3 Battalion. A coy. 8 August 1918

The Battle of Amiens. 8^th August 1918

3^rd Battalion, A Coy with 6^th Cavalry Brigade, 3^rd Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corp, 4^th Army ^{(W3) (OH)}

3^rd Battalion, A Coy had 16 tanks in action on 8^th August 1918 ^(w3)

Company commanders: Maj Hedderwick G MC ^(W3)

A Company – Capt Monk AV ^(H3)

1 Section – Capt Firth F

A5, A226, “China II”, Capt Firth F

A6, A263, “Cyprus III”, Cpl Thornton

A7, A207, “Cape Colony II”, Cpl Fisher

A8, A276, “Cardiff”, 2Lt Davies

2 Section - Capt Keppel-Palmer SL MC

A9, A213, “Ca’Canny”, Cpl Pearson

A10, A223, “Comme-Ci”, LCpl Smith J

A11, A237, “Ceylon II”, Capt Keppel-Palmer SL MC

A12, A247, “Comme-Ca”, 2Lt Thomas J

3 Section - Capt Bower I

A13, A246, “Canada”, Sgt Goward

A14, A225, “Cirencester”, Capt Bower I

A15, A215, “Cumbrae II”, Lt Bonar JJ

A16, A231, “Carnaby”, 2Lt Haddon

4 Section - Capt Le Clair CM MC

A17, A252, “Celtic II”, Sgt Hutchinson

A18, A258, “Cargo II”, Capt Le Clair CM MC

A19, A267, “Cork II”, Cpl Milward

A20, A270, “Clyde II”, 2Lt Haddon

Notes

Above list correct for 6^th August ^(W3)

Orders

“A” Company attached to 6^th (Reserve) Cavalry Brigade ^(W3)

The Cavalry Corp were to gain possession of the old Amiens Defence Line between Hangest and the Amiens Chaulnes Railway and hold it until relieved by the infantry ^(OH)

Zero hour was at 4:20am. ^(H3)

Account of Operations

“A” Company followed “B” and “C” companies and crossed the River Luce at Ignacourt with the 6^th Cavalry brigade shortly after 11:05am;

Two tanks broke down en route, the remainder awaited orders on the southern bank of the Luce at Ceres Wood (D5a). ^(W3)

At 3pm One and three sections were sent forward, one section went to the north and one to the south of Beaucourt ; they masked MG fire coming from the southern edge of the Wood in D24d and D30b and thus enabled 4^th Canadian Division’s advance. One section did excellent work and inflicted heavy casualties on the retreating enemy, A226 was then hit and knocked out, A276 was hit and disabled. 3 section’s A225 engaged the enemy in the wood in D18c.7.0, inflicting casualties and capturing eleven prisoners. Later the tanks went to La Quesnil and then rallied. ^(W3)

At 6:30pm three tanks were sent and helped the infantry take a small copse in E20a. ^(W3)

Summary

Total Tanks: 11

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 8

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 2

Rallied: 9

Notes

Total tanks includes only those that were actually sent into action.

Hit and knocked out includes A226.

Aftermath

“A” company attempted to get into action on 9^th August 1918.

Sources

W3 – 3^rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.

H3 – 3^rd Battalion War History PRO WO 95-104

OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.31 and pg.52f

Amiens

3 Battalion 8 August 1918