11 Battalion. 8 October 1918

2nd Battle of Cambrai. 8^th October 1918

11^th Tank Battalion, with 38^th and 21^st Divisions, V Corp, 3^rd Army ^(OH)

11^th Tank Battalion was with 3^rd tank Brigade ^(H11)

11^th Battalion had 14 fighting tanks in action on 8^th October 1918 ^(OH)

Composite Company (A and C) – Maj. Wilson

8 tanks ^(OH)

Sgt Sharpe

Sgt Knowles

B Company – Capt Kelson GM

6 tanks ^(OH)

Notes

The battalion had Mark V* tanks ^(H11)

Orders

The V Corps was to launch a preliminary night attack at 1am to bring the V corps into line prior to the main attack being launched by fourth army at 8am. ^(OH)

“B” company to support 21^st Division at Mortho Wood and Walincourt. Zero hour 03:30 hrs ^(H11

Two tanks were to help mop up the Chateau des Angles area after daylight. The other four were to support the second phase of the attack due to start at 5:15am. ^(OH)

Composite company to support 38^th Division at Villers Outreaux and Malincourt and forward to the southern edge of Bois de Gard. Zero hour 03:30 hrs ^(H11) Two battalions of 115^th brigade were to go north and south of Villers Putreaux, the third battalion, 2 / R Welsh Fusiliers was to mop up at dawn assisted by two tanks; two more tanks were to join after dawn and two others were to mop up the Beaurevoir line.

Account of Operations

The 64^th and 110^th brigades both took the Beaurevoir line without difficulty. The 64^th later lost the Chateau des Angles to a counter attack but had retaken it by 6am ^(OH) (possibly with tank support).

AT 8am the 62^nd brigade, supported by 6 tanks, started the second phase of the advance to capture Walincourt village and the spur on which it was situated; not realising that the 114^th Brigades attack had been delayed until 11:30am. The attack made little progress due to fire from the front and enfilade fire from the south, the 6 tanks did help capture positions to the east of Chateau des Angles. The brigade attacked agin at 2:30 pm and secured a line of trenches east of Walincourt village and Guillemin farm. The days final attack, to capture Walincourt village itself started at 6pm but was repulsed. ^(OH)

115^th Brigade's two attacking battalions were held up by thick wire, thus when the 2 / R Welsh Fusiliers arrived at dawn (5am) they were met by a hail of fire. A forward observer provided artillery support and three tanks appeared, these were used to flatten the wire at the South Western corner of the village; the 2 / R Welsh entered the defences and took the village. ^(OH) One tanks was presumably lost in this action as three tanks were hit and knocked out north of Villers Outreaux ^(H11) and the other two losses are described below.

The 114^th Welsh Brigade, 14^th and 15^th Welsh Regiment was supposed to pass through the 113^th on the first objective at 8am, instead they encountered enemy fire as they advanced towards Mortho Wood in columns of fours at 5am. The battalions deployed and, joined by the 14^th / R Welsh Fusiliers, 11^th Brigade’s reserve battalion, attempted to storm the wood but were stopped by thick wire on the inside edge. At this point two tanks unexpectedly appeared, they crushed the wire and silenced some MGs, thus the advance was continued; both tanks were then knocked out by a hidden field gun which was itself overrun and captured by the 14^th Welsh (Swansea Pals) later. ^{(OH) (s70.p168)} All three battalions were now able to advance and storm the Beaurevior line, thus being in position to start their attack at the postponed 11;30am start time. This attack duly went in and the 38^th Division was able to capture Malincourt and secure its final objective, on or near the Serin Walincourt Road by 1:30pm ^(OH)

The Official History makes no mention of tanks after the initial advance but it is possible they participated in the second and later phases of the attack with either or both divisions.

The 11^th tank battalions war history called the operation a complete success, Sgts Knowles and Sharpe were both recommended for awards by the infantry, both awarded MMs. Heavy shellfire was encountered during the attack, seven tanks were fit at the end of the day ^(H11)

Casualties: 5 other ranks killed, 3 officers and 9 other ranks wounded; 3 other ranks missing. ^(H11)

Summary

Total Tanks: 14

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 3+

Rallied: 7

Note

Aftermath

The seven fit tanks were formed into a composite company.

Sources

H11 – 11^th Tank Battalion’s War History, PRO WO 95 / 100.

OH – Official History. 1918. Volume IV. Pg.200 to 202

S70 - Swansea Pals (2004) Bernard Lewis

2nd Cambrai - 8 to 9 October 1918