13 Battalion A Company 8 August 1918
The Tanks at Amiens. 8th August 1918
13 Battalion, with 3rd and 5th Australian Divisions, Aus Corp, 4th Army
13 Battalion, A Company had 12 tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (W21):
A Company – Major Pape (H13a)
9158, 2Lt Smith AE
9273, 2Lt Rostron HM
9089, 2Lt Plews AE
9149, 2Lt Challis TA
9095, 2Lt Cooper G
9143, 2Lt King A
9070, Cpl Ainsworth H MM
9115, "Mephistopheles", Handley AC
9086, Cpl Dyer
Section - Captain Hawkins (H13a)
9023, Sgt Child
9091, 2Lt Gray GG
Plus possibly one of the tanks listed above
Section - Captain Black
3 of the tanks listed above
Supply tanks - 8th Australian infantry Brigade
Two tanks each to the 30th and 31st battalions and one to the 32nd Battalion. (W31Aus)
116, “Dublin”
122, “Darlington”, Lt Ashford W
120, “Elswick”, 2Lt Scott T
125, “Ely”
104, “Folkstone”, Capt Sunnocks C
Details of stores carried can be found in the GC lists or in 8th Australian Brigade’s war diary. (w8baus)
Note
9382 name from 23 August 1918 Battle History Sheet in 2nd Battalions War Diary (W2)
9115 name from photograph: http://landships.activeboard.com/t51439743/allied-mephisto/
Section allocations based on Hamel BHS. Some educated guesswork involved. See Hamel narrative for discussion.
Orders
“A” Company was to operate in the southern part of the Australian front, (W25) form up North and South of Warfuseee and then support the 8th Brigade, 5th Australian Division as they attacked through Warfusee and skirted Bayonvillers. After the final objective was reached they were to support the attack on Harbonnieres. (H13a)
1 and 2 sections to operate on the right in front of 31st Battalion, 3 and 4 sections on the left in front of 30th battalion. Tanks 200 yds in front of infantry. (W31Aus) 200yds in front of platoons but only 100yds in front of scouts. Green and white flags were to be raised from each tank when they started for action (w8baus)
Account of Operations
Red Line
The 5th Division now passed though the 2nd (OH).
“A” Company set off at 8.20am and operated with 2nd Tank Battalion (W25bg), 30th and 31st infantry Battalions following 200yds behind (OH). The ground in front was level, slowly rising towards a cross roads lined with trees behind which 3 German batteries were hiding (H13a) at Q25d.2.3. [probably q25d.8.3] (W31aus). The 6 tanks leading the 31st Australian battalion were knocked out (W31aus) almost in a line in front of the guns (H13a) as they crested the ridge just after crossing their start line [Green line] (OH) 9089 was hit twice and 9149 three times but both tanks kept going until abandoned just in front of the guns. The OICs then led the crews in attacking the batteries on foot thus enabling the surviving tanks advance. (H13a)
The five surviving tanks, 2 from Captain Hawkin’s section (9023 and 9091), and 3 from Captain Black’s, continued towards the final objective. One of Captain Black’s tanks was hit and knocked out on the edge of the Morcourt Valley, OIC and driver both KIA by a direct hit through the front of the tank. (H13a)
As the attackers came abreast of Boyonvillers three tanks were knocked out by a field gun battery therein (OH). These are presumably both the remaining tanks in Captain Black’s section and one from 2nd Battalion’s “B” Company, as the two tanks of Captain Hawkins section; 9023 and 9091 both entered Harbonierres from the east and suppressed enemy MGs, then returned and rallied at Cerisy. (H13a)
Note: 7 other tanks 9158, 9273, 9095, 9143, 9070, 9115, 9086 were all also knocked out between the green and red lines (W25bg)
The 8th Australian Brigade was on its (second) objective by 10:15am (Red line) , (OH) No tanks were with the 30th battalion when they reached the Red line (W30aus) seeing only fleeing Germans to its front the brigade pushed forward and secured the Final objective (Blue Line), being reinforced by the 5th Australian Division and its attached MKV*s (OH)
Capt. Bromley, 2Lts Chandley, Cooper, Champion, Copland, Kay, Rawlinson, Dower, Fennimore and 29 Other Ranks were all wounded. 2lts Edward and Maitland and 4 other ranks were also wounded but remained on duty. 5 other ranks were missing. (W13a)
Summary
Total Tanks: 35
Failed to Start: 3
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 12
Hit and Knocked out: 16
Rallied: 13
Notes:
The three non starters are 9135, 9097 and 9165 which did not attack but rallied (They are not included in the rallied total)
The brake downs include 9449 which caught fire, most were repaired or unditched and rallied.
From Brigade report of operations
In action: 36
Reached objective: 26
Received Direct hits: 12
KO by Land mines: 0
Mechanical trouble: 8
Rallied: 24
Fit for action on 9th: 9
From Battalion War Diary
In action: 36
Received Direct hits: 18
Broke down: 8
Ditched: 2
Fit for action on night of 8th: 8
Note;
10 of the Knocked out and both ditched tanks remained in the field.
4 of the broken down tanks were repaired in time for action on the 9th.
Aftermath
13th Battalion sent 12 tanks into action on the 10th.
Probably including 9062, 9091, 9055 and nine of the following:
9023, 9091, 9081, 9062, 9131, 9135, 9097 = rallied = 7
9165, 9051, 9124, 9033, 9079, 9386, 9346, 9014, 9388, 9188, 9055 = ditched or broke down and rallied = 11
9382 must have been repaired as it was handed to 2nd Battalion and fought with them on the 21st August (W2)
Sources
W2 – 2nd Battalion War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank museum.
W25bg – 5th Tank brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph
W25 - 5th Tank brigade War Diary. Report of Operations.
W13a – War Diary of the 13th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95/115
H13a – History of the 13th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95/115
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol IV, pg.63ff
W8bAus – War Diary 8th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.
W9bAus – War Diary 9th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.
W11bAus – War Diary 11th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.
W30Aus – War Diary 30th Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W31Aus – War Diary 31st Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
War diaries of Australian 33rd, 35th, 42nd and 44th battalions also consulted. Downloaded from AWM.