15 Battalion C Company 31 August 1918

The Battle of Bapaume, 31^st August 1918

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

15^th Battalion, “C” Company had 6 tanks in action on 31^st 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

185^th 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 3^rd 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