6 Battalion 21 August 1918
The Battle of Albert. 21st August 1918
6 Battalion, with the 3rd Division, IV Corp, 3rd Army (OH)
6 Battalion had 23 tanks in action on 21st August 1918 (H6):
A Company – Maj. Vandervell F
14 tanks (W23)
Section - Capt Lees J
A287, Capt Lees J
A289
A294, 2Lt Pollitt
A297
A323
A328
A351, Lt Black J
A360, Lt Muir
A363, 2Lt Innes
C Company –
A296, 2Lt Cummings
A333,
A334, Capt Morton MC
A339, 2LT Murrey JW
A349, 2Lt Bromley, FF
A350,
A356, 2Lt Millar W
A338,
A361,
Notes
Only the following tanks are listed on the 21st (W6) (H6): A297, A323, A328
All the other tanks and OICs are listed with the relevant Companies on the 23rd.
Orders (W22)
2nd Tank Briage was to support VI Corps attack.
6th battalion was to exploit beyond the final objective, red line, once it ha been secured by the infantry.
The 12th Tank Battalion was to support the Guards and 2nd Division's attack on the Blue Line.
The 15th Tank Battalion was to support the Guards and 3rd Division's attack on the Red line (Arras - Albert Railway). Leapfrogging through the first wave at the Blue Line at Zero + 90 minutes. The 15th Tank Battalion was also to cross the railway and operate as far as the red dotted line to cover the infantries consolidation.
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.
Account of Operations
The Battalion started forward from the Valley between Quesnoy Farm and Monchy-au-Bois at 5am. (H6)
By 8am the Battalion was in A14 (w22), in front of Courcelles, in thick fog which limited visibility to less than 10 yards. (H6)
At 11am the Battalion went forward to a point 100yds south of Courcelles, about 300yds West of the Railway which the infantry had captured and consolidated. (H6) It was decided to send “A” Company to the north and “C” Company to the south of Ervillers (W6) although this didn't happen.
At 1pm or 1.30pm one section of five tanks from “A” Company, crossed the railway at A10d.5.2 and then headed south down the sunken road towards Gomiecourt in column. They fired about 500 rounds each on enemy MGs and infantry who were possibly massing to conduct a counter attack and also came across two abandoned batteries of field guns which they were unable to tow back due to heavy enemy fire. On recrossing the railway the last two tanks, A297 and A323, were hit by direct fire and burnt out at A28a.5.3. (W6) (H6) (W22)
As further opportunists for exploitation had not presented themselves (W22) the Battalion was ordered to rally at 5:30pm. A328 was hit and knocked out to the south of Courcelles (H6) at A21d.3.3. (W6) twenty one tanks rallied. (H6)
Note
It is not clear if both companies attacked or if any of the tanks fired on the enemy.
Summary
Total Tanks: 24
At Start: 24
Started: 5
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 3
Note:
Only the 5 tanks that crossed the railway are counted as having started.
Hit and Knocked out does not include A328
Aftermath
The Battalion was next in action on the 23rd August.
Sources
H6 – 6th Battalion War History, (1919) Naval and Military Press
W6 – 6th Battalion War Diary. Transcript from BovingtonTank Museum.
W22 - 2nd Tank Brigade Report of Operations 21st August to 3rd September 1918 in PRO WO 95-102
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.186, pg.187