14 Battalion, 1 Composite Company, 2 September 1918
Battle of the Drocourt Quent Switch Line. 2nd September 1918
14th Battalion with 3rd Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, Canadian Corp, 3rd Army
and 172nd Brigade, 57th Division
Composite Company 1 - OIC Captain Pemberton
1 section - Lt Knight
9355, Lt Spencer
9163, “Nilvelle”, 2Lt Smart
9103, “No Surrender”, 2Lt Isaacs
Lt Street
LCpl Wilkinson – Mk V*
2 section - Lt Ginger
9377, “Nile”, 2Lt Jukes
2Lt MacKintosh
2Lt Mould
Lt Weeks
Notes
Tank names from 8th August Battlegraph
LCpl Wilkinson’s tank was a MkV*, the others were all MKV
Orders
Tanks were to lead infantry up to and over the Drocourt Quent Switch Line, to the red line then to mop up behind the Infantry.
As they advanced through Cagnicourt, Bois de Loison and Bois de Bouche and beyond. The tanks were not to proceed past the green line.
2 sections would attack from south of the Crows Nest.
Lt Gingers section on the left three tanks forward and one (Lt Weeks) in support; would head towards Hop lane at V1c.6.0. then they were to work up the system to V1d.9.9 and turn South.; eventually rallying at Trigger copse.
Lt Knights section on the right were to head for the enemies line just to the right of Calling Card Wood, then turn north and work up to trigger Copse before turning South and rallying at calling card wood when the line was in British hands.
At Zero +1 two tanks from this section were to rally at Calling card wood and there join the 172nd Brigade and assist them in their attack on two switches at V18 and v20.
Account of Operations
Tanks were came under fire during the approach march and Sergeant Hodgson, commanding the MkV* was wounded, Corporal Wilkinson took charge of the tank. The tanks failed to reach the start point on time so started from v10a.8.8 at Z-4 minutes; they successfully caught up with the infantry before the barrage had lifted form the Drocourt Line and were able to cover them. The tanks were subjected to a heavy barrge until they reached the crows next.
1 section
9163 broke down 200 yards east of the Crows Nest, but eventually rallied. Lt Streets tank, after engaging the enemy, ditched in some low ground to the West of Trigger Copse. Lt Knight was wounded at the crows nest and the remaining tanks failed to keep to their sectional boundaries but never the less adequately covered the front of the infantry. Silencing many machine guns; the garrison surrendered almost en mass. 9355 turned back to deal with several machine guns which were inflicting heavy casualties on the infantry and were all within 50 to 100yds of V13b.3.2, all the machine guns were accounted for, one by a direct hit from a 6pdr. 9355 was then hit and burnt out at V13b.3.2, the OIC, Lt Spencer being killed and all the crew becoming casualties. 9103 crossed the line then worked north and south. He silenced some MGs in front of Cagnicourt Wood but was then hit twice on the 6pdr shield and withdrew to the rallying point. The MkV* moped up the enemy trenches as ordered and then rallied.
2 section’s tanks all crossed the line and effectively engaged the enemy. 9377, Lt Mould and 2Lt Mackintosh all then proceeded onwards towards the support line and Graincourt silencing several MGs en route. 9377 became badly ditched at V13b.7.2. Lt Mackintosh also fired 6pdr at a field gun battery at V7d.8.2, 400 yards distant and successfully scattered the gunners.
As there were no tanks available to assist 172nd brigade their attack was held up. Lt Weeks was sent to assist them and worked down the branch line towards Possum Lane, silencing enemy MGs en route and thus enabling the infantries advance.
The tanks rallied at the crows nest as their original rallying points were subject to heavy shell fire. All the crews had been gassed and were exhausted.
Number 8 Squadron RAF, commanded by Major Leigh Mallory was on tank co-operation duty and engaged enemy anti tank guns and left information messages for the tanks at the Brigade reporting centre, none of these reports were received by 2 Composite company.
Summary
Total Tanks: 9
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 9
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 7
Notes
Only one tank (Lt Weeks) fit for further action.
Aftermath
14th battalion was next in action on 4th November 1918.
Sources
Relevenat Battlegraph in 95-103