Drocourt Queant. 2nd September 1918

12th Battalion with 3rd and 62nd Divisions, VI Corp, 3rd Army (H12) (OH)

“B” and “C” companies, 12th Battalion, had 18 tanks in action on 2nd September 1918

“B” company - Capt Inglis HT DSO

8 tanks including

L21, 2100, "Lucifer", Lt Saunders CAC

“C” company – Maj Butler WM

10 tanks

Notes

Lt Saunders tank is not identified, he was in command of L21, 2100, "Lucifer" on 19th August 1918 (W12b) 

Orders

“B” and “C” companies were to support 3rd and 62nd Divisions attack to capture the high ground east of Lagnicourt and Morchies. (H12)

 “C” company was to operate on the left with 3rd Division, “B” company on the right with the 62nd Division. (H12)

“B” company to start from Vauix-Vraucourt; Division; “C” company to a point further north and 1,100yds west of the Bapaume – Ecoust road. (H12)

Zero was at 5:30am (H12)

Account of Operations

The weather was fine and it became light soon after zero. (H12) The ground was often impassable for tanks, being of stiff clay with numerous sunken roads and steep banks (OH)

Eight “B” company tanks crossed the start line with the infantry of 187th brigade at Zero. The right section of 4 tanks cleared the ground along the Morchies Road and came under heavy fire from field guns and AT rifles, some of which were fired from a derelict whippet; they were silenced with 6pdr fire. In the growing light the tanks discovered and engaged numerous targets. Lt Saunders tank fired 4000 rounds of SAA but then had to withdraw as all five crew were wounded. The OIC attempted to drive the tank back, occasionally firing the one remaining LG. The tank was then hit on the rear and set alight. The crew were all evacuated. A second tank was hit and burnt out, the remaining two tanks had to withdraw due to casualties to the crews. (H12)

 The left section was heavily engaged near Vaulx trench and Vaulx Wood. Two tanks were hit and knocked out by enemy field guns in the open; a third tank ditched and all the crew were wounded; the last tank turned back before reaching its objective as it had suffered many crew casualties. (H12)

The official history states 6 tanks were knocked out by AT Rifle fire (OH)

One tank from “C” company broke down and failed to reach the start line. The 2nd Royal Scots and 7th Shropshires of 8th Brigade failed to arrive on time. The Corps to the left had a 5am zero hour, the German counter barrage landed just behind “C” company which thus moved forward into no mans land at 5:24. At 5:30 the British barrage came down and the tanks decided to attack unsupported by the infantry which had still not appeared. The tanks continued forward into the German lines silencing those Mgs that were found, many others sprung up once the tanks had passed and engaged the infantry who finally attacked 40 mins late. The tanks came under fire from advanced field batteries; one tank in the left section which had broken down soon after zero was hit five times and burnt out; three other tanks were knocked out by direct hits near Noreuil, one crew was entirely killed or wounded;  a fifth tank was hit and burnt out beyond Vraucourt copse. The other tanks patrolled between Noreuil and Lagnicourt waiting in vain for the infantry to appear, eventually they withdrew, one more tank being hit and knocked out whilst returning. (H12) Another tank ditched (OH) Only 2 tanks rallied. (H12) (OH)

 The tanks had not been properly supported by the infantry and 12 were thus knocked out (H12) This must include the two ditched tanks.

Casualties: 1 officer and 56 other ranks killed, wounded or missing. (H12)

The infantry claimed they advanced on time: the 1 Royal Scot Fusiliers on the left said the tanks were of no use; the 2 Royal Scots in the centre said they failed to climb the steep bank East Of Noreuil; the 7 Shropshire LI on the right said the tanks did good work until knocked out. (OH - footnote)

Summary

Total Tanks: 18

Failed to Start: 1

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 2

Hit and Knocked out: 10

Rallied: 5

Aftermath

3 tanks form “A” Company were in action on 3rd September 1918

“B” and “C” Companies were next in action on 8th October 1918

Sources

W12 - War Diary of 12th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

H12 - War History of 12th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

W12b - 19th August 1918, Operational Orders No. 1, 12 Battalion box, Tank Museum Archives  Courtesy Gwyn Evans.

OH – Official History, 1918 Vol IV. Pg.407f

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