3 Battalion 29 August 1918
The Battle of the Scarpe. 29th August 1918
3rd Battalion, with 3rd Brigade, New Zealand Division, IV Corp, 3rd Army (W3) (OH)
3rd Battalion had 4 tanks in action on 25th August 1918 (w3)
Section - OIC Lt Sewell CH
A233, Lt Rees-Williams OL
C47, A253, Lt Sewell (H3)
Notes
Orders
At 2pm on the 29th 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 3rd 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 – 3rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
H3 – 3rd Battalion War History. PRO WO 95-104
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.345