^(W2)

With crew B22 at Cambrai ^(WMH)

B33, 2707, "Bushranger" fought with 4 company, crew B13 at Cambrai, it was presumably renamed when it changed companies as crew B37 were with 2872 "Bushranger II".

B25, 2663, "Barbarian" may have been with 6 company at Cambrai.

B24, 2019,“Brigand”, was moved to Ouderdom for CW on 10-Aug-17 ^(W2).

B32, 2039,

"Baron", Brought back enroute for Ouderdom on 18-Aug-17 ^(W2).

B31, 2020, "Bohemian", was photographed post war still in situ. X78.photo17

B40, 726, Brought back to New Elton Point on 1-Aug-17 ^(W2).

Supply tanks were replaced with MK IV Top towers in October 1917.

None of the other tanks are recorded again, at Cambrai some of the tank's names are used but with the post nominal "II"

Sources

W2 - War Diary No2 / B Bttn Tank Corps / B Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

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

95/109 - "Further report on operations of B Battalion Tank Corps 31-7-17" in PRO WO 95-109

158/839 -

OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.156, Pg.153f

A & B Battalions 31 July - Map

IWM BOX 159-818-1917

3rd Ypres Narratives - By date

3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit