2 Battalion A Company 8 August 1918
The Tanks at Amiens. 8th August 1918
2 Battalion, with 2nd and 5th Australian Divisions, Australian Corp, 4th Army
2 Battalion A Company had 12 tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (W21):
A Company – Major Diamond HV MC (H2)
1 section
9016, 2Lt Clarke AJ
9302, 2Lt Clarke ADM
9067, 2Lt Greenwood P
2 section
9019, 2Lt Somper JJ
B14, 9299, "Bodecea", 2Lt Harrison HD
9066, 2Lt Baxter ES
3 section
9327, 2Lt Cann WG
9257, 2Lt Whitehead A. MM
9002, 2Lt Stammers AE
4 section
9312, 2Lt Deans JK. MM
9305, 2Lt Teale FA
9031, Lt McLean RC
Notes:
Section allocation a guess.
Other notes see: 2 Battalion OB 8 August 1918
Supply tanks
1 section (6 tanks) of Top towers attached from Maj. Watsons 4 Tank Supply Company (originally from 5 tank Supply Company). (W2a)
5th and 7th Australian Brigades - One Gun Carrier Supply tank each (w28Aus)
1 Section, 1 Gun Carrier Company. (w28Aus)
112, “Auld Reekie” (w28Aus)
137, “Leeds” (w28Aus)
15th Australian Brigade – 4 Gun Carrier supply tanks (W15bAus)
135, “Eastbourne”
109, “Bath”, 2 Lt W Saunders
146, “Jarrow”
101, “Charlton”, Capt HC Raxton
8th Australian Brigade (W15bAus)
5 GC tanks, listed in 13th Battalions Narrative.
Orders
“A” Company were to join “C” Company at Zero plus 3 hours. It was then to support 15th Australian Brigade’s attack on the second objective, The tanks were to stay 200yds in front of the infantry and were not to enter Bayonvillers. (W2a)
After the Red line was captured the survivors of 23nd battalion and 13th battlion’s “A” Company were to assist in capturing Harbonnieres. (W2a)
Overview from Brigade Narrative of operation (W25)
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 (2nd 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 proceeded 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 rallied in the Cerisy Valley and then follow in close support of the 5th Divisions 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 Divisions attack on the Blue Line. Two companies form 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.
Half the 15th Battalion was allotted the 4th Australian Division and half to 5th Australian Division, each tank was to carry 15 infantry Lewis or Vickers MG gunners which were to be deployed on the blue Line.
Account of Operations
Green Line
“A” Company’s 12 tanks all made it to the rally point (W2a), C Company’s 9359 ditched in the Green Line, turning back and rallying after unditching (w25bg), all the other tanks attacked the Red Line. (W2a) “C” Company’s tanks worked very well with the infantry (W7baus) but 26th Battalion believed 4 of their 6 tanks operated too far to the north (W26aus) On the way forward, at the request of the Australians 9009 entered Marcelcave in the Canadian sector and silenced MGs therein that were firing on the Australians. The tanks OIC then obtained a receipt for the village from the Australians before rallying. (W2a)
Red Line
“A” Company also attacked, leading the infantry of 15th Australia Brigade with the 12 tanks of “C” Company in support (W15b). 9016 broke down twice. Made it to the Red Line then turned back and rallied. 9312 was hit and thus also turned back at the Red Line. 9299 also turned back and rallied at the Red line, no reason is given (W25bg). The 15th Australian Brigade’s 59th battalion (on the left) and the 57th battalion (on the right) each encountered enemy batteries, both of which the tanks helped silence. One tank was lost to howitzer fire [presumably 9312] (OH)
Bayonvillers
The guns in Bayonvillers knocked out 4 tanks of “A” company, (W2a) all but one of 9067, 9019, 9066, 9327, 9257 all of which were all KO before reaching the red line (W25bg), this enemy battery accounted for 17 tanks in total (H2)
Blue Line
Four tanks from “A” Company; 9002, 9302, 9305, 9031 advanced on the Blue line. (W25bg)
Harbonierres
Later 9415 was sent forward to the Blue Line by the Company’s OIC, silenced MGs and helped repulse a counter attack. 2 tanks of “A” company rallied in Harbonniers as did 9077 of “C” company. At the request of the Australians 9077 was then sent forward by the battalion Commander and silenced an MG nest on the Blue line, the tank then broke down (W2a) but eventually rallied (W25bg) .
Four “A” Company tanks 9002, 9302, 9305, 9031 reached the Blue Line and rallied (W25bg) at P30a.5.3. (W25a)
23 of the 46 tanks were KO by field guns (10 out of 16 on the 9th August), 2 by land mines. (W2a)
Supply tanks
4 of the Top Towers broke down in Querrieu Wood prior to starting, 2 supply tanks were borrowed [from 2nd Battalion ? ]. The two remaining top towers were unable to tow their sledges through Daours, one did make it without its sledge. 3 tanks and 2 GS wagons (one having been hit on the way forward) did make it to P30 between 8:30 and 9am (W2a)
The Supply tank with 5th Australian brigade made one successful drop, but was knocked out by a land mine whilst bringing forward the second. (W5bAus)
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 14
Rallied: 19
From Brigade report of operations
In action: 35
Reached objective: 13
Received Direct hits: 12
KO by Land mines: 2
Mechanical trouble: 4
Rallied: 19
Fit for action on 9th: 14
Aftermath
In total 4 “A” Company, 1 “B” Company, 8 “C” Company tanks and a spare were fit for action on the 9th (W2a)
Probably: “A” Company’s 9002, 9302, 9305, 9031; “B” Company’s 9415; and “C” Company’s 9003, 9004, 9010, 9256, 9325, 9398, 9401, 9432
The “B” Company tank that failed to start attacked on the 9th (W2a)
9067 must have been recovered and repaired as it was in service after the war:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2183159517/in/set-72157601074581465/
Sources
W2 – 2ND Battalion War Diary, Report on Operations of 8th August 1918. Transcript from BovingtonTank Museum.
W2a – 2ND Battalion War Diary, Report on Operations of 8th August 1918 and
Account of Action of 2nd battalion form Afternoon 8th August to evening of 9th August 1918
H2 – 2nd Battalion War History, Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.
W25 – 5th Tank Brigade War Diary – Relevant report on operations
W25bg – 5th Tank Brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol IV, pg.62ff
W5bAus – War Diary of 5th Australian Infantry Brigade. Downloaded.
Initial report of operations 8th August 1918.
Fifth Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 207.
W7bAus – War Diary of 5th Australian Infantry Brigade. Downloaded.
Seventh Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 211.
Report of Operations carried out on the morning of 8th August 1918.
W17aus – War Diary of 17th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W18aus – War Diary of 18th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W19aus – War Diary of 19th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W20aus – War Diary of 20th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W26aus – War Diary of 26th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W27aus – War Diary of 27th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W28aus – War Diary of 28th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.