15 Battalion A1 Group 9 August 1918

The Tanks at Amiens 9^th August 1918

15^th Battalion, Group A1, with 8^th Australian Brigade [?]. 4^th and 5^th Australian Divisions, Aus Corp, 3^rd Army

Group A1 - Captain Unwin JD

Section Commander Captain Jude

9837, O6, "Omniscient", 2Lt Luck CW,

9839, O7, "Odysseus", 2Lt Eccles WJ,

9860, O49, "Old It", 2Lt Ferguson TJ,

9831, O42, "Omar", 2Lt Brown

Notes

Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.

Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

Orders

A hastily planned operation, plan was decided at 11am, tanks moved forward at 1pm.

Objective Framerville and Vauxvillers

Start time was 4.15pm

Account of Operations

All 4 tanks started, reached the final objective and rallied. 9839 was hit at the final objective but was not KO and rallied. 9837 went into Farmerville to attack the Church from where a heliograph was thought to have been seen operating the previous day. Whilst in the village than tank went through a 9ft high, 2ft thick wall and silenced many MGs, enabling the infantry to capture the village. The tank then covered the infantry’s consolidation and, whilst retuning to rally, helped disperse an enemy counter attack. 9860 had broken down (on the objective according to the battlegraph) and was towed in by 9837.

Summary

Total Tanks: 4

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy: 4

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out:

Rallied: 4

The author has assumed that all four tanks engaged the enemy at some point.

Rallied includes one tank towed in, also included in the ditched / broke down numbers.

Aftermath

All four tanks were in action again on the 21st August 1918; O42 was used a wireless tank.

9831, "Omar" was photographed at some point, though on which date is not known.:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936764345/in/set-72157601074583035/

Sources

Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.

Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

W15a - 15th Battalion War Diary Appendices, relevant reports and battlegraphs – PRO WO 95-103

Amiens