14 Battalion, 2 Composite Company, 2 September 1918

Battle of the Drocourt Quent Switch Line. 2nd September 1918

14^th Battalion, 2 Composite Company, with 2^nd Brigade 1^st Division, Canadian Corp, 3^rd Army

2 Composite Company – OIC Captain Raikes

Lead section, (4 tanks) Lt Dickson

9093, Sgt Hinge

And 3 from below

Reserve section (5 tanks) Captain Spencer

5 from

9108, 2Lt Haines

9156, “Nottingham”, 2Lt Lewis

9260, Lt Lockwood

9278, 2Lt Tudgey

9281, Cpl Hodges

9356, 2Lt Pavey

9559, 2Lt Skippon

Notes

9156 tank name from 8^th August Battlegraph

Orders

General

To lead the infantry into the Quent – Drocourt line, ensuring they got through the wires and held the line.

Then to lead the infantry down the Buissey Switch and assist in mopping up and holding it.

If requested to assist tin the capture of the villages of Villers-Les0Cagnicourt, Cagnicourt and Buissey.

2 Composite Company

After some disagreement between the Infantry brigade Commander and the 14^th Tank battalion OIC the following scheme was adopted.

4 tanks were to proceed ahead of the infantry to the Quent - Docrourt line and were to wait there and mop up during the hours halt; then they were to advance down the Buissey Switch, 2 tanks remaining behind to mop up on Villers and at the Factory if necessary. The 5 tanks in reserve were to follow and assist wherever necessary, attacking as a body.

Account of Operations

9 tanks were allocated, one broke down before reaching the start point. 9093 broke down at the start point and was replaced by a tank from the Reserve section. 9108 ditched at V1a.1.9 and was pulled out by a tank from 9^th battalion as it returned form the front; 9108 continued forward. 9356 was knocked out by a direct hit on the first objective (Red Line?). 9156’s crew had all been wounded by AP ammunition and this tank was taken over by Lt Pavey and the crew of 9356; the tank then proceeded down the Buissey Switch. Meanwhile 4 tanks had led the infantry from the Red line. 9260 was hit several times and burnt out at Villers Cagnicourt, the OIC and some crew members survived.

9156 had lost direction and supported the attack on Cagnicourt by mistake, having helped capture the village the tank turned towards its proper objective, Villers Cagnicourt but was engaged by enemy batteries firing on the slope running from V5 to V10, seeing 9260 on fire Lt Pavey decided to turn back and find some infantry to deal with the guns. 9278 started down the Buissey switch and was then ordered by the section commander to turn left assisted in the capture of Dury, 9278 and 9156 both returned to Company headquarters Z32c.9.3. No tanks had gone down the Buissey Switch as a result the 10^th CIF battalion were held up at Villers Cagnicourt. The tanks couldn’t advance because of the German batteries, British batteries were brought forward and silenced the German batteries and 9278 and 9156 advanced together; both crossed the ridge. 9156 headed for the factory on ther Rrass cambrai Road but was hit and set afire 200 yards from it. 9278 was also hit and set afire whern wuite close to the village. ; 9108 was ordered to Company HQ at H32c.

Detailes of the other three tanks are only available on the Battlegraph:

9260, Hit and burnt out just prior to second Objective.

9281, Reached first Objective rallied, attacked again. Crossed German front line then rallied.

9559, Hit and burnt out just prior to second Objective.

Tanks advanced with the 7^th CIF to the red Line (Quent - Drocourt Switch) and thereafter with the leading 10^th CIF Battalion

Summary

Total Tanks: 8

Failed to Start: 1

Engaged enemy: 7

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 5

Rallied: 2

Notes

Aftermath

14^th Battalion were next in action on 4^th November 1918.

From War Diary:

1^st October – Battalion strength = 9 Heavy tanks and one Renault.

4^th October – 6 MkV to 11^th Battalion.

6^th October – 3 Mk V drawn form Bisleux-Au-Mnt.

7^th October – 2 MkV* and one MkV drawn from 11^th Battalion

26^th October - 5 MkV* and one MkV drawn; 3 from No 2 Advanced Stores, 3 from No 5 Advanced Stores.

30^th October - 3 Mk V* and five Mk V drawn from 301^st Tank Battalion.

Sources

Relevenat Battlegraph in 95-103

War History of 14^th tank battalion – PRO WO 95 - 103

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