The Tanks at Amiens. 8^th August 1918

13 Battalion, C Company with 5^th Australian Divisions, Aus Corp, 4^th Army

13 Battalion Company had 12 tanks in action on 8^th 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 2^nd 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 3^rd and 4^th Australian Divisions. The 3^rd Division was to capture the first objective (Green Line), the 4^th 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 11^th 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 42^nd and 44^th Battalions of 11^th 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 4^th Division now passed though the 3^{rd (OH)}.

As arranged “C” company followed 8^th 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 9^th: 9

From Battalion War Diary

In action: 36

Received Direct hits: 18

Broke down: 8

Ditched: 2

Fit for action on night of 8^th: 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 9^th.

Aftermath

13^th Battalion sent 12 tanks into action on the 10^th.

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 2^nd Battalion and fought with them on the 21^st August ^(W2)

Sources

W2 – 2^nd Battalion War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank museum.

W25bg – 5^th Tank brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph

W25 - 5^th Tank brigade War Diary. Report of Operations.

W13a – War Diary of the 13^th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95/115

H13a – History of the 13^th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95/115

OH – Official History, 1918, Vol IV, pg.63ff

W8bAus – War Diary 8^th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.

W9bAus – War Diary 9^th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.

W11bAus – War Diary 11^th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.

W30Aus – War Diary 30^th Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W31Aus – War Diary 31^st Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

War diaries of Australian 33^rd, 35^th, 42^nd and 44^th battalions also consulted. Downloaded from AWM.

13 Battalion 8 August 1918