3 Battalion. B Coy. 21 August 1918
The Battle of Albert. 21st August 1918
3rd Battalion, B Coy with 63rd Division, IV Corp, 3rd Army (W3) (OH)
3rd Battalion, B Coy had 13 tanks in action on 21st August 1918 (w3)
B Company - Maj Grayson G MC (W3)
13 tanks – presumably from the following which survived the action on August 9th.
5 Section – Capt Adams AD
B27, A272, “Crusty II”, Lt Rees-Williams
B28, A236, “Crawick”,
6 Section - Capt Salvesen ETC
B26, A230, “Cynic II”, Cpl Budd
B29, A278, “Celerity III”,
B31, A298, “Corncrake II”, 2Lt Calcutt
B32, A293, “Curiosity III”, Capt Salvesen ET
7 Section – 2Lt Annett
B33, A292, “Caterpillar III”,
B34, 2Lt Annett
B35, A286, “Crustacean III”,
B36, A219, “Crocodile III”, Cpl Adsett
One tank commanded by 2Lt Groutage
8 Section - Capt Silver WE
B37, A233, “Crossmichael”, Capt Silver WE
B38, A262, “Caliban II”,
B39, A260, “Cannibal II”,
B40, A212, “Cyclops II”,
B25, A239, “Carmudgeon II”, Sgt Alsopp
Notes
Above list correct for 6th August A239 and Sgt Alsopp in 5 section on 6th August, A278 and Cpl Budd in 5 section on 6th August (W3)
The 14 tanks listed above are those from “B” company that survived the 8th August action. “B” company lost 5 more tanks on 9th August B34, 250, had been hit and burnt out on 8th August, the A34 commanded by 2Lt Annett is presumably another tank with the other half of crew B34.
Tanks are only identified by their OICs names on 21st August, these names are different from those given for 6th August, the tanks were presumably crewed by their second crews on 21st August.
Orders
Blue and Brown lines to be captured by 37th Division supported by MkIV tanks of 7th Battalion. (W3)
“B” Company to advance to deploy on Brown line at the junction between IV and VI corps and then exploit towards Gomincourt and Ervillers. (W3)
Account of Operations
“B” Company moved forward to the assembly position at Zero. (W3)
The company were delayed in Bucquoy by a broken down MkIV blocking the road and also by whippets fouling their tracks on wire.
East of Bucquoy a lot of unaimed Mg fire was encountered; Capt Silver was wounded but remained on duty. (W3)
Infantry were met at L5c.4.0. but were apparently lost in the dense mist. “B” company left the road and went NE to the road South of Longeat Wood. The company went along this road in column to the crossroads in G2d and thence to the crossroads at G3c.3.3. where two companies of the RIR were being held up by Mg fire. (W3)
The tanks deployed for action, 5 section north of the light railway, 6 section on the road, 7 section heading towards the brickworks in C9b, 8 section remained in reserve. (W3)
5 section went East, north of the light railways and encountered heavy MG and artillery fire. When 50 yds west of the cemetery the RIR requested the section silence MGs and field guns about the cemetery. J40 and J45 now joined the section and all the tanks deployed to attack the cemetery, J45’s OIC was hit. Just as the tanks finished deploying the mist lifted, Capt Adams tank was immediately hit 3 times, J40 was also hit as was 2Lt Rees- Williams tank, the later continuing to fire until heavy shell fire forced its crew to debus into shellholes. Cpl Edwards attempted to flank the cemetery from the east by turning right and crossing the light railway, this tank was also hit and knocked out; the crew debussed to shell holes and assisted the infantry, evacuating many wounded to safety. (W3)
6 section moved along the Bucquoy to Achiet le grand road until Capt Salveson’s tank became ditched, the remaining two tanks, commanded by Cpl Budd and 2Lt Calcutts continued both being hit and knocked out at G3d.9.2. (W3)
7 section lost two tanks almost immediately: 2Lt Annetts tank ditched and Cpl Adsetts tank (B36 ?) was hit and disappeared towards Achiet la Grand as the mist lifted at 10:15am. The huts around the brickworks were full apparently of MGs but none could be seen. 2Lt Annett was hit whilst outside the tank, 2Lt Groutage debussed and rescued 2Lt Anett, 2Lt Groutage’s tank was then hit and knocked out; the crew debussed and helped the infantry, repelling 4 counter-attacks. (W3)
8 section remained in reserve. On seeing the other sections tanks being knocked out Capt Silver decided to try and circumnavigate the cemetery by another route, Sgt Alsop’s tank ditched in Longeat Wood, the section being ordered to rally by the time the tank was pulled free. (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: 3
Hit and Knocked out: 7
Rallied:
Notes
Aftermath
“B” company were next in action on 29th September 1918.
6 and 7 sections tanks's are presumably the five visible on an aerial photograph taken on the 22nd August 1918 (X42.p145)
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.188