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The Battle of Amiens. 8th August 1918
3rd Battalion, B Coy with Canadian Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corp, 4th Army (W3) (OH)
15th Battalion, B Coy had 16 tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (w3)
Company commanders: Maj Grayson G MC (W3)
B Company
5 Section – Capt North P
B25, A239, “Carmudgeon II”, Sgt Alsopp
B26, A230, “Cynic II”, Cpl Budd
B27, A272, “Crusty II”, Lt Rees-Williams
B28, A236, “Crawick”, Capt North P
6 Section - Capt Salvesen ET
B29, A278, “Celerity III”, Cpl Edwards EJ
B30, A277, “Centaur III”, Cpl Kirk
B31, A298, “Corncrake II”, 2Lt Calcutt
B32, A293, “Curiosity III”, Capt Salvesen ET
7 Section - Capt Johnston HW
B33, A292, “Caterpillar III”, Capt Johnston HW
B34, A250, “Crab III”, 2Lgt Newsam
B35, A286, “Crustacean III”, Sgt Hibbert
B36, A219, “Crocodile III”, Cpl Adsett
8 Section - Capt Silver WE
B37, A233, “Crossmichael”, Capt Silver WE
B38, A262, “Caliban II”, 2Lt Ball
B39, A260, “Cannibal II”, Sgt Parrott
B40, A212, “Cyclops II”, Cpl Leech
Notes
Above list correct for 6th August (W3)
Orders
“B” Company attached to Canadian 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)
Account of Operations
“B” company and crossed the River Luce with the Canadian Cavalry brigade shortly after 11:05am. (W3)
Two tanks broke down whilst moving forward. (W3)
Seven and Eight sections advanced on the right with Lord Strathcona’s Horse, 5 and 6 sections on the left with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. (W3)
Seven and Eight Sections.
MG fire forced the cavalry to shelter in a sunken road in D28d while Seven and Eight sections dealt with the enemy MGs in J6.6 and the woods in e25a and E25b. The tanks had lost with the cavalry so returned and rallied, 2 crews were wounded and the others exhausted from fumes and heat. The remaining tanks were placed at the disposal of Lord Strathcona’s Horse, one cleared a barn in D27a which was then occupied by the French. Eight section dealt with MGs in D25a and D25b. (W3)
Eight section advanced on the right and silenced many MGs, one was run over by A233. A262 reached La Quesnel, engaged a large number of the enemy and captured 50 prisoners. A250 was hit and burnt out at D5b, all the crew were killed. (W3)
A212 (B40) possibly Photographed with Canadian troops: AWM H06945: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C306542
Crew number B40 visible in enlarged copy in the magazine "The Road to Victory", 2018 , John Grehan, p.85
Five and Six sections.
Advanced ahead of the infantry and met heavy Mg fire North of Beaucourt. A239 and A230 silenced a battery of 6” naval guns in the Wood in D17e (W3), NE of Beaucourt (H3). A230 then masked the southern edge (W3) of Cayeux wood, dealing with many Mgs (H3) in D12 while the cavalry leapfrogged through to E9d central where they were again held up by enemy MGs in the wood in e10c. A230 advanced round the east side of the wood and fired on (W3) about 400 of (H3) the enemy as they withdrew, the cavalry thus resumed their advance. A293 made for Beaucourt and fired on targets on the edge of the village, Later patrolling the small woods (W3) south of Cayeux (H3) in D12d.1.8. A277 was hit and burnt out south of Cayeux Wood, 2 crew were wounded. (W3)
Summary
Total Tanks: 16
Failed to Start: 2
Engaged enemy: 14
Ditched / Broke Down:
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied:
Notes
Total tanks includes only those that were actually sent into action.
Aftermath
“B” 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
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