3 Battalion 29 August 1918

The Battle of the Scarpe. 29^th August 1918

3^rd Battalion, with 3^rd Brigade, New Zealand Division, IV Corp, 3^rd Army ^{(W3) (OH)}

3^rd Battalion had 4 tanks in action on 25^th August 1918 ^(w3)

Section - OIC Lt Sewell CH

A233, Lt Rees-Williams OL

C47, A253, Lt Sewell ^(H3)

Notes

Orders

At 2pm on the 29^th August 1918 the New Zealand division ordered a section of whippets forward form the quarry in H14d.4.3. to silence Mgs around Fremicourt and the Bapaume – Cambrai Road which were holding up the advance of the 3^rd NZ Rifle Brigade ^(W3)

Account of Operations

The tanks advanced through the infantry and reached the railway line in H18c where they came under heavy MG and artillery fire. A233 turned turtle in a shell crater and caught fire; Lt Sewell and his driver both dismounted and free the trapped crew of A233, Lt Sewell and gnr Knox were both killed. Lt Sewell was posthumously awarded the VC. ^(W3)

Summary

Total Tanks: 4

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied:

Notes

Aftermath

Sources

W3 – 3^rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.

H3 – 3^rd Battalion War History. PRO WO 95-104

OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.345

The Scarpe (1918) - 22 to 30 August