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15 Battalion 8 August 1918
The Tanks at Amiens 8th August 1918
15th Battalion with 4th and 5th Australian Divs, Aus Corp, 4th Army
Group A1
9837, O6, "Omniscient", 2Lt Luck CW, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9839, O7, "Odysseus", 2Lt Eccles WJ, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9843, O8, "Orby", 2Lt Brown JH, Attacked from Red line. Ditched just before Red Line. Rallied
9509, O10, "Onward", 2Lt Walton JW, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9540, O11, "Onslaught", 2Lt Payton S, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9530, O13, "Orrono", 2Lt Kerry J, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9831, O42, "Omar", 2Lt Highfield, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9860, O49, "Old It", 2Lt Ferguson TJ, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9836, O55, "Opamonda", 2Lt Bell AM, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line, ditched just after recrossing Blue Line.
Group A2
9846, O12, "Octopus", 2Lt Knight GW, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9825, O16, "Optimist", 2Lt Burrell BF, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line (twice). Rallied
9335, O18, "Omnivorous", 2Lt Carr EH, Broke down and repaired on Green line. Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Broke Down on red Line whilst returning.
9824, O19, "Omagh", 2Lt Frisby ES, Should have attacked from Red line. KO just before reaching Red Line
9847, O20, "Overland", Lt Hancock JP, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9547, O28, "Orpheus", 2Lt Brown M, WD number may be incorrect. Hit before reaching Green line. Continued. Attacked from Red line. Crossed Blue line. Burnt out.
9848, O29, "Obadiae", 2Lt Roberts AL, Should have attacked from Red line. Broke down before Green Line, repaired but failed to reach Red line. Rallied
9851, O30, "Omar-Ama", 2Lt Herrington, Should have attacked from Red line. Broke down before Green Line, broke down again just before Red line. Rallied
????, O14, "Oukaparinga", 2Lt Kerfoot, Presumably a reserve Tank
Group B
9539, O26, "Oppier", Lt Slade SH, Should have attacked from Red line. Broke down twice before Green Line, broke down again and Hit just before Red line.
9832, O32, "Oban", 2Lt Fraser CN, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9536, O33, "Oodradata", 2Lt Gibson TC, Attacked from Red line. Broke Down and KO just before Blue line.
9835, O34, "Olga", Lt Cordner J, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. KO
9814, O36, "O'Dawina", Lt Culbertson RB, Broke down before reaching Green Line. Repaired. Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9543, O37, "Ottama", Lt Foster RP, Broke down before reaching Green line. Repaired. Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line, Hit. Rallied
9828, O39, "Orion", 2Lt Thorogood WJ, Should have attacked from Red line. Broke down just before Green Line, broke down again and Hit just before Red line. Repaired, rallied.
9817, O40, "Ot Stuff", 2Lt Wadeson RA, Broke down on Green Line. Repaired. Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
????, O31, "Och Aye", Lt Lever, Presumably a reserve Tank
Group C
9544, O41, "Orrong", 2Lt Rorke D, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9833, O43, "Ournan", 2Lt Harlden P, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9811, O44, "Old Nick", 2Lt Hardy HD, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9550, O46, "Oppossum", Lt Uzielli CF, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9551, O47, "Oroola", 2Lt Inglis HCP, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9841, O51, "Otazel", Lt Clayton SA, Attacked from Red line. Broke down between Red and Blue Lines, repaired. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9791, O52, "Odiam", Lt Brooks AH, Attacked from Red line. Broke down between Red and Blue Lines, repaired. Reached Blue line. Rallied
9834, O54, "Orient", 2Lt Ayres H, Attacked from Red line. Reached Blue line. Rallied
????, O48, "Oppressor", 2Lt Gummer, Presumably a reserve Tank
Notes
Battalion was divided into four groups.
Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.
Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary
Orders
The 2nd and 3rd Australian Divisions were to advance and capture the Green Line (first objective). At 8.20 am the 5th Australian Division was then to pass through the 2nd and capture the Red Line (Second Objective), the 4th Australian Division was to pass through the 5th and attack the Blue Line (Third objective) with the support of the 5th Australian Division.
A brief 5 minute Barrage was to proceed zero hour. Two companies of 2nd Battalion tanks were to precede the 2nd Australian Division and two companies of 13th tank Battalion were to precede the infantry of 3rd Australian Infantry Division leading their attack on the Green Line, then rally in the Cerisy Valley and follow in close support of the 5th Division’s attack on the Red and Blue Lines. Two companies from 2nd and 13th Battalions were to precede the infantry on the attack on the Red Line acting as the artillery Barrage, they were then to follow on in close support of the 4th Australian Division’s attack on the Blue Line. Two companies from the 8th Battalion were to precede the 4th Australian Division, the third was to work along junction between the 5th and 4th Australian Divisions in order to establish close co operation between the two Divisions.
(53) 36 Mk V* tanks from 15th Tank Battalion, each carrying 15 Infantry Lewis Gunners were to pass through and attack the Blue line. Half the Battalion was allotted the 4th Australian Division and half to 5th Australian Division, each tank was to carry 15 infantry Lewis MG gunners which were to be deployed on the blue Line.
Account of Operations
Green Line.
One tank failed to attack with infantry. The remaining 47 Tanks advanced in Fog and those without compasses lost direction, nevertheless they rendered valuable assistance to the infantry as German MG gunners surrendered once tanks appeared through fog., 37 tanks rallied in Cerisy Valley
Red Line.
Fog lifting but visibility still poor. 9 tanks of A Coy 13th Tank Battalion and 3 tanks from 2nd Tank Battalion Knocked Out by a battery of light guns in Bayonvillers, the village was entered and captured by surviving tanks.
On the left flank tanks from 13th and 8th Battalions cleared Cerisy Village after heavy fighting during which three tanks were destroyed by heavy guns firing from north of the river.
A Coy 13th and the remnant of 2nd Battalion attacked and captured the village of Harbonnieres which was only lightly held. During this advance from the Villers Bretonneaux road to the Somme River the tanks silenced many enemy MGs and enabled the infantry to advance with few casualties.
Blue line
29 Mk V* tanks reached the Blue line and successfully deposited their MG gunners.
Summery
Total Tanks: 36
Failed to Start: 3
Engaged enemy: 33
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 5
Rallied: 26
Total Tanks includes 3 possible reserve tanks.
Failed to start is all 3 possible reserve tanks.
Te Author has assumed all 33 tanks that started engaged the enemy at some point
Rallied does not include 3 possible reserve tanks.
From Brigade report of operations
In action: 36
Reached objective: 28
Received Direct hits: 4
KO by Land mines: 0
Mechanical trouble: 3
Rallied: 28
Fit for action on 9th: 17
Aftermath
Sources
15th Tank Battalion War diary in PRO 95 / 115. Relevant Battlegraphs, orders and after action reports.
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