7company31july1917

7 Company 31 July 1917

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

7 Company, C Battalion, with 45^th Brigade, 15^th Division, XIX Corps, 5^th Army

7 Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 31^st July 1917 ^(W23):

1 Section. Capt L. Bates

C1, 2042, ? , “Canada”, 2Lt Breen WF

C2, 2724, ?, “Ceylon”, 2Lt McNicol RC

C3, 2057, ?, “Cape Colony”, 2Lt Ellis HP

C4, 2502, ?, “Cyprus”, 2Lt Davis DJ

C7, -?-, Sp, “Cork”, 2Lt Yeoman JT

C42, -?-, Sp, “Carnation”, 2Lt Hickson AG

3 Section. Capt Youll

C11, 2040, m, “Carstairs”, 2Lt A.V. Coleman

C12, 2726, ?, “Cumbrae”, Lt E. P. Readman

C13, 2053, ? , “Caithness”, 2Lt H. Prophet

C14, 2501, f, “Culloden”, 2Lt M.G.R Elliott

4 Section. Capt W.S. Gates MC

Orders: To mop up between Green and black lines and act as a local mobile reserve. Stay with infantry until 4 am on 1^st August. ^(H3).

C16, 2056, ?, “Ca'Canny”, Lt H.P.M Jones

C17, 2504, f, “Cuidich'n Rich”, Lt E.J. O'Conner

C18, 2044, ?, “Celtic”, 2Lt J.R.S Payne

C19, 2517, f, “Clyde”, Lt F.S. Parsons

C9, -?-, sp, "Crewe", 2Lt H.R Arundel

C41, -?-, Sp, "Chameleon", 2Lt K Wood

Note

Mk IV serial numbers from list of 3^rd Brigade Tanks dated 13 July 1917 in PRO WO 95 / 91. Courtesy of Gwyn Evans.

Serial numbers of tanks 2057, 2502, 2056 and 2517 from Salvage companies report (W32)

Tank 2057, C3 had been handed over to the Salvage Company on the 20^th July ^{(W32, W3)}; This tank was presumably replaced with a female tank seen in the photo (see link in aftermath below)

Serial numbers of 2726, 2053 and 2044 from List of tanks at Cambrai in 3^rd battalions War diary. (W3)

Crew numbers from WO 158/839

Company, tank and tank commanders names from Brigade War history (H3)

Orders

To Pass through 9 Tank Company on the Black line and then to Support Infantry in the attack on the 3^rd Objective the Green Line ^(H3).

RP: I3b.6.7 ^(BHS)

Account of Operations

1 Section.

C1 At request of Infantry moved towards railway; from which enemy retired ^(158/839). Engaged enemy in strongpoint’s at D25d.7.7. with tanks "Cuidich 'n rich" and "Clyde". Bellied and dug out ^(H3). Fired with effect from shell holes near D.25.d.7.7. While tank being unditched ^(158/839) At 11.30 assisted Battalion of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on the right by silencing MGs in Railway embankment along with "Cuidich 'n rich". Patrolled whilst infantry consolidated. Suffered a Direct hit ^(H3). MGs dismounted and engaged enemy during evening counter attack from right of Railway embankmen t^(158/839). 2 OR wnd. In action for 13 hours ^(H3).

C2, Reached Bavaria house but radiator running dry. Returned and broke down by original German Front Line ^(H3). Rallied on 1 Aug ^(W23)

C3 Assisted advance of Cameron Highlanders of 15th Division to beyond Low Farm. Bellied and dug out. Attacked wood on right, several Mg crews surrendered to infantry on tanks approach.Turned N.E. towards Beck House to outflank enemy AT guns. Ditched and sank in swamp, water to engine cover ^(H3) 11.20 am Badly Ditched 19d.7.4. 12.00 am ^(158/839) (Probably 25d.0.6, see sketch map). Tank abandoned. in action 8 hours ^(H3).

C4 Hit by two AT shells 500 yards South West of Beck House ^(H3) just before crossing Black line ^(W23) [probably actually at C30d29, see sketch map]. Officer and Driver KIA, one Gunner wounded ^(H3).

C7, Supply tank. Broke down with secondary gear trouble ^(158/839) Outskirt Farm. Replaced by C42 ^(158/839).

C42, Supply tank. Replaced "Cork". Attacked, towed out "Cleopatra" and broke track whilst doing so. Camouflaged and Abandoned OK on 1st. ^(H3).

3 Section.

C11 Reached Black Line near Beck house, Silenced MGs near Beck House and snipers at D19c.6.8^(158/839) . Bellied and unditched. Assisted "Caithness". Started to return. Hit and set afire by shell. 2 OR KIA ^(H3).

C12 Bellied near Bill cottage, J6b.4.9. ^(BHS) delayed half hour. Attacked in front of infantry on Black Line just north of Beck House about D19c.6.8. ^(158/839) Fired on enemy disappearing towards Delva Farm ^(H3). Tried to cross trenches at D19c.9.5 but became Ditched (BHS) Dug out about Z+9 (BHS). Rallied on 1st with C12 and C13. In Action 16 hours. Fired 150 rounds SAA ^(BHS)

C13 Assisted advance of 6th Cameron Highlanders against Beck House ^(158/839). Attacked with infantry and "Carstairs" from Beck House to junction of Zonnebeke Stream and Black line where tank bellied. Unditched with "Carstairs” assistance. Rallied on 1st. In action for 16 and a half hours ^(H3).

C14 Shell burst just under front of tank just West of Frost House. Shell hit roof door and killed gunner whilst crossing light railway halfway between Frost House and Square Farm^(H3) 8.30 am C30d.1.9. ^(158/839) Tank stopped and hit by third shell. Tank abandoned. Tank then hit at least 6 times by AT gun ^(H3).

4 Section.

C16' s OIC was killed when the tank was close to Wild Wood. The tank proceeded but became bellied and was abandoned near Frezenberg. ^(H3).

C17, Bellied and unditched near Wild wood. Attacked with infantry near Frezenberg. Engaged enemy MGs and snipers. Bellied halfway between Potsdam and Frezenberg. Hit by shell, engine and 4 LG wrecked. OIC and 6 crew wounded ^(H3).

C18, In action halfway between Potsdam and Frezenberg^(H3). 11.30 AM ^(158/839). Engaged enemy MGs. Camouflaged and stayed to assist infantry until following morning. Bellied badly at D25d.5.3 whilst returning. 2 OR wounded. In action 22 hrs ^(H3).

C19, Crossed the Black line; Ditched and Broke Down. Bellied and abandoned near Frezenberg. Officer and 4 OR wnd^(H3).

C9, Supply Tank. Broke down, bellied in no mans land. Handed to Salvage^(H3).

C41, Supply Tank. Got lost. Bellied in Swampy ground near I6d.2.8. OIC and 3 crew wounded by shell whilst fitting unditching gear^(H3).

The tanks are not mentioned in the Official History's brief description of this action. The infantry's attack was successful on the left (6 / Cameron Highlanders) but less so on the right where the flank was exposed due to the failure of the 8th Division. ^(OH)

Summary of fighting tanks

Intended: 12

Reserve:

At Start: 12

Failed to start:

Engaged enemy: 7

Ditched / Broke Down: 7

Hit and Knocked out: 5

Rallied: 0

Notes

C7 broke down and the other three Supply tanks all ditched.

Ditched / broke down includes C2, C12, C13 which all rallied on the 1^st August.

Aftermath

C2, 2724, “Ceylon”; C12, 2726; C13, 2053, “Caithness”; all in action at Cambrai.

C18, 2044 ditched, being worked on by crews + Workshops personnel on 1st Aug ^(W23) in action at Cambrai.

C1, 2042; C11, 2040; C14, 2501; C17, 2504 all to salvage 1^st August ^(W23)

C14 Possibly photographed whilst derelict: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4307522888/in/set-72157601074582281/

Photographed whilst derelict: IWM Q 11660:: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205076447

IWM Q 14570: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205249670

2042, 2501, 2504 no further information

C4, 2502 to salvage on 1^st August ^(W23), visited by salvage team on 5 Aug, at C30d29 to Reigersburg Ramp (?) on 2 November ^(W32) no further information

C16, 2056 to salvage on 1st August ^(W23) salved whole from D25c35 on 13 Oct 17 ^(W32). no further info.

C3, 2057 to salvage on 1st August ^(W23) , from Salvage to CW on 8 Aug ^(W32).

Possibly photographed whilst ditched, though the photo may show a later C3 ditched at Cambrai.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3987592808/in/set-72157601074582281/

2057 was in action with 1^st Battalion in March 1918.

C19, 2517 to salvage on 1st August ^(W23), salved whole from D25f.8.5. on 19 Oct, entrained for central workshops 22 Oct ^(W32). Used as a supply tank in 1918.

C9 no further information

C41 Tank to salvage on 1st August ^(W23) , visited by Salvage team 5 Aug ^(W32)

C7 and C42 would have been handed back to Central Workshops in October 1917 when the battalion handed in all their old Mk I and II supply tanks.

Sources

W32 = War Diary of 2 Tank Field Salvage Coy

W3 = 3^rd Tank Battalion War Diary, list of tanks at Cambrai

W23 = 3^rd Brigade War Diary

158/839 - WO 158/839

H3 = 3^rd Tank Battalion War History. PRO WO 95/104

BHS = Battle History sheet of tank Cambrae held in Tank Museam Box MH3 355.48.3

OH – Official History, 1917, Vol 2, Pg.166

C & F Battalions 31 July 1917 - map

3rd Ypres Narratives - By date

3rd Ypres narratives - By Unit