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The Battle of Albert, 23rd August 1918
10th Battalion with 63rd Brigade, 37th Division, , III Corps
B Company, 10th Battalion had 6 tanks in action on 23rd August 1918.
J18, 9435, Lt Wade Brown E,
J19, 9376, 2Lt Price GA,
J20, 9137, Capt Bailey KH,
J21, 9390, Lt Scott GD,
J22, 9396, 2Lt Bushy WH,
J29, 9417, 2Lt Frere F,
Orders
Company was to accompany a company of 8th Somersets who were acting as moppers up.
Start point Duierville Farm, F28a.5.1
Tanks started from SP at 10,45 and met infantry at deployment point, G2d.8.4 at 11.37am. At this pojun t the tanks were split into three sub sections:
Northern subsection (J19 and J20) to cross railway at g10d.4.9 and skirt the northern edges of Achiet le grand and Bihucourt.
J20 to proceed to G2d and pick up a platoon of 8th Somersets, croos railway at g10a.50.95 thence as above. (BHS)
Centre sub section (J21 and J22) to cross the railway at G10a.4.5. and mop up Achiet le Grand and Bihucourt.
Southern subsection (J18 and J29) to cross railway at g15d.2.5 and skirt the southern edges of Achiet le grand and Bihucourt.
J29 with 8th Somerset’s (BHS)
Once infantry were firmly established on their line at Bihucourt the tanks were to return to the Sp and rally.
J18, 9435, Lt Wade Brown E,
J19, 9376, 2Lt Price GA,
J20, 9137, Capt Bailey KH
J21, 9390, Lt Shott GD,
J22, 9396, 2Lt Busby WH
J29, 9417, 2Lt Frere F,
Account of operations
J18 and J29 lost their infantry soon after starting, upon reaching g14b.3.7. J18 had a backfire in its carburettor which disabled the tank, it was abandoned under heavy fire 2 crew were wounded, the OIC and other crewmen rallied.
J29 fired 70 rounds 6pdr and 1500 rounds SAA. Met infantry at g2d.9.6, reached the railway crossing g15a.1.4 and found enemy infantry still there and in a trench 300 yds beyond. The enemy were dealt with, very heavy casualties being inflicted as there were no British infantry present to take prisoners. The tank then proceeded to clear both objectives, again inflicting heavy casualties. Then returned and rallied.
J21 met the allocated platoon of Infantry at g2d.9.4 then crossed the railway at the station and went through the centre of Achiet Le grand. The tank had to stop here for 45 mins whilst waiting for the British barrage to lift, whilst stopped the tank broke down, it was move to the southern part of the village, the driver fainted and the tank became ditched in G21, breaking down whilst being unditched. It was eventually unditched at 2:45pm and rallied at 5:15pm.
J22 met infantry at g2d.9.4, came under fire on crossing the Achiet le Grand to Achiet le Petit Road, silenced 6 Mgs and an AT gun whilst proceeding to the railway. It then suffered a broken track at g10a.4.5, 2 men stayed with the tank, the others returned to the rally point.
J20 and J19 were both shelled with incendiary shells in G3d but crossed the railway prior to engaging the enemy. Both tanks then ran into the British Barrage on East outskirts of Achiet le Grand J20 suffered a broken track at g10d.8.9. The barrage lifted but J19 was having autovac trouble and was hit on the right track at g10b.9.0 Two men stayed with each tank, the others returned to the rally point. 2Lt price was wounded during the action. Whilst the autovac as being repaired J20’s crew captured 6 officers and 43 Other ranks in a dugout in the a wood.
Summary
Total Tanks: 6
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 2
Note:
J18 not included in the engaged the enemy total.
Hit and knocked out is J19 and J20.
Ditched/ Broke Down is J18 and J22
Aftermath
J21, 9390 - In action on 25th
J22, 9396 - In action on 25th
J18, 9435 - Photographed covered in hay, possibly post action: IWM Q9248 (Courtesy of Gwyn Evans)
J19, 9376
J20, 9137
J29, 9417 - In action on 24th and 30th
Sources
Battle History Sheets in PRO WO 95-103
Company Commanders account of operations in PRO WO 95-103
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