6 Battalion 8 August 1918
The Tanks at Amiens. 8th August 1918
6 Battalion, with the 9th Cavalry brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corp, 4th Army
6 Battalion had 48 tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (H6):
A Company – 16 tanks (W6bv) 14 tanks (W23)
326
210
365
343
342
354
364
294
360
289
209
287
323
331
310
351
B Company – Major Rycroft AH DSO (H6) (W6bv)
344, "Musical Box", Lt Arnold
288
359
348
282
352
257
367
355
347
313
332
353
228
330
363
Lt Watkins and Capt. Strachan also OIC's of three tanks in this Company. Lt Waterhouse may have been with this Company or may have commanded a heavy tank. (H6.p135)
C Company – (W6bv)
375, Lt Seddon
357
334
297
350
349
284
296
333
361
356
339
362
338
358
328
Supply tanks
4 Mk IV supply tank were attached to 3rd Tank Brigade, these broke down and did not arrive until 9th August. (W23)
Notes
"A" Company was in reserve and, except for 364, did not go into action (W23) . 326 was broken up for spares, 210 appears to have broken down and remained in Amiens (W6Bv)
Orders
Zero: 04:20 (H6.p134)
To advance behind the infantry to the Red Line then pass through them and exploit to the Blue Line (outer Amiens Defence Line) with the Cavalry. The line Lamotte, Marcelcave and through Ignaucourt was to be reached by Zero +6 hours, i.e. 10:20am. Line of advance to be along the Villers Bretenoux – Chaulnes Railway, “B” company to the north, “C” company to the south, “A” company in reserve. Each company had about 2500 yds of front to cover. (H6)
The Whippets main role was to engage the enemy to allow the cavalry to advance without dismounting. The Whippets were to mask and surround woods and villages but not enter them. (W23)
Eastern Limit of Whippet operations was a line running through Bouchoir – Vrely – Rosieres-en-Santerre (W23)
Account of Operations
3 tanks (probably 326, 360 and 210 (w6)) were left behind in the tank park (W23) possibly Bois de Naours (w6). 326 (W6bv) was stripped for spares (W23) the other two were having new engines fitted (W23) on 12th August 360 was awaiting a new gearbox. (W6Bv)
The remaining Tanks started at zero and moved to U2a where they made short halt. 296 and 284 both briefly broke down here. The two companies then went to La Bastille Mill and the Green Line East of Marcelcave respectively. (w23)
44 tanks reached the assembly point at Trones Wood and then the starting point (red line) “B” and “C” companies were in position at their starting points: La Bastille Wood and Marcelcave respectively at 8am. “A” Company remained in reserve, moving to Caix later. (H6)
At 9:15am a whippet (of “A” Company (W23)) ran over a dud shell which exploded and wounded Colonel Truman and Major Inglis, Major Wood took over command of the Battalion. (H6)
One tank was photographed passing through the Canadians: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlscotland/4702161099/
The infantry were held up by fire from the valley running north from the Luce to Guillacourt, (H6) this was to be cleared by “A” company but they were elsewhere (w23) so nine tanks from “C” company attacked the valley from the North (3 tanks) and the south (6 tanks) clearing the valley and capturing some guns. 375 was knocked out in the valley south of Guillicourt in W21c, Lt Seddon and crew killed, 357 was burnt out east of the village (H6) in W23a (w23)
South of the Railway the Red Line was reached by 10:15am, the cavalry finally appeared at 11:30am and Major Wood met with the OIC of 9th Cavalry Brigade 1000yds south of Marcelcave and organised a joint attack on the valley running North East and South West (W22c W22d, W25d (w6)), the enemy stubbornly held out in the woods (W22b and w22d (W23)), but these were eventually cleared. (H6)
400 enemy were gathering to counter attack in w28a and w28b, these were dispersed by two Whippets and a Mk V. (W23)
"B" Company crossed over the British front line and through the 2nd Australian Division and some British Mk V tanks, it then proceeded eastwards parallel with the Amiens - Ham railway for about 2000 yds. By now 344 was the lead tank, others having ditched etc. 344 was immediately behind some Mk V, which were being closely followed by Australian Infantry (possibly the 60th AIF Battalion who were held up on the railway south of Harbonierres and assisted by 344 (H6) ). A battery of four field guns, positioned between Abancourt and Bayonvillers knocked out two of the Mk V and inflicted casualties on the infantry. 344 turned half left and ran across the front of the battery which was 600 yards away; the battery fired about eight rounds at the tank and was in turn engaged with two of the tanks guns. 344 passed behind a belt of trees running along a roadside, the tank followed these trees until it came level with the battery, then turned hard right and took the battery in the rear killing thirty gunners as they tried to flee. 344 proceeded to the railway siding NNW of Guillaucourt shooting down a number of the fleeing enemy enroute. 344 waited until the Australian infantry came up and then met with Maj Rycroft, Lt Waterhouse and Capt Strachan. Having reported to Maj Rycroft 344, (H6.p134f) probably in company with Lt Watkins tank (H6) , followed the Railway embankment eastwards, assisted two twelve man cavalry patrols by dispersing small groups of Germans who were firing on them; including a group who had rallied at a railway bridge.. The tank then entered a small valley between Harbonierres and Bayonvillers which contained hutments, these were being hastily evacuated by the Germans some of whom were still packing their kit. The tank cruised around, killing Germans as they fled, sixty bodies were counteed in the valley, some of whom may have been killed by artillery. 344 now turned left, away from the railway and proceed to fire on many parties of retreating Germans until at 3.30pm it was eventually set afire and abandoned, (H6.p134ff) at W24d.2.8 (W6Bv) One Crewman was killed, the OIC and another crewman captured. (H6.p134ff)
"B" Company also sent four tanks to help the cavalry clear Bayonvillers, this was successfully carried out. The tanks and Cavalry spread across the 2500yds north of the railway and advanced firing on good targets. Just south of Herbonnieres (W17) (w6) the Queens Bays, accompanied by several tanks, charged some gun teams and transports. 313 and 332 both ditched south of the railway near Harbonnieres (H6) in w23b.8.0 (w6).
Further east transport and 500 prisoners were taken by the pursuing cavalry and tanks. “B” and “C” companies captured several batteries of guns. (H6)
“C” company sent 3 tanks forwards to exploit towards Rosieres, (Lt Munro, Lt Lloyd, L/Cpl Smethhurst (W23)) they engaged the enemy who were digging in to the west of the village (H6). (War Diary states 2 tanks, this is probably an error).
Another tank was sent to the Harbonnieres Railway Bridge (H6) (square W23b) where it was to deal with Mgs holding up the 15th Hussars (W6) this tank silenced the enemy MGs but was hit and set afire (w23) Presumably 364 of “A” company (w6) though 344s actions also match this account. . The enemy made adetermined effort to hold this bridge but were dislodged by “A” and “B” company whippets. (W23)
“A” company did not see action (W23) it remained in reserve at Marcelcave where it was joined by the other two companies when they rallied. 40 (sic) tanks rallied.
Summary
Total Tanks:
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down:
Hit and Knocked out:
Rallied:
Only tank 364 included from "A" Company
Aftermath
34 tanks were fit for action on the 9th (w23)
344 photographed in situ on 9th August: X65.photos and also possibly: X91.p44
Sources
W6 – 6th Battalion War Diary. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.
H6 – 6th Battalion War History, (1919) Naval and Military Press
W23 – 3rd Tank Brigade Report on Operations, 8th to 12th August 1918. In PRO WO 95-95
W6Bv - 6th Battalion Personal Papers Box, Bovington Tank Museum, PH86TC6BN, Notebook
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.54f
S91 - Michelin Guide: The Battle Fields of the Somme Vol 2 1918