3 Battalion. A Coy. 21 August 1918

The Battle of Albert. 21^st August 1918

3^rd Battalion, A Coy with 63^rd Division, IV Corp, 3^rd Army ^{(W3) (OH)}

3^rd Battalion, A Coy had 16 tanks in action on 21^st August 1918 ^(w3)

A Company - Maj Hedderwick G MC ^(W3)

13 tanks – presumably from the following which survived the action on August 9^th.

1 Section – Capt Firth F

A6, A263, “Cyprus III”, Capt Firth F

A7, A207, “Cape Colony II”,

One tank commanded by 2Lt Barlow

2 Section – 2Lt Minchin

A9, A213, “Ca’Canny”,

A10, A223, “Comme-Ci”,

A11, A237, “Ceylon II”,

A12, A247, “Comme-Ca”,

3 Section - Capt Bower

A13, A246, “Canada”,

A14, A225, “Cirencester”, Capt Bower I

A15, A215, “Cumbrae II”,

A16, A231, “Carnaby”, 2Lt Abram FR

4 Section -

A17, A252, “Celtic II”,

A18, A258, “Cargo II”,

A19, A267, “Cork II”,

A20, A270, “Clyde II”,

One tank from 3 or 4 section was commanded by Sgt Howells

Notes

Above list correct for 6^th August ^(W3)

Tanks are only identified by their OICs names on 21^st August, these names are different from those given for 6^th August, the tanks were presumably crewed by their second crews on 21^st August.

Orders

Blue and Brown lines to be captured by 37^th Division supported by MkIV tanks of 7^th Battalion. ^(W3)

“A” Company to advance to deploy on brown line at Zero + 2 hrs 20 mins and then support 63rd Divisions’ advance on the Green Dotted Line. The Infantry were to be protected from short range MG fire by Mk V tanks of 10^th Battalion advancing in diamond formation, one behind the infantry, two just in front of them and one 300yds in front of them; the whippets were to move 800-1000 yards ahead of the MkVs and deal with any Mgs firing on the infantry from long range. ^(W3)

Once the Green Dotted Line was secure the whippets were to exploit onwards: “A” company was to exploit to Sapignes and Behagnes. ^(W3)

Account of Operations

“A” Company moved forward to the assembly position at 5:30am. ^(W3)

On leaving Bucquoy “A” company turned off to the North side of the Bucquoy to Achiet-le-Petit Road, 1 and 2 sections going NE to the Bucquoy to Achiet-le-Grand Road. Some MGs still firing from L4d.9.9. were silenced. The infantry of 63^rd Division were met, they were bunching up in the heavy mist and losing direction and edging towards the road in the south. ^(W3)

1 and 2 sections joined some “B” company tanks and went via the cross roads at the South West Corner of Logeast Wood towards the North of Achiet Le Petit. 1 and 2 sections assisted the infantry by silencing MGs in G9a, the sections commander’s tank ditched in G9a.2.3. and was towed clear by 2Lt Barlow’s tank. ^(W3) One tank from 1 section was hit and KO by artillery fire, the remainder returned and rallied^{, (H3)}

Meanwhile 3 and 4 section’s went from Bucquoy and then north and east of Achiet le Petit. These tanks were effectively lost in the mist, unable to locate targets and being fired on by guns at close range. Two tanks failed to rally, one section commanders’ tank was hit and burnt out and another tank was also knocked out. ^(W3)

Sgt Howells became detached from the rest of his section and silenced MGs in L4c.8.8., the Company commander then sent the tank where it silenced 12 more MGs. The tank then went towards Achiet le Grand where it rendered further assistance to the infantry. He then joined some tanks of “C” company, crossed the railway in G15d.1.4.and fired 1200 rounds into masses of enemy infantry. The tank then turned to retire and did so under cover of smoke grenades thrown from the tank until it was hit and knocked out. ^(W3)

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 fie 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 JO tanks out of nine.Whilst some tanks exploited onto the far side of the railway most did not.

Summary

Total Tanks: 13

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 4

Rallied:

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.188

21 August 1918 - Map

Albert - 21 to 29 August 1918