8 Battalion A Company 8 August 1918

The Tanks at Amiens. 8^th August 1918

8 Battalion, with 12^th Brigade, 4^th Australian Div, Aus Corp, 4^th Army

8 Battalion, A Company had 12 fighting tanks in action on 8^th 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 4^th July 1918.

Section allocations educated guesses.

Orders

“A” Company were to follow the first phase attackers to the Green line and then lead the 4^th AIF Brigade’s 45^th and 46^th Battalions in the second phase of the attack to capture the red line. ^(W12bAus)

They would be supported by any survivors from 13^th Battalions “B” Company who’d led the attack on the Green Line. ^(W12bAus)

15^th 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 46^th Battalion, 3 and 4 sections to 45^th Battalion ^(W12bAus)

In addition 6 tanks from 8^th Battalions “C” Company were to co operate with the 46^th Battalion. ^(W12bAus)

Account of Operations

46^th 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)

45^th 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 4^th AIF brigades allocated supply tanks were destroyed on 7^th 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 9^th: 7

Aftermath

Sources

W25 – 5^th Tank brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph

W12bAus – 12^th Australian Brigades War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.

W45aus – 45^th Australian Battalions War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.

W46aus – 46^th Australian Battalions War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.

S61 – Rolling into action 1936 DE Hickey

8 Battalion 8 August 1918