11 Battalion. 2 September 1918

Battle of Drocourt Queant Switch line. 2^nd September 1918

11^th Tank Battalion, with 12^th Brigade, 4^th (British) Division, Canadian Corp, 1^st Army ^(OH)

11^th Battalion had 9 fighting tanks in action on 2^nd September 1918 ^(H11)

Composite Company

Notes

The battalion had drawn Mark V* tanks on the 8^th to 11^th August 1918. ^(H11)

Orders

Army objective was to break through the Drocourt-Queant Line astride the Arras-Cambrai road, and then swing outward rolling up the line to the north and south. 3^rd tank brigade was to support the attack, 11^th tank battalion with 4^th Division on the left, 9^th Tank Battalion with the 4^th CIF Division in the centre and 14^th tank battalion with the 1^st CIF Division on the right. ^(H9) The 2 /Essex and 1 / Kings own were to lead the advance odf12th Brigade, avoiding Etaing village at the far north of the Drocourt Queant system which would be taken from the south by the tanks once the Droucourt Queant system had been secured. ^(OH)

Starting point near Harcourt, start time 04:00 hrs, Zero hour 05:00 hrs ^(H11)

Account of Operations

The tanks were unable to traverse the marshy ground to the rear of 12^th brigade so went around it to the north and caught the infantry up on the Drocourt-Queant front system ^(OH) .Only 4 tanks started, little opposition was encountered and all the objectives were gained ^(H11) . The tanks then mistakenly attacked Etaing Wood, on a spur to the south of the village, and not Etaing village itself; thus the enemies enfilade fire was not suppressed ^(OH) . One tank was disabled and abandoned in front of the new British front line. The other tanks rallied at Wancourt. ^(H11) The infantry attempted to advance beyond the second Drocourt Switch support line but were checked by heavy fire ^(OH)

Casualties were 1 officer killed, 6 other ranks wounded. ^(H11)

^{Lt Lethebe and 2Lt Marshall both died on this day (CWG)}

Summary

Total Tanks: 9

Failed to Start: 5

Engaged enemy: 4

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out:

Rallied: 3

Note

Aftermath

The tank abandoned in front of the British front line was recovered some days later ^(H11)

Some tanks had been handed to 14^th Battalion after the Boyelles action, these were returned to the 11^th Battalion and refitted ^(H11)

Sources

H9 - 9^th Tank Battalion’s War History, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum.

H11 – 11^th Tank Battalion’s War History, PRO WO 95 / 100.

OH – Official History. 1918. Volume IV. Pg.402

Drocourt / Queant - 2 to 3 September (1st Army)