12 Battalion. 21 August 1918

Battle of Albert. 21^st August 1918

12^th Battalion, 2 Guards, 2 Division, XVII and VI Corp, 3^rd Army ^(H12)

12^th Battalion, had 30 tanks in action on 21^st August 1918 ^(H12)

“A” Company - 10 tanks

1 section - Capt Clarke JP

L1, 4554, "Ladybird", Capt Clarke JP

L3, 2382, "Lupin", 2Lt McNichol

L8, 2356, "Lukoi", 2Lt Staub

L11, 8021, "Liaison", 2Lt Graty

2 Section - 2Lt Thomas

L7, 8034, "Looter", 2Lt Wright

L12, 8103, "Lochiel", 2Lt Kibbey

L17, 4562, "Lightning", 2Lt Thomas

L18, 2713, "Lioness", 2Lt Underdown

4 Section - 2Lt McGregor

L4, 4668, "Lorraine", Sgt Fleming - possibly in reserve, see note below.

L13, 4565, "Love", Sgt Curtis - possibly in reserve, see note below.

L14, 2621, "Lassie", 2Lt McGregor

L16, 4006, "Lion", 2Lt Webb

“B” Company. 8 tanks

5 section - 2Lt Saunders

L21, 2100, "Lucifer", Lt Saunders

L26, 2354, "Leuwa", 2Lt Hayward

L36, 2648, "Llama II", 2Lt Lowe

L37, 2334, "Leprechaun II", 2Lt Fathing

7 Section - Capt Randell

L23, 2764, “Linwood II”, 2Lt Hipwell

L31, 2400, “Liverpool”, Capt Randell

L32, 2397, “Lurcher”, 2Lt Sale

L34, 2822, “Leviathan II”, Lt Smith

“C” Company. 12 tanks

10 section - Lt Beames

L42, 2776, “Lady Mede”, 2Lt Moss

L44, 2054, “Leighlin”, 2Lt Shackelon

L45, 8030, “Lodestar”, 2Lt Cheverton

L46, 4513, “Limpet”, Lt Beames

11 section - Capt Sampson

L43, 8020, “Liberty”, 2Lt Walters

L48, 6012, “Lucretia”, 2Lt Haworth

L49, 2745, “Lark”, 2Lt Brown

L50, 8031, “Laverock”, Capt Sampson

12 section - Capt Beddow

L41, 2006, “Lusty”, 2Lt Clarke

L51, 8004, “Lynx”, Capt Beddow

L52, 8076, “Limberlost”, 2Lt Prowse

L54, 4083, “Leech”, 2Lt Sowerbutts

Reserves. 12 tanks

"A" Company

3 Section - 2Lt Carmichael

L2, 2802, "Leader", 2Lt Shaw

L6, 4510, "Lily", 2Lt Carmichael

Plus two more tanks, possibly L4 and L13, see note below.

"B" Company

6 section - 2Lt Prescott

L29, 4567, "Lilac II", Sgt Roberts

L33, 2611 "Lizard II", Cpl Hone

8 Section - Capt Haseler

L22, 2841, “Levity II”, Lt Warburton

L27, 2041, “Limited Loo”, 2Lt Porteous

L28, 4658, “Linet II”, Capt Haseler

L38, 2615, “Lydia II”, 2Lt Townsend

"C" Company

9 (reserve) Section -

L53, 2821, “Lyric”, Cpl Roberts

L47, 2861, “Lotus”, Sgt Crossland

Notes

L4 and L13 were probably the other two reserve tanks in "A" Company as they are both commanded by NCO's, as are several other reserve tanks. All the other fighting tanks are commanded by Officers.

All details from 19th August 1918, Operational Orders No. 1, 12 Battalion box, Tank Museum Archives ^(W12b)

"Lady Mede"s name is given as “Lady Mede II” in the orders, this may indicate 2776 had been replaced.

Orders

Brigade Orders ^(W22)

2^nd Tank Brigade was to support VI Corps attack.

The 12^th Tank Battalion was to support the Guards and 2^nd Division's attack on the Blue Line, then rally as the second wave passed through. The Blue line was to be reached by Zero + 55 mins.

The 15^th Tank Battalion was to support the Guards and 3^rd Division's attack on the Red line (Arras - Albert Railway). Leapfrogging through the first wave at the Blue Line at Zero + 90 minutes. The 15^th Tank Battalion was also to cross the railway and operate as far as the red dotted line to cover the infantries consolidation.

6^th battalion was to exploit beyond the final objective, red line, once it ha been secured by the infantry.

6th Tank Battalion was to cross the railway line as soon as crossings were secure; it was then to exploit towards Ervillers, Behagnies and Sapignies.

There was no preliminary bombardment, the supporting barrage coming down at Zero: 4:55am

8 Squadron RAF was to work with the tanks ^(W12b)

Battalion Orders

The 12^th battalion was to deploy 18 tanks with the 2^nd Guards brigade on the left: 8 tanks of "B" company and 10 tanks of “A” company with the 1^st Coldstream and 2^nd Scots Guards; and 12 tanks ^(H12) from “C” company ^(W12d) with the 99^th Brigade on the right, 1^st Berkshires and 23^rd Royal Fusiliers. The first objective (Blue Line) was the Mayonville – Ablainzevelle ridge, including the village of Moyenville the 12^th battalion was then to rally as the 15^th battalion passed through ^(H12)

“C” company were to deploy 12 tanks in support of 99^th brigade’s attack: 10 section on the right, 11 section in the centre and 12 section on the left. 3 tanks from each section to lead the infantry of the first wave, the fourth tank to act as a reserve behind the centre tank and the first wave of infantry to lead the second wave of infantry; reserve tank to replace any casualties in its section. 10 sections reserve tank “Lady Mede II” had a special mission on the right of the advance. First objective was Moyblain Trench, second objective the red Line. Once the red line was taken two tanks per section were to rally, two were to mop up towards Courcelles but were not to enter the village. ^(W12d)

Two tanks were to develop a smoke screen towards Courcelles once the red line had been taken ^(W12d)

The Guards and 3^rd Divisions were each sending forward one battery of guns immediately behind the infantry to deal with hostile guns shooting at tanks ^{( W12b)}

Start points: “A” company Sugar Factory in Cojeul Valley ^(H12) S19d.5.8 ^(W12b)

“B” company Valley Wood ^(H12) X29d.5.6 ^(W12b)

“C” company Adnifer Wood ^(H12) F10c.4.5 and F4d.5.2 ^(W12b)

Account of Operations

The attack commenced in a slight mist which developed into thick fog which caused difficulty in maintaining direction and contact with the infantry ^(H12). As a result of the mist only 6 tanks joined the 1 Coldstream and 2 Scots Guards at the start line; the 3^rd Division didn’t see any tanks at the first objective but those allocated to the 23 Royal Fusiliers and 1 Royal Berkshires did join the infantry ^(OH). The tanks failed to lead the advance as none arrived on time ^(OH) They did advance with the infantry and co operated closely with them, often engaging the enemy after being called on by directed by the infantry. Many tank commanders directed their tanks on foot from outside the vehicles, the tanks and infantry helped one another maintain direction, the tanks dealt with strongpoint’s at the infantries request. In Mayonville the enemy put up stronger resistance but this was overcome and the village secured, (the official history states only 13 tanks reached the second objective ^(OH)) some tanks advanced to the railway beyond the village and one crossed the railway and helped secure the left flank (the Official history states the tank was lost and thus assisted 8^th Brigade by fortuitous accident ^(OH)). The tanks withdrew when 15^th tank battalion passed through and unsuccessfully continued the attack. 30 tanks started, 29 engaged the enemy, 28 reached the objectives and rallied. One tank killed one of its crew and wounded 5 others when its carburettor caught fire. ^(W12)

2 of “A” company’s ten tanks failed to reach their objectives as they got lost in the mist. The other eight tanks all made it to their objectives, all ten tanks fired on the enemy firing a total of 45 6pdr rounds and 3480 SAA rounds. ^(W12a)

Outcome

Overall both sides correctly claimed a victory in their accounts of this action. The British had reached their main objective, the Arras-Albert railway; and the Germans had successfully withdrawn from their forward zone to their main line of resistance, the Arras-Albert railway ^(OH). From the tanks perspective the advance had gone well in the mist, though the infantry apparently led the tanks in most places. When the mist lifted the tanks were subjected to direct fire form the German guns on the far side of the railway, this was particularly effective near to Achiet le Petit where the Whippets of 3 Battalion's "C" Company were severely mauled, suffering seven KO tanks out of nine. Whilst some tanks exploited onto the far side of the railway most did not.

Summary

Allocated: 30

Reserve:

At Start: 30

Started: 30

Engaged enemy: 30

Ditched / Broke Down: 2

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 28

Note

It is assumed all 30 tanks started.

Engaged enemy is a guess.

Aftermath

12^th battalion was next in action on 23^rd August

L1, L3, L4, L14, L17 and 4 other "A" company tanks were ordered to attack on 23^rd August

"B" and "C" companies both attacked on 23^rd August.

Sources

W12 - War Diary of 12^th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

W12a - War Diary of “A” Company,12^th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

W12b - Operational Orders No. 1, 12 Bn box, Bovington Tank Museum Archives - copy courtesy of Gwyn Evans

W12d - War Diary of 12^th Tank Battalion, “C” company orders dated 20.8.18 - PRO WO 95-100

H12 - War History of 12^th Tank Battalion PRO WO 95-100

OH – Official History, 1918 Vol IV. Pg.186

Private RG Foreward was apparently a Lewis Gunner on L11, Liason, he left papers at the IWM but are not currently available on line and the author has not viewed them: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030006289?sicode=0#comment-30859

21 August 1918 - Map

Albert - 21 to 29 August 1918