6company31july1917
6 Company 31 July 1917
The Tanks at 3rd Ypres. 31st July 1917
6 Company, B Battalion, with II Corps, 5th Army
Company Commander: Maj. E.D. Bryce. 2IC: Capt L.J. Croxford. R.O: 2Lt J.C. Jinks (wnd), 2Lt C.G Parr
6 Company had 10 (11) fighting tanks in action on 31st July 1917 (W22):
9 Section. Lt Harcourt A.C.
B41, 2035, m, “Boomerang”, 2Lt Tuite MAW
B42, 2699, f, "Battle Axe", 2Lt Spedding RK
B43, 2008, m, “Buluwayo”, 2Lt Evans CM
B44, 2665, f, "Behemoth" , 2Lt Townsend FJ
11 Section Lt Scrutton A.E.
B45, 2015, m, “Blunderbuss”, 2Lt Dancy H
B48, 2664, f, "Blue Bow", 2Lt Boag H
B46, 2036
B47, 2561, f, "Bridget", 2Lt Palmer DA This tank fought with 12 section
12 Section Capt Morrison CF
B49, 2668, "Britannia", 2Lt Henderson T
B50, 2013, m, ”Brian Boru”, 2Lt Hamlet FA
B51, 2034
B52, 2774, ”Benbow”, 2Lt Clarke BR
Supply I22b.10.50 Valley Cottages Zero + 4 hours
B18, 775
B54, 746
Spare Tank (from 4 Company)
B13, 2718, f, “Backslider” - No crew or OIC.
Notes:
All the above tanks except B47, 2561 and B52, 2774 had been with the company at Messines. The crews had apparently been renumbered.
B51 and B46 are not listed on the Battle graph but are listed in the orders. Crew B51 were with tank 2034 at Cambrai, this tank had also been at Messines. B46 is presumably 2036 which had been with 6 Company at Messines but wasn't present at Cambrai.
Section numbers from 95-109.
Names of B42, B48, B50 and B52 all from "Following the Tanks" (S37) and Ian Verrinder (S73.p198). B50's name also used by Signaller Sydney Fuller (X59.p120)
Other tank names from "Notes on tank operation on 31st July (W73)
Tank Sexes from 7 June (Messines) Battle graph in 2nd Brigade War Diary (W22).
Signaller Sydney Fuller witnessed the tanks advance and says four were called "Brian Boru", "Boomerang", "Britannia" and "Bentley" (X59.p120).
B47, 2668 and B49, 2561 were called “Bridget” and “ Britannia”, though which tank had which name is unclear, both tanks were knocked out. (W73). Ian Verrinder says B49 was "Britannia" and B47 was "Bridget" in his narrative (S78.p76f) but lists them the other way round in his list as does "Following the Tanks" (S78.p198)
In "Following the Tanks" B47, 2668, is called “Beaver”;- 2Lt Henderson T, with Crew B49, was in charge of "Britannia" 2868; - “Bridget” was tank 2034, B51, Lt Palmer (S37).
2034 cannot be Bridget as 2034 was still with the Battalion at Cambrai whereas "Bridget" was lost on 31st July (W73). It therefore seems likely "Following the Tanks" is wrong and Bridget was "2561"; "Beaver" is presumably "2034"
2034 had been with the battalion at Messines, and thus its identification as "Beaver" seems likely.
2668 didn't fight at Cambrai as it was was lying derelict near Hooge until after the war (numerous photographs). 2868 is too high a serial number for July 31st and was "Blunderbuss II" at Cambrai S78
A photograph of the Knocked out 2668 may show the remains of the tops of letters on the front Glacis, they are presumably the top end "NNIA". (Britain at War (2009) Press Association, p.56).
Supply tank crew numbers may be swapped.
Orders
Company Black Line start from: Valley Cottages at Zero; position of readiness J13b.75.25 objectives dependant upon calls from infantry.
9 Section. Lt Harcourt A.C.
Black Line Orders: Support 53rd Brigade, 18th Division - Start Zero Plus 1 Horr 40 mins (95-109)
Green Line Orders: Start J14b.30.20, Zero + 6hrs 29 mins.
Objective Strong points J.9.c30.40, J.9.d.50.50 Junction of 53rd and 25th brigades on Green Line.
B41, B42
Objective Strong Point J.9.d.10.10 SW of Polygon de Zonnebeke
B13, B43, B44
11 Section Lt Scrutton A.E.
Black Line Orders: Support 90th Brigade, 30th Division - Start Zero Hour (95-109)
Green Line Orders: Start J8c.70.35, Zero + 6hrs 10 mins. Objective Farm at J82.10.30
B45, B48
Black Line Orders: Support 53rd Brigade, 18th Division
Green Line Orders: Start J13b.75.25. Zero + 6hrs. Objective J9c.30.40 in readiness to mop up between Black and Green Lines.
B47, B46
12 Section Capt Morrison C.F.
Red Line Orders: Start. Zero + 8hrs
B52, B49, B50, B51
Supply Start. I22b.10.50 Valley Cottages Zero + 4 hours
B18, B54
Account of Operations
On the 28th July 6 Company had moved to Valley cottages. Capt Butcher, 2Lt Murphy, 2Lt Tindal and 2Lt Jinks were all wounded, Lt Hopkins was killed(W2). 2 tanks failed to reach valley cottages, one breaking down just after leaving the tankodrome and another being hit and burnt out just before reaching the cottages. (H2) These were presumably tanks crewed by crews B46 and B51.
11 Section
Both tanks went forward at Zero intending to mop behind the infantry between the German Front Line and the Black line (95-113) , both tanks became ditched in the vicinity of the blue Line. (W73)
. B45 ditched badly in a Trench (presumably German), a salvage team came forward but could not unditch the tank (95-113), at some point the tank was Hit twice (W22).
B48 proceeded onwards but also became ditched. Lt Boag was killed whilst attempting to unditch it. (95-109)
The Battlegraph indicates neither of these tanks got as far forward as the others, this combined with the fact that neither fired on the enemy and that attempts were made to salvage B45 indicate both tanks probably came to grief in the Hooge Gap, presumably south of the Menin Road as this is the path that appears to have been followed by the other "B" Battalion tanks.
Note: The other two tanks in this section were knocked out by shellfire on the approach march (W73).
9 Section
B44, 2665 was hit at the start point and the cab was broken. The crew presumably cross decked to B13, 2718 (which was a spare tank provided by 4 company). (95-113)
The four tanks started forward at Zero plus One hour 40 minutes. B43, 2008, proceeded a short way then broke down, the crew cross decked to the damaged 2665. (95-113)
The remaining three tanks all proceeded to the junction just east of Clapham Junction ( see note below) where they found the infantry held up by MG fire from Glencourse Wood and Inverness copse. B41 and B43 (2665), engaged an enemy MG but became ditched south of the Menin Road. , they engaged the enemy who were counter attacking towards Chateau Wood. B41 successfully unditched using its unditching gear but was unable to get up the Bank onto the Menin Road (95-113)
Note: The report indicates B41 and B43 (2665), ditched near J14c.3.6. The location is almost certianly incorrect as an aerial photograph, taken on 5th August 1917, clearly shows two male tanks ditched whilst attempting to climb the bank onto the Menin Road further west [J13b.4.1]; a third tank is just visible to the south of the two tanks. The westernmost tank is almost certainly B50 the other must be B41, the tank to the south is presumably B43 (2665) as a derelict female tank is visible behind the two males on photographs taken on 20th September 1917.
B42 also became ditched, but used the unditching gear to unditch and successfully crossed the Menin Road, MGs were engaged in Glencourse Wood and the NW corner of Inverness Copse, some AP bullets penetrated his sponsons and he became ditched at J14a.6.6., the unditching gear was now inoperable and the tank was under direct artillery fire so the crew evacuated the tank. They set up position in a shell hole (95-113) 50yds in front of infantry (158/839), which they defended firing on enemy aircraft and Glencourse Wood, eventually enemy fire forced them to withdraw back to the new British front line (95-113).
B44 (2718) reached Clapham Junction half an hour after the other three tanks, it headed towards Glencourse Wood, ditching and unditching and crossing the Menin Road. Enemy MG emplacements were engaged until the tank was hit twice by an anti tank gun at J14c.6.8 and knocked out 200 yds in front of the British infantry; the crew debussed into a trench close by and held it for 2 hours. Lt Townshead was hit from behind by a sniper whilst unditching (95-113)
12 Section
This section started at Zero plus 2 Hours 30 minites. They successfully reached the junction just east of Clapham Junction ( see note below) and moved to assist the Infantry against Glencourse Wood. Seeing 9 section's tanks ditched in the mud B47 and B49 decided to stay on the Menin Road; both were hit and Knocked out by Anti tank fire (95-113). B47 was hit four times. B49 fired on the enemy in Inverness copse and Jargon Trench (which ran in front of Glencourse wood) prior to being hit, (W22) possibly by the gun turret positioned at J13d.8.9, the tank and gun turret were later photographed together (X38.p176) the crew continued to engage the enemy. B50 and B52 tried their luck to the south of the Menin Road, both tanks ditched; B50 unditched but was unable to get back up the bank onto the Menin Road, B52 attempted to reverse out but the engine failed. The crews abandoned the tanks and set up LG positions on the bank, B52's crew then went forward (95-109) to assist the 6th Berkshire Regt (158/839), staying in the front line until 6pm. (95-113).
Note: B50 is almost certainly the westernmost of the two tanks photographed ditched climbing the Menin Road Embankment the other tank is most probably B41.
The 30th Division struggled through the shattered remains of the woods and lost touch with the barrage. 90th Brigade caused further problems by advancing into Château Wood and mistakenly reporting it had captured Inverness Copse. 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)
As the 30th Division had failed to take the second objective (Black line) line, 18th Division's attack was cancelled. Some parts of the Division did not receive the cancellation order, they attacked despite having arrived too late to take advantage of the British barrage which had gone on ahead. No further progress was made against intense enemy fire. (OH)
Summary
Intended: 12
At start: 10
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 4
Ditched / Broke Down: 7
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 0
Notes:
2008 "failed to start" but was replaced by 2665 thus isn't included in the above figures.
Aftermath
Excepting 2008 and 2034 none of the above tanks are mentioned again in the sources
B41, B44, B50 and B52 all photographed Derelict Post War:
IWM Q 17868: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205252396
B47, 2561, remained in position as a derelict for some time: (Photo courtesy of Johan Vanbeselaere or Gwyn Evans)
B49, 2668, remained in position as a derelict for some time:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936759517/in/set-72157601074582281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4100849231/in/set-72157601074582281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2880623615/in/set-72157601074582281
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8369360372/in/set-72157601074582281/
In 1919: IWM Q 37118: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205271792 Note that the first two numbers of the serial, 26, are visible on the rear thus confirming this tanks identity as 2668.
B50, 2013, ”Brian Boru” and B41, 2035, "Boomerang" were both photographed in situ on 21st September 1917 and many times thereafter, including whilst they were derelict post war:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4311433327/in/set-72157601074582281/
B52, 2774, ”Benbow” was photographed still ditched post war (Photo courtesy of Johan Vanbeselaere or Gwyn Evans)
B43, (B44), 2665, "Behemoth", is presumably the female photographed derelict between B41 and B52.
B45, 2015 was possibly photographed whilst derelict (Photo courtesy of Johan Vanbeselaere or Gwyn Evans)
B48, 2664 was 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
Supply tanks were replaced with MKIV Top Towers in October 1917.
2015 and 2668 are both on "B" Battalion's Cambrai OB in "Following the tanks", this is a mistake.
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 PO 95 / 101
W73 - Preliminary report on tank operations on 31 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 104
95/113 - "Further report on operations of B Battalion Tank Corps 31-7-17" in PRO WO 95-113
158/839 -
H2 - War History No2 / B Bttn Tank Corps / B Coy HBMGC 1916 – 1919 Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum
OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.156, Pg.153f
S37 - Jean-Luc Gibot and Phillippe Gorczynski (1999) Following the Tanks, Cambrai
S38 - Peter Barton (2007) Passchendaele.
S59 - Passchendaele (2000) Nigel Steel and Richatd Hart
A & B Battalions 31 July - Map
3rd Ypres Narratives - By date
3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit