10 Battalion C Company 8 August 1918
Amiens, 8th August 1918
C Company, 10th Battalion with 58th Divisions, III Corps
C Company, 10th Battalion had 12 tanks in action on 8th August 1918.
C Company – Capt Ponsford WS
Blue (northern) section
J43, c, 2Lt Harper J, Left tank
J38, 2Lt Bayliff GTL, Centre tank
J42, 9411, 2Lt Cronshaw LH. Crew 12, Right tank
J41, 9265, c, 2Lt Oddy CG. Crew 13
Red (centre) section; Lt Larter CB section leader
J40, Lt Day DGB. Crew 2, Left tank
J48, 9366, Lt Larter CB. Composite crew, Centre tank
J47, 2Lt Loxton CB. Crew 8, Right tank
J35, Lt Garnham G, Rear tank
Green (southern) section;
Northern sub-section;
J44, 2Lt Creswell AEM, Right tank
J45, 2Lt Biss Cw. Left tank
Southern sub-section;
J46, Capt Keynes. M.C. crew 9, Right tank
J36, 2Lt Lyne FS. Crew 1, Left tank
One “C” company fighting tank was carrying a wireless
Notes
Tanks J20 and J23 had been left at Querrie with engine trouble on 4th and 5th August (W10).
One section (4 tanks) was kept in 18th Division reserve, this section was to be composed of 2 tanks from “C” company, one from each of “A” and “B” companies. .
Crew number of 9265 (J41) from 9th August Battle History Sheet.
J43’s sex form the BHs which states it was hit above the Male sponson (singular)
Orders
III Corp was to attack to support and cover the right of the main attack to the south. Three Divisions were to attack, 12th 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.
18th 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.
7th Queens of 55th 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 8th) was allocated to this battalion; though 5 section may also have been assigned.
Meanwhile, south of the Bray - Corbie Road, 54th Brigade was to attack and capture the green line, then 53rd 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 54th Brigade was badly mauled by a German counter attack that started on the 6th, 36th Brigade were thus rushed forward to replace them and attacked with two battalions, the 9th Royal Fusiliers and the 7th Royal Sussex; the Brigade’s third battalion, 5th Royal Berkshires, was attached to 53rd Brigade and kept in reserve. The tanks had had no time to liaise with 36th Division.
To the south 58th Division, supported by C Company, was to attack and secure Chipplily Spur. 174th Brigade was to secure the Mallard wood and thus the first objective, 173rd brigade would then pass through and secure Chipplily Spur itself. The village of Sailly Laurette was assigned to 2 / 10 London Battalion (attached to 174th brigade from 175th brigade) who would capture the village assisted by two tanks
Zero was 4.20am.
C company with 174th Brigade, 58th Division.
Tanks in three sections of 4 tanks, 3 in front of first infantry wave, one in reserve
Blue and Red sections will operate against the western edge of the Valley in K27a
and b and the western edge of Malard Wood. Then the tanks will turn north, cross
the valley and position themselves on the east edge of mallard wood where they will await the infantry, then accompany the infantry to the Green line.
Green section:
Northern Sub section will assist in clearing Mallard wood by entering it via the existing tracks if possible, once Wood is cleared they will rally.
Southern Sub section tanks to assist in attack on Sailly-Laurette, thence along the Sailly-Laurette-Chipilly Road to assist in clearing the southern end of Malard Wood and the attack on Chipilly.
The remaining ten tanks will accompany 174th brigade to the first objective and then 173rd Brigade to the second objective.
Blue (northern) section Left tank J43, Centre tank J38, Right tank J46, Rear tank J41
Red (centre) section; Left tank J40, Centre tank J48, Right tank J47, Rear tank J35
Green (southern) section;
Northern sub-section; Right J44, Left J45
Southern sub-section; Right J46, Left J36
Account of operations
The Germans had attacked on the 7th and 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.
C Coy
Company were fired on whilst assembling at start point.
J35 and J41 both broke down and failed to start.
Whilst being repaired J35 lost three crew gassed and one shocked. The tank returned to the rally point.
After going 200yds J43 was hit twice and 2Lt Harper was wounded. The crew transferred to J41 which had been repaired. J41 waited until the mist cleared at 6 am before attacking, the tank lost direction and went towards Gressaire Wood, mopped up 2 MGs and fired 10 6pdr rounds and 600 rounds of SAA. The tank eventually reached Mallard Wood then, after 8 hours in action, rallied, the crew were all affected by exhaust fumes and were exhausted.
J46 got lost in the mist, when the mist lifted at 8.15am the tank joined some infantry and assisted them firing 3 rounds 6pdr and 300 SAA. After 6 hours in action the tank rallied; the crew were affected by exhaust fumes and were exhausted.
J38 went into action with only 4 crewmen and OIC, 2 men having fainted from heat and fumes. The tank didn’t engage the enemy due to the mist and at 4.30am, 300yds from the start point the tank was hit and burnt out, the crew escaped and joined J42 which had been following, the tank moved around and eventually joined the 9th Royal Fusiliers and helped hunt snipers. J46 then appeared and the two tanks proceeded to K21c.9.1 where J42 handed all its SAA over to the infantry. Whilst stationary the tank was hit and damaged, the tank returned and rallied.
J47 was in action for 3 ½ hours, fired 30 rounds 6 Pdr and 80 rounds SAA; the tank was unopposed until 200 yds from Malard Wood where it silenced a MG nest and a Trench mortar, tank was then hit and the Auto vac holed; OIC and 5 crew wounded, it was hand fed back to British lines but was then abandoned and recovered by the Company’s tank engineer on the 9th August.
J48 was in action for 4 hours and fired 3 rounds 6 pdr and 300 rounds SAA. The tank lost direction in the thick mist, then, at 5.45am, k26c.1.4 the crew were overcome by fumes and evacuated the tank. Having recovered somewhat the tank proceeded onward at 8.15am but the crew were again overcome and, as the infantry were already digging in the tank returned and rallied.
J36 was in action for nine hours, fired 14 rounds 6pdr and 300 rounds SAA. Got lost in mist so arrived after infantry had already captured Sailly-Laurette went to Chipilly, crew were suffering the effects of heat exhaustion and fumes and the tank was suffering from auto vac trouble so was hand fed back to the rallying point.
Remaining tanks rallied at 2pm.
J44, the tank started on time but failed to keep up with the infantry due to the thick mist. When still 300 yds from the first objective the crew were overcome by petrol fumes, 3 fainting. The tank returned and rallied. The tank did not engage the enemy.
J40 lost direction and contact with other tanks in the mist. Met some infantry and proceeded on compass bearing until the tank was evacuated at K26c.1.4 as the crew were exhausted and overcome by fumes. When mist cleared tank subjected to a barrage which wounded one man, another was gassed. AT 8.30am J44 and J48 returned and the three tanks returned and rallied together.
J45 was in action for 8 hours and fired 30 rounds 6 pdr and 300 rounds SAA. The tank started on time but got lost in the mist, met with 12th Battalion London Regiment and helped them clear a strongpoint at K32b1.1.
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start: 1
Engaged enemy: 7
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 6
Rallied includes J42 which was damaged and J36 which was suffering form auto vac trouble.
Hit and KO includes J47 which was recovered on the 9th.
The broken down tanks are J44 and J40 who’s crews were overcome by fumes and didn’t engage the enemy.
Most tank crew were affected by the heat and exhaust fumes but the others so affected engaged the enemy.
Aftermath
6 tanks were fit: J41, J40, J48, J44, J45 and J46
J47 was recovered on the 9th
Sources
Battle History Sheets in PRO WO 95-103
Company Commanders account of operations in PRO WO 95-103
S45 – Amiens (2007) James Mc Willaims and R James Steel
S33 – Amiens 1918 (2008) Alistair McCluskey
S65 - The Day we Won the War (2008) Charles Messenger
OH - Official History, 1918, Volume IV Chapter V