6 Battalion 9 August 1918
The Battle of Amiens. 9th August 1918
6th Battalion, with 2nd and 9th Cavalry Brigades, 1st Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corp, 4th Army (W3) (OH)
6th Battalion had 24 tanks in action on 8th August 1918 (w3)
Company commander:
A Company –
Capt Robson
Lt Patrick
Capt Horsley
Lt Holloway
A365, Lt Howard
B Company – Maj Rycroft AH
A348, Lt Groutage
A359, Bennett
A288
C Company -
8 tanks
Notes
Orders
“A” Company attached to 9th Cavalry Brigade on the right. Moved forward along the railway line and met the cavalry at 11:10am. They were then ordered towards Rosieres whre the cavalry were expected at 11:50am. Then the cavalry and whippets were to attack towards Meharicourt - Cilly – Chaulnes. Lt Patrick took his tank south of the railway to cover the left flank. (W23)
“B” Company attached to 2nd Cavalry Brigade on the left. To concentrate in the valley West of Caix then move forward in the direction of Vrely to operate ith the 1st cavalry Brigade operate (W23)
“C” Company to be kept in reserve, concentrated at W28d. (W23)
The cavalry were to advance behind and in support of the Infantry (OH)
Zero hour was postponed from 10am to 11am (W23)
Account of Operations
“A” Company moved forward. Capt Robson saw that the Australians’ (W23) 58th and 60th Battalion of 15th AIF Brigade (OH) were being held up by MG fire from X13d and X14; he thus crossed the railway and silenced the MGS, enabling the Australians’ advance. 3 Whippets reached Rosieres (W23) with the 28th, 29th and 31st CIF Battalions of 6th CIF Brigade (OH) Capt Horsley and Lt Holloway went through the village and cleared it of snipers then went as far as the Sugar factory on the east side of the village. A365 attempted to circle to the south of the village where it was hit and KO by an Anti tank gun, the OIC and crew were killed. The Canadians captured the village and established a new line north and south of the sugar factory. (W23)
“B” Company orders arrived late as Maj. Rycroft was wounded whilst returning to the Company. About 5:45pm the 9th Lancers retired form F27b, the GOC of 2nd Cavalry Brigade sent 6 tanks forward from V20d to F27a; they then attacked towards Fouquescourt across open country of standing corn, several MGs were found hiding in the corn and silenced. A348 and A359 caused the enemy to retire from the old trench in L4 central but both tanks were hit and knocked out (W23), by a field gun firing from Fouquescourt (OH) A359 at L3b.3.2. c.7.4, crew were all missing; A348 at F27c.7.4. A288 broke down, the crew were rescued by another tank. With darkness drawing in the tanks withdrew and rallied in W22 central. (W23)
“C” Company moved to assist the Canadians east of Meharicourt at 5:30pm, reached the old trench lines 1000yds east of the village and fired on a few targets before rallying at 10pm (W23)
Officer and NCO casualties: (H6)
Killed - Lt Howard ES. Missing - Lt Bennett NO.
Wounded - Capt Horsley W MC, 2Lt Clark JE, Maj. West RA DSO, Lt. Molyneux, Maj. Rycroft AH, LCpl Crossley B
Summary
Total Tanks: 24
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 22
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 20
Notes
It is assumed that all 16 tanks from A” and “C” companies and 6 tanks from “B” company engaged the enemy.
Rallied doesn’t include the broken down 288 which was recovered later
Aftermath
A288 was recovered.
Sources
W23 – 3rd Tank Brigade’s War Diary. Report of Operations – 8th to 12th August 1918 – PRO WO 95 -105
H6 – 6th Battalion War History, (1919) Naval and Military Press
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.98f, Pg.102, pg.104