15 Battalion A2 Group 9 August 1918

The Tanks at Amiens 8^th August 1918

15^th Battalion, Group A2 with 12^th Australian Brigade, 4^th and 5^th Australian Division, Aus Corp, 3^rd Army

Group A2 – Major Allen DC

Section Commander Captain Robertson DCM

9847, O20, "Overland", Lt Hancock JP,

9846, O18, "Octopus", Cpt Ibbertson DCM,

9825, O16, "Optimist", 2Lt Burrell BF,

9851, O30, "Omar-Ama", 2Lt Herrington,

Notes

Octopus had been with crew O12, OIC 2Lt Knight GW on 8^th August. 2Lt knight was presumably the OIC who was taken sick just prior to the action, his place being taken by his Section Commander Cpt Ibbertson DCM; the Battlegraph in the Battalions War Diary is hard to read but the above number appears to be correct. Crew O18 had been with tank 9335, "Omnivorous", OIC 2Lt Carr EH on the 8^th August which had suffered from repeated mechanical problems.

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 four tanks reached the objective and did extremely good work there; two members of tank 9851 earning MMs and Captain Ibbertson (9846) the MC. 9851, 9846 and 9847 were all knocked out at the objective; all three OIcs were wounded along with all the crew of 9847.

9847 Knocked out between Rainecourt and Framerville on the Amiens - St Quentin Road by five direct hits with an anti tank gun -. Caption to IWM Q 46137

9825 rallied.

Summary

Total Tanks: 4

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 1

Aftermath

9847 photographed in Central workshops, damaged and covered in snow, presumably winter 1918.

IWM Q 46137: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205280266

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