7 Battalion 2 September 1918

Battle of the Drocourt Queant Switch Line. 2^nd September 1918

7th Battalion with 15^th Brigade, 5^th Division, and 127^th Brigade, 42^nd Division, IV Corp, 3^rd Army ^{(H7) (OH)}

7^th Battalion had 6 MKIV tanks in action on 2^nd September 1918 ^(H7)

C Company – Capt Allden MC

2 Sections

8 tanks

Lt Adney ^(CWG)

Notes:

The War history dos not mention a second section, just stating two tanks were sent forwards later to assist 42^nd Division. The Official history states a section supported both 5^th and 42^nd brigades. The author has assumed the war history is inaccurate.

Orders

Zero hour 5:15am ^(OH)

A section from “C” company to support the 15^th Brigade, 5^th Division in capturing Beugny. ^(H7)

A second sectionb^(OH) was presumably allocated to help 42^nd Division captured Villers-au-Flos and the high ground to the south east of it. ^(H7)

Account of Operations

Beugny was captured, one tank being hit and destroyed. ^(H7) the New Zealanders, 2 Otago and 1 / Canterbury attacked in the centre and were held up by fire from a derelict tank ^(OH) The enemy recaptured Beugny and then abandoned it. ^(H7) Two of the tanks attached to 42nd Division broke down and failed to start, the other two arrived after zero but did give some assistance; 42^nd Division, 1 / 5^th and 1 / 6^th Manchester captured Villers-au-Flos ^(OH)

Lt Adney was killed on this day ^(CWG)

Summary

Total Tanks: 8

Failed to Start: 2

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied:

Aftermath

7^th Battalion was next in action on the 1^st September 1918

Sources

H7 – 7^th Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum

OH – Official History 1918 Vol IV, pg410

CWG - Commonwealth war Graves Commission - http://www.cwgc.org/

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