Battle of the Scarpe. 31st August 1918

12th Battalion with 56th and 62nd Divisions, VI Corps  (W12) (OH)

“A” Company 12th Battalion, had  9 tanks in action on 31st August 1918 (W12a)

Major Campbell R

“A” company

2 section – Capt Inglis HJ

Right  - Ackroyd

L4, 4668, “Lorraine”, 2Lt Staube TV

L3, 2882, “Lupin”, 2Lt Ackroyd

Central - Rice

L6, 4510, “Lily”

L7, 8034, “Looter”

L12, 8103, “Lochiel”

L11, 8021, “Liason”, 2Lt Graty

L16, 4006, “Lion”

OICs Rice, Martell, Kibby, Graty, 2Lt Craig

Left - Gooch

L8, 2356, “Lukoie”

L14, 2621, “Lassie”

OICs Gooch and Underdown

Note:

2Lt Craig with a tank that ditched and broke down in front of Ecoust, this may have been L11.

All WD numbers and OIC names from 19 August orders, 12 Bttn Box, Bovington Tank Museum, (Courtesy of Gwyn Evans)

The following tanks were also probably still with "A" company:

L1, 4554, "Ladybird"; L2, 2802, "Leader"; L12, 8103, "Lochiel";

L13, 4565, "Love"; L18, 2713, "Lioness", 

Orders

The tanks had originally intended to attack on the 30th but failed to start on time.

L3 and L4 to support 1st Gordon Highlanders attack on Noreuil Switch on the right.

L6, L7, L11, L12 and L16 to support 13th KRL and 4th Royal Fusiliers in their attack in the centre.

L8 and L14 to support 56th Division on the left, objective Station redoubt and Bullecourt Avenue

Smoke barrage 1 shell in 6, Artillery barrage to crash for 5 mins 300yds in front of British line and then advance 100yds every 4 mins and halt 400yds beyond final objective  (W12a)

Zero 5:15am

Account of Operations

Tanks lay up 3000yds from the start point, they set off at Zero – 3 hrs and all nine met the infantry at the start line.

The ground was generally in good conditions except around Ecoust and Longatte which had been heavily shelled and where the ground was almost impassable in places. It was wet and misty all day; a lot of gas was around.  The infantry had not operated with tanks before or trained with them, they failed to understand the tank signals and tended to bunch around the tanks. (W12a)

All nine tanks got into action, assisted the infantry and reached their objectives, Ecoust was taken easily as the enemy offered no resistance, many Germans were captured in the trenches beyond Bullecourt Avenue to Longette Trench. (W12a)

Right

L4 worked down Vraucourt Trench to within 100yds of Vraucourt village; then, at infantries request, turned north again to deal with MGs near Vraucourt Copse. Whilst moving to take these MGs in the rear the magneto was damaged by an AT rifle bullet (H12) at C14c.3.4 or C20a (W12a); 4 crewmen were wounded by AP bullets; all were evacuated by the OIC under heavy fire. 2Lt Staube was later awarded the MC for this action. (H12)

L3 had advanced far into enemy lines where it broke down and the tank and crew were captured, one wounded sergeant being left behind to tell the tale when the British advanced. (H12)

Centre

L11, after silencing several MGs, ditched in the outskirts of Ecoust, (W12a)

L6 and L16 are probably the two tanks which entered Longette village and cleared the enemy from Longette trench, both broke down whilst returning (H3): L6 had magneto trouble, L16 was burnt out. (W12a)

L7 and L12 both rallied, L12 having overheated badly and the crew suffering from gas.  (W12a)

Left

L8 and L14 moved down the railway embankment between Ecoust and Bullecourt, encountered heavy MG fire but cleared Station redoubt and Biullecourt Avenue (H12) L8 broke down and was burnt out whilst returning . L14 rallied. (W12a)

 In total “A” company fired 155 rounds of 6 pdr and 3850 rounds of SAA. (W12a)

 Casualties, 1 Officer and 7 Other ranks wounded, 1 Officer and 7 Other ranks missing, (W12a)

Whippets from 6th battalion passed through once the Heavy tanks objective was secured, the Whippets had less success against the ridge above Noreuil. (H12)

Summary

Total Tanks: 9

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 9

Ditched / Broke Down: 4

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 3

Aftermath

“A” Company next in action on 3rd September

Sources

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

W12a - War Diary of “A” Company,12th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

-       Preliminary report; message sent at 8:45am; Report on operations; Pigeon messages

H12 - War History of 12th Tank Battalion PRO WO 95/100 (W12a)

OH – Official History, 1918 Vol IV. Pg.370

The Scarpe (1918) - 26 to 30 August