8 Battalion A Company 8 August 1918
The Tanks at Amiens. 8th August 1918
8 Battalion, with 12th Brigade, 4th Australian Div, Aus Corp, 4th Army
8 Battalion, A Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (W25):
A Company – Major Blackburn DSO MC
1 Section – Captain Scott (W12bAus)
H1, 9047, 2Lt Gleaves AS
H2, 9331, 2Lt Dover EL
H3, 9114, Cpl Mannock P
2 Section – Captain Robertson (W12bAus)
H4, 9317, 2Lt Vaughton SJJ
H5, 9022, 2Lt Batstone RK
H6, 9012, 2Lt Evans LJ
3 Section – 2 Lt Prentice (W12bAus)
H8, 9324, Sgt Wynni AD
H7, 9015, 2Lt Atherton F
H9, 9045, 2Lt Morgan RE
4 Section – Captain MacFarlane (W12bAus)
H10, 9439, 2Lt Gibson JW
H11, 9054, 2Lt Vickers WA
H12, 9393, 2Lt Eastwood H
Supply tanks
1 supply tank was allocated to each infantry battalion. Section commanders Lt Coombs and Lt Birch
Notes
Crew numbers of H3 and H10 educated guesses other crew numbers correct for 4th July 1918.
Section allocations educated guesses.
Orders
“A” Company were to follow the first phase attackers to the Green line and then lead the 4th AIF Brigade’s 45th and 46th Battalions in the second phase of the attack to capture the red line. (W12bAus)
They would be supported by any survivors from 13th Battalions “B” Company who’d led the attack on the Green Line. (W12bAus)
15th Battalions “A2” group would pass through on the Red Line and exploit to the Blue Line. (W12bAus)
“A” Company’s 1 and 2 sections to 46th Battalion, 3 and 4 sections to 45th Battalion (W12bAus)
In addition 6 tanks from 8th Battalions “C” Company were to co operate with the 46th Battalion. (W12bAus)
Account of Operations
46th AIF Battalion
9331 ditched just after crossing the Green line, it then rallied. (W25bg)
Advanced from Green to Red lines, opposition only in Lena Wood, some prisoners and 4 field guns captured, 2 guns captured at Q27b.8.7. and a regimental command post in Valerie Wood. The valley before the Red line was reached and the enemy put up stiff resistance from the far side, lining the terraces in Q23 and Q29 a and Q29b. also AT guns firing from Q29b and MGs from Richmond Wood and house at Q29d.0.5. Tanks initially not able to help but got down the gully and started to climb the eastern slope where one was knocked out in Q29b (possibly 9114 (W25bg)). The far bank of the gully, including Richmond and Hope Woods was now captured and the Red Line reached. The British were fired on by point blank field gun fire whilst consolidating and one tank was knocked out. (w46aus) Four tanks were lost on the far side of the red line according to the battle graph 9317, 9047, 9022, 9012 (W25bg)
45th AIF Battalion
This battalion advanced to timetable. Some opposition encountered and dealt with by infantry and tanks. 2 tanks Knocked out (w45aus) (9045 on the red line and presumably, one from “C” Company) The other 5 tanks all reached the Red line and rallied , 9324, 9015, 9439, 9054, 9393 (W25bg)
All four of 4th AIF brigades allocated supply tanks were destroyed on 7th August (W12bAus)
The company lost 6 tanks and suffered 2 officers and 20 Other ranks wounded and, both officers and 14 other ranks remained on duty. (W8)
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 6
Rallied: 5
Note
Rallied doesn’t include 9331.
From Brigade report of operations
In action: 35
Reached objective: 15
Received direct hits: 12
KO by Land mines: 1
Mechanical trouble: 8
Rallied: 18
Fit for action on 9th: 7
Aftermath
Sources
W25 – 5th Tank brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph
W12bAus – 12th Australian Brigades War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.
W45aus – 45th Australian Battalions War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.
W46aus – 46th Australian Battalions War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.
S61 – Rolling into action 1936 DE Hickey