15 Battalion C Company 31 August 1918
The Battle of Bapaume, 31st August 1918
15th Battalion, “C” Company with 185th Brigades, 62nd Division, VI Corp, 3rd Army
15th Battalion, “C” Company had 6 tanks in action on 31st August 1918
C Company – Captain Mackie JH or Captain Smith GA
Section. Section Commander Captain Hanford
O42, 9831, "Omar", 2Lt Bell
O54, 9834, "Orient", 2Lt Payton
Section. Section Commander Captain McKersie
O41, “Onyx”, 2Lt Burn
O46, 9550, "Opossum", Lt Uzielli CF,
O47, “Orissa”, 2Lt inglis
O48, “Ockbrook”, Sgt Gibson
Notes
All WD numbers from 8 Aug 1918 records.
Orders
185th Brigade was to attack Vaux-Vraucourt form the south. The tanks were to mop up along the roads running into the village and then move through the village to the north and cover the infantry’s consolidation.
Zero was 5.30am.
Account of Operations
The enemy placed a counter barrage on the British front line at Zero. All the tanks successfully negotiated this.
O47 broke down and returned to the rally point, the other five tanks all reached the objective and engaged the enemy in a fierce fight which saw the paint stripped off the sides of O46 by the weight of the enemies fire. Despite the tanks assistance the infantry suffered severely, one platoon being reduced to 3 men. O41 was KO by a direct hit as it left the village to rally, the 3rd tank Lt burn had lost in August. O46 was led into and through the village by 2Lt Uzelli who was wounded twice and hospitalised after he led the tank back to the rallying point. 2Lt Uzelli was awarded the MC as was 2Lt Payton. Sgt Gibson was wounded early in the action but continued to command O48 until all its guns were out of action. 4 OR were also wounded.
Summary
Total Tanks: 6
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down:
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 5
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