15 Battalion C Company 30 August 1918

The Battle of Bapaume, 30^th August 1918

15^th Battalion, “C” Company with 185^th and 186^th Brigades, 62^nd Division, VI Corp, 3^rd Army

15^th Battalion, “C” Company had 10 tanks in action on 30^th August 1918

C Company – Captain Mackie JH

Section. Section Commander Captain McKersie

O42, 9831, "Omar", Cpl Morris

O43, 9833, "Ournan", Lt Ferguson,

O44, “Old nick”, 2Lt Hickox

O52, “Odiham”, Lt Brooks

O54, 9834, "Orient", 2Lt Ayres H,

Section. Section Commander Captain Hanford

O41, “Onyx”, 2Lt Burn

O46, 9550, "Opossum", Lt Uzielli CF,

O47, “Orissa”, 2Lt inglis

O48, “Ockbrook”, Sgt Gibson

O55, “Out to Kill”, 2Lt Burrel

Notes

All serial numbers from 8 Aug 1918 records.

Orders

185^th and 186^th Brigades, 62^nd Division were to advance and capture the high ground east of Vaux-Vraucourt. Tanks were to precede the infantry and clear the village and sunken roads around it; they were then to stay in the vicinity and cover the infantry’s consolidation. One section of tanks was allotted to each brigade.

Zero was 5am.

Account of Operations

On the approach march 2Lt Rorke was taken ill, his place was taken by Cpl Morris.

Capt Mckersie’s section. All five tanks reached the objective and helped the infantry. O42 and O54 were retained by the infantry after the other three tanks rallied.

Captain Hanfords’s section. O55 broke down just after starting and proceeded directly to the rally point after being repaired. 3 tanks, O41, O47 and O48 lost direction in the darkness and the enemy counter barrage, they failed to come into action. O46 broke down before reaching the German front line, was repaired and rallied.

5 tanks.

2Lt Ferguson was killed by an MG bullet whilst looking out over the top of the cab at the start of the action. Lt Brooks was twice wounded by shell splinters, once in the tank and then when moving back towards the dressing station. 4 OR alos wounded. The infantry took Vaux Vraucourt but were too weak to hold it.

Summary

Total Tanks: 10

Failed to Start: 1

Engaged enemy: 5

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 8

Rallied doesn’t include O46 and O55 which rallied having broken down.

Aftermath

Sources

Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.

Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

W15a - 15th Battalion War Diary Appendices, relevant reports and battlegraphs – PRO WO 95-103

2nd Bapaume - 30 August to 3 September 1918