8 Battalion 10 August 1918

Amiens, 10^th August 1918

8^th Battalion with 10^th Brigade, 3^rd Australian Division, Aus. Corps ^(w10)

B Company, 8^th Battalion had 6 tanks in action on August 10^th 1918 ^(W8)

7 section – Captain Hickey DE ^(s61.p286ff)

H24, 9007, 2Lt Jefferies SS

H25, 9319, 2Lt Humphreys HW

H32, 9372, 2Lt Few CE

Composite (?) Section – Captain Jones

3 tanks

Notes

The author has guessed the second section was composite as 5, 6 and 8 sections had all sustained tank losses on the 8^th August.

Orders

To support the 37^th AIF Battalion, 10^th Australian Brigade, the attackers were to move along the Amiens - St Quentin Road from La Flaque for ¾ of a mile to the crossroads in R28c then turn north to encircle Proyart. who were to reach Proyart then turn north so as to encircle the Germans. Capt Hickeys section (three tanks) were to lead the infantry, one on the road and the other two 50yds either side of it. Once the tanks had turned north armoured cars were to continue east with headlight blazing to make the enemy think the attack was continuing in that direction. ^{(s61.p233ff) (s61.p286ff) (OH18.IV.p131)}

Account of Action

Tanks with 3^rd Australian Division (9:30pm)

All three lead tanks, H24, H25, H32 in that order, remained on the road in single file as the terrain either side of it was unsuitable for them to traverse. As they went forward a plane bombed the second tank ( at Q30c.5.5 ^(W10bAus)), destroying its unditching beam, the plane then dropped flares and the enemy opened a terrific fire on the attackers. ^(s61.p233ff) the head of the column passed La Flaques punctually at 10pm ^(W10bAus). The attack failed completely because the Germans fired on the forming up areas and thus disrupted the attack ^(s13.p210). Also the enemy commanded the road from a strong point in a derelict MK V* and thus brought heavy fire to bear on the attackers ^(W8). The infantry were stalled by the heavy fire, the tanks turned back to find them, then the 37^th AIF (who sustained 90% losses during the action) retired so the tanks followed ^(s61.p233ff). It was decided not to resume the attack and the tanks withdrew at 3:30am ^(W10bAus).

According to the Official history the Brigade commander misunderstood the intended use of the tanks and placed them in front of the infantry thus alerting the enemy who fired on the road and thus pinned down the infantry column. ^{(OH18.IV.p132)}

2Lt Jefferies was missing (his body was never found, he was last seen riding on the top of the tank with the Australian Liaison Officer ^(s61.p244). 2Lt Humphries and 3 other ranks wounded, one officer and nine other ranks wounded but remained on duty. ^(W8)

All six tanks rallied. ^(W8)

Summary

Total Tanks: 6

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy: 3

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out:

Rallied: 6

Aftermath

8^th Battalion was next in action on August 23^rd. ^(W8)

Sources

S13 – The Tank Corps (1919) Maj. Clough Williams-Ellis

OH – Official History. 1918. Volume IV

S61 – Rolling into action 1936 DE Hickey

W37aus – 37^th Australian Battalions War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.

W10bAus – 10^th Australian Brigades War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.

Amiens