10 Battalion B Company 8 August 1918

Amiens, 8^th August 1918

B Company, 10^thBattalion with 18^th Division, III Corps

5 section – with 7^th RWK, 18^thDiv, 53 brig

J17, 9020, Lt Hawkins AJ

J18, 9435, c, Sgt Raffel. Crew B

J19, 9376, m, 2Lt Price GA

J29 , 9417, 2Lt Duffy –

8 Section - Captain Mackenzie - 18^thDiv, 53 brig

J21, 9390, Lt Cyphus CE

J22, 9396, “Ju Ju”, Lt McGuire JA

J26, 9027, Lt Plattie (v. unclear) Crew A

J27, 2Lt Trodd then 2lt Klee

Reserve Section – Captain Bailey – 7^th Queen, 18^th Div, 53^rd bde and 12^th Div, 36^th brig

J2?,

J??,

J24, 9059, Capt Wardraf

J30, 2Lt Weight

Notes

B Company deployed 12 tanks, but only 10 Battle History Sheets (BHS) are held in the records.

The composition’s of 8 section and the reserve section are unclear, the above organisation is the authors best guess based on the surviving BHS.

J17 was with 5 section, 9020 would appear to be with 5 section. Thus the allocation of J17 as 9020’s crew number is tentative. The same is true of J27 and its allocation as 2Lt Troads tank.

Tanks J20 and J23 had been left at Querrie with engine trouble on 4^th and 5^th August ^(W10)40 tanks went to Hielly, of which 36 were sent forward to the start point.

In addition to B Companies reserve section a second section (4 tanks) was kept in reserve at Hielly, this section was composed of 2 tanks from “C” company, one from each of “A” and “B” companies.

J22’s name from Amiens (2007) S45.p185

5 section organisation from 9435, J18’s, BHS

J29’s BHS states it was supporting 10^th Essex, 18^th Div, 55^th Brigade, the tank may not have been assigned to this battalion but finally attacked with it when it moved forward to assist the 36^th Brigade.

2lt Troad appears to have been wounded early in the action, 2Lt Klee is named as being killed whilst fighting the tank in the narrative on the BHS and in the Company commanders report.

Orders

III Corp was to attack to support and cover the right of the main attack to the south. Three Divisions were to attack, 12^th in the north (right) was to attack to the north of Morloncourt two hors after the main attack to take advantage of any confusion caused by the main attack. No tanks were assigned to this division and thus its actions need not concern us further.

18^th Division was to attack in the Centre astride the Bray Corbie road, A and B companies were to assist in this attack, five sections (20 tanks) assisting in the capture of the first objective, the sixth section (4 tanks) would be kept in reserve to replace casualties for the assault on the second (and final) objective.

7^th Queens of 55^th Brigade was to attack on the left, secure the green line and then protect the northern flank. At least one section of tanks (probably the 8^th) was allocated to this battalion; though 5 section may also have been assigned.

Meanwhile, south of the Bray - Corbie Road, 54^th Brigade was to attack and capture the green line, then 53^rd brigade was to pass through and capture Gressaire Wood and the second objective. 4 sections of tanks were apparently allocated to support this attack.

In the event 54^th Brigade was badly mauled by a German counter attack that started on the 6^th, 36^th Brigade were thus rushed forward to replace them and attacked with two battalions, the 9^th Royal Fusiliers and the 7^th Royal Sussex; the Brigade’s third battalion, 5^th Royal Berkshires, was attached to 53^rd Brigade and kept in reserve. The tanks had had no time to liaise with 36^th Division.

To the south 58^th Division, supported by C Company, was to attack and secure Chipplily Spur. 174^th Brigade was to secure the Mallard wood and thus the first objective, 173^rd brigade would then pass through and secure Chipplily Spur itself. The village of Sailly Laurette was assigned to 2 / 10 London Battalion (attached to 174^th brigade from 175^th brigade) who would capture the village assisted by two tanks

Zero was 4.20am.

Individual tank orders from BHS

9020 to advance with 7RWK towards k20b.8.7. and take the position and patrol around the Brickyard. To leave this location at 6.30am.

9390, Lt Cyphus CE, to proceed to the left of Bray Corbie Road.

J19 from k20b.8.8 along the Bray Corbie Road to Brickyard at k16c and patrol to cover infantries consolidation, then rally.

J18 to rally at k20b.8.8 before z +130mins. Not to cross a line running north through J16d.7.0 before z+70.

A and B companies tanks were in five sections of 4 tanks each, 3 tanks per section in front of or alongside first infantry wave, one in reserve. Infantry were not to follow individual tanks as tanks were to follow a zig zag course to ensure the whole ground was covered.

After first objective is captured, the tanks were to reform immediately west of the Blue Line and then join the 53^rd Brigade when they attacked at zero +130 mins

Account of operations

The Germans had attacked thus pushed the British back from the intended start line. The artillery plan was altered slightly and the attack started at Z –10 minutes to enable the attackers to reach the original start line on time.

Tanks started at Z – 24 mins to ensure they reached the barrage at the first lift, Z + 4 mins.

All eight tanks in the first wave attacked

J22 started on time (4.24am) and went towards first objective at k14 d49 but got lost in mist and did not encounter the enemy. When the mist lifted at 8am the tank joined 35^th Brigade, 12^th Div and attacked and cleaned up a pocket of the enemy SE of Morlancourt (k14 A56) when barrage lifted at 12.35pm. 300 to 400 prisoners were taken. Fired 20 rounds 6 pdr and 200 rounds SAA.

J21 proceeded 500 yds to the left of the Bray Corbie Road, silenced 8 MGs and 2 trench Mortars then ran out of fuel 200 yds from the first objective, refilled then rallied. 2 crew were wounded, 1 gassed. The tank fired 38 rounds of 6 pounder and 750 rounds SAA

The surviving six tanks in 2 sections of two and four tanks then attacked with the second wave, accompanied by the four tanks of the reserve section.

J17 was in action for 3 ½ hours and fired 70 rounds 6 pdr, 500 rounds SAA. Advanced along Bray Corbie Road, went through enemy barrage in j18d.2.1. Met infantry in k19b and then swung to right of road and fired case shot to silence enemy MGs hidden in the wheat. Met J18 and J29 and headed for the Brickyard in k16. Reached k14 then fired on by MG fire from half left, tank turned to engage but had difficulty locating enemy in mist. Eventually an enemy MG opened fire from 50yds, some bullets penetrated the one, one killed the driver. The 6 pdr gunners silenced the enemy MG crew who fled down a communication trench, the tank waited for the infantry and ran over several MGs whilst doing so. The tank followed the communication trench towards k10b cleared up an MG post there and moved towards the Bray Morlancourt Road, where the tank stayed for half an hour mopping up trenches whilst the infantry consolidated. The tank then rallied.

J18 was unable to keep direction in the mist so went to the Bray Corbie Road and proceeded along it to k13d.7.0 where it encountered considerable hostile MG fire from south of the road. Tank went to K20a.7.65 [?] where it left the road and patrolled about k20a.7.9, k9d, k16a and k15d. Tank was hit by an AT bullet which set off a 6pdr round and broke the rum ration. Many MGs fired on the tank, at least six were run over, the Hotchkiss guns kept jamming and this allowed parties of enemy to escape into the mist. At 9.30am mist cleared but further enemy MGs could not be located, the tanks were under heavy shellfire so they rallied.

J19 (Zero hour is given as 6.30 am on the BHS, this is presumably a mistake) was in action for 4 hours and fired 5 common shell, 9 case shot, 1050 rounds SAA, after action at J24d.6.1. Stared at Zero + 10 due to mechanical trouble, proceeded along Bray Corbie road catching infantry at crossroads k21b.6.9. Tank led infantry until they were held up by an MG which the tank then silenced with 6 pdr and Mg fire, covered infantries consolidation, silencing 4 MGs whilst doing so. At infantries request moved to a ridge, left front and broke up the enemy who were trying to rally and dig in, many casualties were inflicted. The tank turned to rally and headed back under heavy shellfire, the tank was hit twice en route. 3 crew were wounded , one by shellfire 2 by MGs

J29 was in action for 3 ½ hours and fired 8 case shot, 25 Hp [?], 800 rounds SAA. After action at j18d.3.3. Tank went along the Bray Corbie Road, then swung along the North side. Silenced German MGs on First line, though targets were hard to see in the mist. The tank reached the Brickyard, mopped up trenches thereabout, silenced an MG to the north and wiped out of party of enemy troops who were retiring. The tank then rallied. .

J26 had a damaged silencer which flooded the tank with fumes and incapacitated the crew.

The tank was driven back to the rally point by the OIC.

J27, Lt Troad / Klee, started at zero, but found targets hard to discern in the mist, at 6am the tank engaged hostile MGs along the Bray Corbie road. The tank broke down, was repaired and engaged more MGs with 6pdr. Lt Klee was killed. The tank then broke down again, was abandoned and set afire. 2lt Troad is given as the tanks OIC and is also listed as being wounded, it is possible he was wounded early in the action and Lt Klee thus took command of the tank.

J30 was in action for 8 hours and fired 6 rounds of case shot, 27 HE, 1000 rounds SAA. Tank started on time but didn’t engage enemy for one and a half hours due to the mist, tank proceeded North of Bray Corbie Road engaging Mgs and riflemen it reached the first objective at 10.30am the tank spent 20 minutes hunting an MG and then went to the second objective. As the petrol was running low the tank made to return but was hit twice and burnt out at k15d. OIC KIA, 4 OR wounded and 1 missing. 2Lt Weights died on the 9th according to the CWG, this is presumably an error.

J24’s BHS contained no details of the tanks actions, possibly because the tanks OIC Capt Wardorf suffered a crushed finger. The BHS for the other two tanks in the reserve section are missing identities and actions are thus unknown, all four tanks rallied.

The five surviving non reserve section tanks rallied, 4 of 5 section and 1 of 8 section; only 2 were fit for further action.

At 4pm J18 and J19 were ordered to attack the SE of Morlancourt where the enemy were supposedly massing for a counterattack; on reaching the valley J19 found no sign of the enemy other than shellfire but did fire 6pdr at suspected MG positions. Meanwhile J18 destroyed 2 Mgs and 3 mg emplacements and suffered two direct hits which did little damage. Both tanks then rallied.

Summary

Total Tanks: 12

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy: 2

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 5

Rallied total doesn’t include those tanks which ditched / broke down and then rallied later.

Aftermath

5 section (J17, J18, J20 and J29) photographed on the 9th August:

IWM Q 9246: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205245025

Sources