2 Battalion B Company 8 August 1918

The Tanks at Amiens. 8^th August 1918

2 Battalion, with 2^nd and 5^th Australian Divisions, Australian Corp, 4^th Army

2 Battalion B Company had 12 tanks in action on 8^th August 1918 ^(W21):

B Company – Major Scrutton AE ^(H2)

5 section – Captain Hoylans, ^(W2)

B26, 9034, "Buffalo III", Lt Cornish W

B28, 9017, "Bison III", Lt Wright WTC

B36, 9300, "Byon II", Lt Martin A

6 section – Captain Ramsden ^(w18aus)

B37, 9035, "Bushranger III", Sgt Hadlow BW

9041, Lt Coe HJ

A third tank which failed to start.

7 section - Captain Porter ^(w19aus)

B21, 9414, "Belicoze II", Lt Todd AS

B22, 9402, "Bantam II", Lt Allison JA

B23, 9094, “Baronet”, Lt Craig WA

8 section – Captain Auden ^(w17aus)

B33, 9013, "Blighty II, Lt Samuals TR

B34, 9415, "Bunty", Lt Botterill GV

B27, 9309, "Buffoon II", Lt Rothery A

Notes

Section allocation a guess.

B39, 9046, may be Lt Coe's tank or it may be the tank which broke down and failed to start.

B31, 9006, "Buccaneer II" and B32, 9320, "Blackleg II" are also listed in SBv BMA, they may be spare tanks or the tank that broke down.

Other notes see: 2 Battalion OB 8 August 1918

Supply tanks

See "A" company narrative.

Orders

“B” Company with 5^th Brigade and “C” Company with 7^th Brigade, 2^nd Australian Division. ^(W2a)

Both companies to lead the attack on the Green line then rally, “B” Company in P30b the Cerisy Valley to the north of Warfasee Abencourt, “C” Company to south of the village (P35d ^(W7bAus)). All survivors then to join in attack on the Red line, except for three tanks detailed to attack subdue and mop up Bayonvillers. Once Red Line was captured surviving tanks to support attack on Red Line ^(W2a)

“B” Company deployed 5, 6 7 and 8 sections north to south. With, 20^th, 18^th, 19^th and 17^th Australian Battalions respectively. 5 section to assist in attacking strongpoint in p22d. 8 section to immediately move south of road at Zero. Green line to be assaulted as follows: 8 section to move South of Warfursee to position East of Lamotte; 7 section to SE outskirts of Warfursee; 6 section the NW outskirts; 5 section to pass through Dog Wood to Green Line. Tanks also to help infantry mop up. ^(W5bAus)

20^th and 19^th Battalion to attack Black Line, old Amiens line P22b and d, P28d and b, P34b and d - , 18^th and 17^th Battalions to pass through and assault villages of Warfursee - Abancourt and Lamotte and the Green line P36a.7.1. – p30d.45.40 – [q]19c.8.0. ^(w17aus)

Account of Operations

Green Line

One tank from “B” Company (6 section ^(w18aus)) failed to reach the start line, all the other tanks started on time ^(W2a).

“B” Company: 9034, 9035, 9094 and 9300 were all KO soon after starting ^(W25bg), 9094 whilst attempting to tow a captured field gun ^(W2a) 9300 and 9034 both ran over land mines ^(W25bg) 9034 on the main Warfusee – Abancourt Road ^(W2a). The other seven tanks all eventually reached the rally point, though only one had done so by 7:15am. 9041 came in with 2 captured MGs and numerous prisoners aboard. ^(W2a)

Red Line

The 11 tanks from “A” 13^th led the infantry, 6 tanks from “B” Company following in support ^(W2a); the crew of the seventh “B” Company survivor of the first phase had been overcome by gas ^(H2). [note: The author cannot identify this tank as all seven surviving tanks appear to have continued in action. It is possible the crew recovered, or were replaced]. 9414 was hit but made it to the red line before rallying ^(W25bg). 9309 silenced an enemy MG at the side of the main road, which had been missed by the first wave, its 8 man crew surrendered when the tank approached. Later 9309 went to deal with another MG ^(W2a). 9309 and 9415 both did great execution on the left of the sector by silencing MGs and enabling the advance of the infantry and cavalry. ^(H2)

Bayonvillers

Four “B” and four “C” Company tanks were to attack Bayonvillers. All 4 “B” Company tanks, 9041, 9017, 9013 and 9402 received direct hits and were KO in front of Bayonvillers, Lt Coe and Wright were both KIA ^(W2a). this enemy battery accounted for 17 tanks in total ^(H2)

One more “B” Company tank, 9309 was also KO about Q35a ^(W2a)

Note: Some sources state only 3 tanks from each company were to attack Bayonvillers. The author has assumed they are in error.

Blue Line

Harbonierres

9415 was the only tank from “B” Company which was still in action, it waited for the barrage on Harbonierres to lift in a sunken road a quarter of a mile from the village, and was then ordered forward by the Battalion commander about 10:15am. The village was almost empty of the enemy and was captured by a few Australians and 2^nd Battalion’s commander, a tank from ”A” 13^th moving in and subduing an MG later. Tanks from 15^th Battalion fired 6pdr at a train near Harbonierres and set it afire. ^(W2a)

9415 was the only “B” Company tank which advanced on the Blue line. ^(W25bg) it was sent forward by the Company’s OIC, ^(W2a) silenced MGs, helped repulse a counter attack. ^(W2a) and rallied ^(W25bg) at P30a.5.3. ^(W25a)

23 of the Battalion's 36 tanks were KO by field guns (10 out of 16 on the 9^th August), 2 by land mines. ^(W2a)

Supply tanks

Four of the Top Towers broke down in Querrieu Wood prior to starting, 2 supply tanks were borrowed [from 2^nd Battalion ? ]. The two remaining top towers were unable to tow their sledges through Daours, one did make it without its sledge. Three tanks and two 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 5^th Australian brigade made one successful drop, but was knocked out by a land mine whilst bringing forward the second. ^(W5bAus)

Summary

Total Tanks: 12

At start: 11

Started: 11

Engaged enemy: 11

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 10

Rallied: 1

note

Hit and KO includes 9414 which rallied damaged.

Battlion total 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 9^th: 14

Aftermath

In total 4 “A” Company, 1 “B” Company, 8 “C” Company tanks and a spare were fit for action on the 9^{th (W2a)}

The “B” Company tank that failed to start attacked on the 9^{th (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

B33, 9013,,was photographed knocked out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936741393/in/set-72157601074581465/

B26, 9034 was photographed, apparently whilst knocked out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936742987/in/set-72157601074581465/

Sources

W2 – 2^ND Battalion War Diary, Report on Operations of 8^th August 1918. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.

W2a – 2^ND Battalion War Diary, Report on Operations of 8^th August 1918 and

Account of Action of 2^nd battalion form Afternoon 8^th August to evening of 9^th August 1918

H2 – 2^nd Battalion War History, Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.

W25 – 5^th Tank Brigade War Diary – Relevant report on operations. PRO WO 95 / 112

W25bg – 5^th Tank Brigade War Diary – Relevant Battlegraph. PRO WO 95 / 112

OH – Official History, 1918, Vol IV, pg.62ff

W5bAus – War Diary of 5^th Australian Infantry Brigade. Downloaded.

Initial report of operations 8^th August 1918.

Fifth Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 207.

W7bAus – War Diary of 5^th Australian Infantry Brigade. Downloaded.

Seventh Australian Infantry Brigade Order No. 211.

Report of operations carried out on the morning of 8^th August 1918.

W17aus – War Diary of 17^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W18aus – War Diary of 18^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W19aus – War Diary of 19^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W20aus – War Diary of 20^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W26aus – War Diary of 26^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W27aus – War Diary of 27^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

W28aus – War Diary of 28^th Australian battalion. Downloaded from AWM.

2 Battalion 8 August 1918