3 Battalion. A coy. 8 August 1918
The Battle of Amiens. 8th August 1918
3rd Battalion, A Coy with 6th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corp, 4th Army (W3) (OH)
3rd Battalion, A Coy had 16 tanks in action on 8th 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 6th August (W3)
Orders
“A” Company attached to 6th (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 6th 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 4th 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 9th August 1918.
Sources
W3 – 3rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
H3 – 3rd Battalion War History PRO WO 95-104
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.31 and pg.52f