3 Battalion. 8 October 1918
The 2nd Battle of Cambrai. 8th October 1918
3rd Battalion, with 199th Brigade, 66th Divisions, XIII Corp, 4th Army (OH)
“A” and “B” Companies, 3rd Battalion had 10 tanks in action on 8th October 1918 (w3)
“B” Company with “A company section attached – Maj May CH (W3)
7 Section
A299, 2Lt Collett EA
A309, 2Lt Parnell HH
A316, Sgt Price
A322, Capt Bonar
8 Section
A341, 2Lt Ridley PD
A336, 2Lt Finney HA
A337, Cpl Butler R
A Company section
A237, “Ceylon II”, Lt Minchin LE
A263, ”Cyprus III”, Cpl Lomax B
A267, “Cork II”, Cpl Bing FW
Notes
A309 is referred to as A300 in the report proper and as A309 three times in the after action part of the report and in the War History.
A246, “Canada” was also with the company but broke down at the overnight stop. (W3)
Orders
“B” company to pass though the infantry on the Red Line and capture Serain. (W3)
Account of Operations
The tanks set off from the overnight stop, B19 central at 05:35 and reached Bellevue farm at 6:15 where they came under fire. The tanks halted for a short while then moved north of La Sablonniere and then up the valley towards Hamage farm, south of here the sectiosn separated. (W3)
7 section
passed through the infantry on the red line at 08:10am and then led them towards Serain firing on parties of the enemy, including those that attempted to escape. (W3)
A322 led the advance as far as Elincourt where it turned back to bring the infantry forward. At 9:45am the tank broke down, was repaired and rallied having driven 34 miles and fired 700 SAA rounds. (W3)
A316 followed A322, it fired at parties of the enemy, especially in the cemetery in U14b. the tank came under artillery fire in U13, avoided this by turning north into the valley. The tank then rallied in U19 at 10:16am having driven 34 miles and fired 600 SAA rounds. . (W3)
A309 soon after crossing the Red Line turned left and fired on the enemy who were holding up the infantry’s advance. The advance resumed. The tank crossed the ridge in U19a where it was hot and knocked out. The driver was wounded as the tank was evacuated. The tank drove 32 miles and fired 600 SAA rounds. (W3)
A299 reached the ridge in U13 and saw two other tanks being hit and knocked out, it fired on the gun responsible but was immediately hit and KO itself; the time was about 08:40am. The tank drove 16 miles and fired 200 SAA rounds. (W3)
8 Section
Crossed through the infantry on the red Line at 08:12am in T24b. (W3)
A341 headed for the western outskirts of Serain , firing on Germans retreating along the Les Folies – Serain Road. The tank was hit and knocked out on crossing the ridge in U13d by a battery of field guns in U14c.6.3. This battery was later silenced by aeroplane Mg fire. The tank drove 26 miles and fired 250 SAA rounds. (W3)
A336 followed 60 yds behind A341 and was knocked out by the same battery after firing on it, the gunner was killed and the driver and OIC wounded. The tank drove 16 miles and fired 100 SAA rounds. (W3)
A337 followed A336, and swung left into the valley to avoid crossing the ridge when the A336 was knocked out. The tank then developed mechanical trouble and so rallied. The tank drove 32 miles and fired 150 SAA rounds. (W3)
“A” Section
“A” section passed the red line to the south of Folie farm at 08:10am, passing through the infantry at U19d.4.5. (W3)
A237 advanced at top speed on Serain, the fire there from ceasing on tanks approach. The infantry had failed to advance so the tank turned back, the fire resuming as soon as it withdrew. The infantry advanced to the line of the Serain – Premont Road reaching same at 10:55am. The tank then crossed the road at U21b.1.5. and patrolled as far as u15c.8.4., being forced on for the crests beyond the village and firing on enemy retreating up the slopes East and North East of the village. The tank then went back to U21b.2.4. where the OIC met with the infantry commander, whilst the OIC was outside the tank. It was hit and set afire, the gunner and driver were trapped inside as the door was jammed. The OiC joined the infantry and later returned to report. The tank drove 25 miles and fire 2300 SAA rounds. (W3)
A263 broke down and thus started late and alone. At 08:20 it passed over the red line then went north of Serain where it engaged the enemy, including those retiring uphill to the north of Serain. The tank patrolled for half an hour but the infantry didn't advance so the tank returned and rallied. The tank drove 35 miles and fire 350 SAA rounds. (W3)
A267 was delayed by the sunken road in B4a and also attacked alone. It went via T29b to T17c.3 where the tank was ditched and the Capl killed. The other crew members were missing. The tank drove 10 miles and fire an unknown number of SAA rounds.
Summary
Total Tanks: 10
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 9
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 5
Rallied: 4
Notes
Aftermath
Major may and Capt Bonar went forward in A322 at 14:00 and examined the abandoned tanks, A309 was recovered, equipment was taken from A299, A341 and A336 which couldn’t be moved.
On October 9th A246, A263, A309, A316, A322, A337 all left B19 central and went to L7b.
Sources
W3 – 3rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
H3 – 3rd Battalion War History. PRO WO 95-104
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol 5 pg194f