7 Battalion 24 August 1918

The Battle of Albert. 24^th August 1918

7^th Battalion, 63^rd Brigade, 37^th Division, IV Corp, 3^rd Army ^{(H7) (OH)}

7^th Battalion had 14 MKIV tanks in action on 24^th August 1918 ^(H7)

A Company – Capt Custance ECN

4 Tanks

B Company

Section – Capt Fitzherbert

4 tanks

Section - Capt Gregory

4 Tanks

C Company

2 Tanks

Notes:

Orders

At 2am “A” company were ordered to assist the 63^rd brigade in capturing Bihucourt and Biefvillers ^(H7)

At 4am “B” company were ordered to assist the New Zealand Division; Capt Fitzherbert’s section to help capture Gevillers, Capt Gregory’s section to help capture Loupart Wood ^(H7)

Account of Operations

2 tanks of “A” company broke down and failed to start; the other two tanks did valuable work in destroying MGs and thus the infantr^{y (H7)} 8 / Somerset Light Infantry ^(OH) were able to advance and consolidate on their objective ^(H7) Biefvilllers village. The village was heavily shelled and the 8 / Somerset withdrew. ^(OH)

At 4am 2 tanks from “C” company went forward to silence MGs that had been firing throughout the night, these stopped firing when the tanks advanced and the infantry were thus able to advance and capture their objectives. ^(H7)

At 5am “B” company’s tanks advanced. One of Captain Gregory’s 4 tanks failed to start another was hit 5 times and knocked out after reaching the objective. ^(H7) The enemy put up stiff resistance so Loupart Wood wasn’t taken by the 1 / Wellington until midday. ^(OH) The other two tanks both rallied.

One of Captain Fitzherbert’s tanks was hit and knocked out on the outskirts of Grevillers and a second tank was hit several times, ^(H7) the 2 / Auckland Battalion advanced around both sides of Grevillers with the remaining two tanks and then mopped it up from the rear, clearing it by 9am ^(OH) both tanks then rallied. ^(H7)

Lt Brassington of 7^th Tank Battalion died on this day ^(CWG)

Summary

Total Tanks: 14

Failed to Start: 3

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied:

Note:

7^th Battalion was next in action on the 24^th August 1918

Sources

H7 – 7^th Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum

OH – Official History 1918 Vol IV, p.253, pg188f

7^th Battalions’ War Diary – transcript form Bovington Tank museum does not contain an account of this action.

Albert - 21 to 29 August 1918