4 Battalion. 9 October 1918
2nd Cambrai (St Quentin Canal), 9th October 1918
4th Battalion with 30th US Division, II US Corps
Under Revision, yellow information in note form only.
4th Battalion had 9 fighting tanks in action on 9th October 1918.
Composite Company
9034, Lt Adshead
9066 2Lt McNab GEO
9107, 2Lt Gillard, OH, "C" Coy
9158, 2Lt Heath BG
9326, Sgt Wilson GH,
9331, Hemmings E, “B” Coy
9348, 2lt Nicholls PS, “B” Coy
9433, Cpl Hare LA
and one other tank whose BHS was not found.
Note
All details from BHS.
A wireless tank was also in operation.
Orders
The 117th and 118th regiments of the 59th Brigade were to secure the first objective, 119th and 120th regiments of the 60th Brigade were to secure the second objective. 9 tanks in support (OH).
Two tanks broke down whilst moving from Bellicourt to Wiancourt (W2a) (H4) 9107 with engine trouble and 9158 broke a track whilst crossing the railway at C3a.2.3 it was repaired too late to see action so it rallied (BHS).
To assist in advancing the line from East of Premont and Brancourt to a new line East of Busigny and Becquiny. Starting point: a line between U22 central, C5 central and C12a.0.0. Start time (Zero) 5.20am.
Objectives from BHS
9066 to advance with inf to railway line E of Busigny and help inf clear wood in V13.
9034 to proceed with inf to the north of Premont - Bacusigny road as far as wood in V19 clearing same, then advance NE to railway V20 cross this and work N of Busigny. Objective: V14a Etaves.
9326 from C5d10 via Sablire bois, S of Becquigny to final obj in V17d
9331 To overcome Mg fire between C18cent and Becquigny V29
9348 from S18b cent via S end of Sabline wod to Becquigny V29a.
Account of operations
Three tanks failed to reach the start point (OH)
Three tanks had trouble reaching the starting point, two arrived late the third failed to make it (W2a) ( H4) .
9433 broke down prior to start was repaired and followed other tanks in section reaching v19a.5.5 no opposition encountered, guns not fired. Met coy cmmd capt Steuinman, rallied RP C2c2.5 (BHS)
9326, Broke down, started late and reached jumping off point with 2nd wave of inf. Went though wood east of Premont V1a. Then to Sablire Wood where several MG were silenced at US inf request. Also silenced enemy gun at abt. V26. Broke down, repaired and ordered to C2b.2.9, reached this point with the help of another tank. fired: 4 6dr, 100 SAA. (BHS)
Two tanks skirted the northern edge of Premont Village, the other four went south of the village. (W4a) (H4) Doing useful work south east of the village (OH)
The two that headed north were ordered towards the wood in V13; they lost direction, went too far north and advanced across the front of 25th Division (XIII Corps (OH)) towards Maretz. They realized their mistake and turned back south coming back into contact with the Americans who were held up by MG fire from (W4a) (H4) Sabliere Wood (OH) in V13 and the Copse in D19. The tanks split up, one going to the north of the Wood and the other along the south towards the Copse. MGs were silenced and the infantries advance enabled. The tanks had intended to meet on the far side of the wood. The Southern tank got as far ads the railway South of Butry farm and received a direct hit which temporarily disabled it. The Northern tank went as far as the station before turning south and meeting the other tank. Many enemy MGs were encountered along the railway. (W4a) (H4)
9066 2Lt McNab GEO Started 5:20am from U22c central and went NE towards wood in V13. Advance held up by short British barrage. Advanced once barrage lifted, no opposition until wood reached. MGs in wood holding out. Wood too thick for tank, it went round West side and silenced 3 MG. At 10:30 reached railway station N of V14b. Inf of 25th Div and 30th US div clearing up houses here and cavalry advancing along the Roman road in U16 and U17. Returned to report centre at U22c.2.5, reported to Coy commander then rallied t RP U26d.4.1. (BHS)
9034 went with inf, got lost in mist and then went further SE to proceed N of Premont Wood. Searched wood in V19a but unable to find suspect MG inf said was there. Saw inf held up by Mg fire at Butry Farm, went to their assistance and engaged and silenced enemy Mg in railway embankment. Then fired on by a field gun which hit the tank with its fifth shot, above the left hand sponson, Cpl and one OR wounded. Tank returned to Butry farm, tank broke down here but was eventually repaired and went to C2b. Fired 40 rounds 6 pdr, no SAA
The southern group of four tanks split into two pairs. Going into action north and south of the unnamed Wood in D1 and D12. Three tanks reached the western side La Sarliere Bois and patrolled there assisting the infantry when asked. The fourth tank reached the railway at about D14b and then patrolled Northwards to La Sarliere Bois. (W4a) (H4)
9348 started at zero, met infantry within 5 mins. Went forward with them but became stuck in sunken road, went N along road to get out then, until 1:30pm ,helped different groups of Us inf who were held up by MG fire. Ran out of oil at 1:30pm, re filled at 3;30pm then rallied. (BHS)
Went: C15 central to C12 central. Crossed Premont – Bohain road about C6c.1.8 from there North down road in C6. To railway embankment. In D14b.5.6. Followed bank to D8b.6.9 looking for a crossing. Thence to D2a where tank covered infantry consolidation. Thence to farm V25d.0.0. which was supposed to have Mg in. Then to V25a.8.5 where wood was entered with small groups of US inf., tank then ordered to rally. Fired 950 SAA. (BHS)
9331 got lost, came up to infantry support after an hour, then went forward and found first wave of infantry held up by fire from a farm v25d.0.3. Got to with 20 yds of farm, then ditched and broke down. Infantry advanced, tank unditched and repaired. Tank broke down again, empty radiator so turned and eventually reached RP. Fired 500 rounds SA (BHS)
The two tanks that started late met the other tanks coming out of action. (W2a) (H4) The 118th Brigade were held up by fire from Bohain which was not taken by IX corps until 5pm; they thus did not secure the first objective until 4pm. The 117th Brigade, on the left was on the first objective by 12:30pm. (OH) The tanks did not advance to the infantry’s final objective as the enemy were in full retreat and the tanks were thus not needed (W2a) (H4) (OH). (The War History states it was because the tanks were unable to cross the railway embankment which was a formidable tank obstacle(H4))
The 6 tanks that contacted the enemy fired a total of 70 rounds of 6pdr and 1200 rounds of SAA.
Summary
Total Tanks: 8
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 0
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out:
Rallied: 8
Note: Only 4 of the rallied tanks were fit. One having been hit, three others suffering from mechanical trouble.
Aftermath
This was 4th battalions last action.
9034 from Central Workshops to Advanced stores in March 1919 (CW).
9107, 9158 no further record
9066, 9326, 9331, 9348 and 9433 - with 10th Battalion on 23rd October (W10a) (X27.p218)
Sources
W4a - Untitled 4th Tank Battalion report of operations on October 9th 1918 - PRO WO 95-110
BHS - Battle History Sheets of tanks in Imperial War Museum, Hemshall Papers IWM 73 / 126 / 1
H4 – History of the 4th Tank Battalion - Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.
OH - Official History, 1918, Vol 4, pg.215