13 Battalion C Company 8 August 1918
The Tanks at Amiens. 8th August 1918
13 Battalion, C Company with 5th Australian Divisions, Aus Corp, 4th Army
13 Battalion Company had 12 tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (W21):
C Company
9 Section – Capt Walker
9382, “Mabel”, f, 2Lt Gill RH
9055, m, 2Lt Litchfield H
9097, m, 2Lt Bennett A
10 Section
9388, 2Lt Ribchester WA
9188, 2Lt Evans GA
9135, 2Lt Passells WE
11 Section
9449, 2Lt Innes A
9014, 2Lt Seddon J
9050, 2Lt Milliken J
12 Section - Captain Fletcher
9082, 2Lt Fennimore
9443, 2Lt Dower T
9131, 2Lt Rogers NI
Note
9382 name from 23 August 1918 Battle History Sheet in 2nd Battalions War Diary (W2)
Section allocations based on Hamel BHS. Some educated guesswork involved. See Hamel narrative for discussion.
Captain Fletcher was in charge of one of the sections, his allocation to 12 section is a guess.
Orders
“B” and “C” companies to operate in Northern sector of Australian front with 3rd and 4th Australian Divisions. The 3rd Division was to capture the first objective (Green Line), the 4th to pass through and advance on the second (Red Line, the old Amiens outer defence line) and then exploit to the third. (Blue Line)
“C” Company in the first wave on the left, with the 11th Australian Brigade, lay up on the north side of Hamel village. The company was to lead the advance to the Green Line; then rally and support the advance on the Red and Blue lines. (H13a)
Account of Operations
Green line. First Objective. “B” and “C” Companies.
9135 and 9097 both failed to attack but rallied (W25bg). The other ten tanks advanced on time in the thick mist. Some lost direction, others ditched in the poor visibility. (H13a)
9050 was knocked out just before crossing the Green line, 9014 and 9388 both broke down before reaching the Green line, 9014 rallied (W25bg). Another tank covered a gap in the line until the infantry could fill it. Numerous MGs were run over and silenced and many prisoners were taken. Some captured Saxons helped dig out a ditched tank. (H13a) The 42nd and 44th Battalions of 11th Brigade, having been assisted by the tanks, were on their objective by 7am (OH). The tanks were of great assistance to the infantry, clearing many MG nests the infantry had difficulty locating in the mist. (W11bAus)
The first objective (Green Line) was taken and the tanks rallied in the Cerisy Valley (H13a).The Official history incorrectly states 18 of the 24 tanks reached the first objective. (OH)
Red Line
The 4th Division now passed though the 3rd (OH).
As arranged “C” company followed 8th Tank Battalion who passed through on the Green Line: five tanks followed the second phase attackers to the 2nd objective. (H13a) 9188 broke down just after crossing the Green line, it was repaired and rallied. (W25bg)
Captain Fletcher took his section [possibly 9443, 9131, 9082] to help mop up Cerisy and Morcourt villages on the river edge. (H13a) 9443 and 9082 were both knocked out soon after crossing the red Line; (W25bg) 2Lts Dower and Fennimore were both wounded (W13a). These tanks were probably two of the three that were knocked out by a field gun firing from Chipilly north of the river (H13a) 9131 crossed the red line and then rallied. (W25bg)
The other tanks supported the infantry who would stop before a crest line, the tanks then advanced into the valley below and cleared it of MGs then stop on the next crest. The infantry would then advance. (H13a)
9382 may have been the Chipilly gun’s third victim as the battlegraph states this tank was KO between Green and Red lines. (W25bg) Prior to this it had silenced many MGs, and went to the assistance of another tank which was afire and rescued the OIC [possibly 9449].(H13a)
9449 crushed an MG nest in front of the objective but broke down, despite being fired on from all sides the tank silenced its enemies, was repaired and rallied (H13a) The battlegraph states this tank caught Fire between Green and Red Lines (W25bg).
9055 ditched just after crossing the Green Line, was unditched and almost made it to the Red Line before turning back and rallying. (W25bg)
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start: 2
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 3
Hit and Knocked out: 5
Rallied:
Notes:
The three non starters are 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.
Battalion totals
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.