4 Battalion 11 August 1918

Amiens, 11^th August 1918

4^th Battalion with 14^th and 97^th Brigades, 32^nd Division

4^th battalion had 8 tanks in action on 11^th August.

Composite Coy – Maj Hannay A

Capt Martin

9104, 2Lt Cronin

9134, 2Lt Wallace

9130, 2Lt Pogue

9185, 2Lt Karstal

Capt Enoch

9196, 2Lt Gillard

9125, 2Lt Roch

9161, 2Lt Court

9189, 2Lt Judges

Note

1. 9134, 9130 and 9185 from “A” company; 9104 from “B” company; other tanks from “C” company

2. All details from “C” Company report in WMH.

The authors note of “8^th to 14^th Aug report of ops – “A” Coy” indicate 2Lt Pogue was in tank 9182, this is presumably an error

Orders

4 tanks became fit on 10^th August, these were added to the 4 tanks that were in reserve on the 10^th to form a composite company of 8 tanks. These were committed to action in support of 32^nd Division’s attack on Parvillers at 9am on the 11^th; unbeknown to 4^th Tanks battalions Commander who had been told the attack had been called off. ^(W4a)

Capt Martin’s section with 97^th Brigade ^(WMH)

Capt Enoch’s section with 14^th Brigade ^(WMH)

Account of operations

9185 broke down but was repaired and attacked late ^(WMH). The tanks caught up with the infantry, but the infantry didn’t follow them ^(W4a). All eight tanks arrived late and operated toward Parvillers ^(OH)

Three tanks were knocked out by an AT gun ^(W4a)

9104 and 9125 both reached the objective and were then hit and burnt out. 9104 was hit 3 times near Bloucher wood; only one member of 9125’s crew returned to the RP, the rest of the crew, including the OIC were all missing. 9189 was also knocked out, after doing considerable execution amongst the enemy and ditching behind German lines. Crew remained in the tank for 2 hours until the enemy blew off a section of the tanks front horn with bombs; the crew thus evacuated the tank and returned to British lines covered by LG fire from Cpl. Nunn of the KOYLI and the OIC who stayed in tank to cover withdrawal of others with MG fire. The OIC and 3 crew were wounded. ^(WMH)

Three tanks became ditched ^(W4a)

9196 ditched and broke down at L22c4.6, crew rallied. ^(WMH)

9134 reached the frontline then came under heavy MG and artillery fire, badly ditched in trench whilst manoeuvring to avoid fire. ^(WMH)

9161 engaged enemy holding a line 200 yds in front of Parvillers. Tank then ditched in a concealed trench, crew de bussed, joined infantry and rallied 1am on the 12^{th (WMH)}

The remaining two tanks turned back and rallied upon realising they couldn’t achieve anything. ^(W4a)

9130 got into the enemy lines, as no infantry were following and all the other tanks were Knocked out tank returned to Rouray and met Maj. Hanney who ordered it to rally.

9185 also rallied.

No progress was made by the infantry. ^(W4a) Parvillers, which was surrounded by an old wired position, was not taken ^(OH)

Summary

Total Tanks: 8

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 3

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 2

Aftermath

4^th Battalion only had 16 fit tanks left on strength.

The battalion would next see action on 22^nd August.

9104, 9125, 9134, 9161 and 9189 were all handed to salvage on the 14^th August ^(W4a)

9185 was handed to Advanced Workshops on the 20^th September, and next saw action with 10^th battalion on 23^rd October 1918. ^(W4a)

9130 was probably in action with 4^th battalion on the 27^th September 1918 ^(W4a)

9196 was probably in action with 4^th battalion on the 29^th September 1918 ^(W4a)

Sources

W4a - Summary of Tanks on Strength – August 1918. - PRO WO 95-110

4^th Tank Battalion. Report on operations with 32^nd Division. Parvillers. August 10^th 1918 - PRO WO 95-110

WMH – Henshall Papers, IWM 73/126/1

OH – Official History, 1918, Vol 4 pg.145

Amiens