4 Battalion C Company 8 August 1918
Amiens, 8th August 1918
4th Battalion, C Company, with 1st and 3rd Brigades, 1st Canadian Division
The Author will add more information to this page when he has time to peruse the BHS held in the IWM Henshhall papers.
C Company had 11 tanks in action on the 8th August
9 section - Section Commander Capt. Enoch
9145, m, 2Lt Court GR
9196, m, 2Lt Gillard OH
9164, m, 2Lt Beale
9421, f, Sgt McNicoll
10 section - Section Commander possibly Lt Bender
9107, m, Sgt Gordon
9154, m, 2Lt Mason A
9436, f, 2Lt Roch
11 section - Section Commander Capt. Clarke
9189, m, 2Lt Watherston CJ
9112, m, 2Lt Judges AV
9389, f, 2Lt Churchill JAV
12 section – Section Commander Lt Dobinson
9161, m, 2Lt Inglis RR
9125, m, Lt Killey
9029, 2Lt Howard
9431, f, Sgt Levy
Notes
Most details from Henshall papers WMH
Tank sexes confirmed on "Summary of Tanks on Strength – August 1918".
9428 and 9378 were with the battalion as instructional tanks on 30th July (WMH) they were taken on the battalion strength on .. August (W4)
One 4th Battalion tank named "Dominion" (W21can)
The company’s supply tank, 8123, Sgt Thompson DS, 10 section was not in action on the 8th August.
5. The Battalion also had a Wireless tank attached under the command of 2Lt Heap FG (source: preliminary instructions).
Orders
“B” and “C” companies to assist 3rd Canadian Brigade in the capture of the first objective (Green Line). “B” Company to the north, “C” Company to the south; each company to deploy 11 tanks in 3 sections. (W4a)
7 and 8 sections with 14th Canadian infantry battalion in northern sector. (W4a)
6 and 9 sections with 13th (Royal Highlanders (WMH)) Canadian battalion in the centre. (W4a)
11 and 12 sections with 16th Canadian infantry battalion in the Southern sector. (W4a) or the 11th Canadian Scottish (WMH)
Once the Green Line was captured the surviving tanks would be reinforced by the fourth section from their respective companies and all would then assist the 1stCanadian Brigade in the capture of the Second objective (Red Line). (W4a)
5 section with the 3rd Canadian battalion on the left flank. (W4a)
10 section with the 2nd Canadian battalion on the right flank. (W4a) (WMH)
Account of operations
9 section
All 4 tanks crossed the infantry jumping off point at zero
9164 got lost, ditched and broke down in the first line, was unditched and rallied at Cerps Wood later in the day. (WMH)
9421 on approaching Aubercourt was told infantry were held up by MG fire. Tank went ahead and discovered fire coming from an old quarry used as a battalion HQ. Tank covered quarry with guns, the infantry came forward and the quarry’s occupants surrendered. Tank then went through Innaucourt and attacked Cayeux, it was hit and KO, OIC and 4 crew wnd. (WMH)
9196 reached the 1st objective, Red Line at 10:30am. Went via Demuin and crossed the River Luce at Ignacourt; put several MGs out of action at Happy Glen. (WMH)
9145 skirted the east edge of Hangard wood with the infantry following. Dealt with two MG in the enemy’s front line and killed the crew of a trench mortar battery a little further on. The tank then cleared up infantry and MGs which were putting up opposition. The tank was hit by short British shell which knocked out the right sponson and wounded four of the crew. The tank was abandoned, the OIC following the infantry with the two remaining crew. (WMH)
11 section
9112 broke down at Cemetery Copse, the crew evacuated the tank and accompanied the infantry to Cerfs Wood. (WMH)
9389 reached 1st obj, and crossed the river Luce at Demuin. On several occasions dealt with hostile MGs which were holding up inf. (WMH)
9189 crossed River Luce at Ignaucourt, reached final objective and broke down there. Towed back by 9125 (WMH)
12 section
9161 got lost, ditched near Morgemont wood, unditched too late to see action rallied. (WMH)
9029, got lost broke down near Morgemont wood, rallied at Cerfs wood on the 9th.
9431 got lost, followed “A” Company tanks at Aubercourt. Broke down, repaired too late to see action so rallied. (WMH)
9125 reached the final objective en route it attacked a howitzer battery at V21c.3.2 and forced the crews to flee. Reached green line at 8am, crossed the River Luce at Ignacourt and entered Cayeux at 10:30am, the infantry entering at 11am. Towed 9189 back to RP, Cerfs Wood. (WMH)
10 section
The section did not go into action. 9436 was hit at V29 central. 9107 and 9154 both crossed the River Luce at Ignaucourt and reached the final objective at 10:30am. (WMH)
"C" Company helped capture Hangard and Aubercourt, dealing with several MGs in the Luce valley. Only 8 “C” company tanks (with 4 “B” Company tanks) reached the Green line in close support of the infantry (W4a)
The second phase commenced at 8.20am (W4a)
“C” Company's tanks entered Cayaux without infantry support, dealt with the enemy and then returned and brought the infantry forward. (W4a)
11 tanks reached the Red line in close support of the infantry (3 “A”, 1 “B”, 7 “C”), only isolated resistance was encountered.. (W4a)
A tank named "Dominion" apparently crossed the start line with a piper playing on its roof. (W21can)
Summary
Total Tanks: 11
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 6
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 3
Note:
Totals do not include the reserve section. One tank form this section was hit and KO.
Most of the ditched / broken down tanks also rallied.
Aftermath
9029
9107
9112
9125
9145
9154
9164
9189
9191
9196
9389
9421
9431
9436
Sources
W4a - Summary of Tanks on Strength – August 1918.
4th Tank Battalion. Report on operations with 1st Canadian Division. Luce valley. August 8th 1918
4th Tank Battalion. Preliminary instructions. Dated: 04/08/1918
4th Tank Battalion. Operational order no 20. - PRO WO 95-110
W21can – War Diary 21st Canadian Battalion – available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp
WMH - Henshall papers, IWM 73/126/1
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol 4, pg.