13 Battalion 3 October 1918

The Tanks at Canal St Quentin. 3^rd October 1918

13 Battalion with 5^th Brigade, 3^rd Australian Division, IX Corp, 4^th Army

13 Battalion had 8 tanks in action on 3^rd October 1918 ^(H13a)

Composite Company – Maj. Maurice RFG ^(H13a)

1 section – Capt Baker

2Lt Smith AE

Sgt Rogers FC

And 2 other tanks

2 section – Capt Fletcher

4 tanks

Possibly: 9183, "Molly"

2Lt Childs

"Mudhook", 2Lt Martin RT

Other possible tanks:

9140, "Mammoth"

9057, "Mudlark"

9181, Myooney"

Note

Mudhook's name and OIC from AOH p 1023

Other Tank numbers and names from 2Lt Seddons' salvage notepad ^(W13Bv)

Orders

8 tanks of 13th Battalion and 6 whippets of 3^rd Battalion allocated to 5^th Australian Brigade. ^(H13a)

Tanks to start from Estress village and trek 8000yds to the start line. ^(H13a)

Account of Operations

Five tanks ditched or broke down on the approach, two of these, both from 2 section, failed to make the start line. Possibly 9183 and one other.

Six tanks attacked and caught up with the infantry, the right flank was held up by fire from Estrees, which was supposed to be in Allied hands.

A tank of 1 section dealt with this fire, being led by Capt Baker on foot. The remaining five tanks all reached the Beuarevoir trench system and established their infantry there. ^(H13a)

Sgt Rogers tank suppressed the enemy in his objective, the White House Fort, but was then hit and knocked out; the crew joined the infantry and completed suppressing the fort. ^(H13a)

To the right 2Lt Smith attacked Waincourt village which was defended by enemy MGs and anti tank rifles, the tanks driver and observer were both shot through the head and the tank penetrated in more than 20 places. Lt Smith managed to suppress the villages garrison and silence the AT rifles, thus the infantry were able to advance and capture the village. ^(H13a)

2 section on the left took the first objective then advanced on and suppressed Lamotte farm. 2Lt Child’s tank then headed North and silenced the enemy entrenched along the bank of the Torrens Canal, the tank was bombed and knocked out here, the crew bailing out into a trench full of enemy soldiers, all of whom were killed or captured. 2Lt Martin went west of Lamotte farm, the whole crew were overcome by fumes so the OIC drove the tank back and rallied. The Australians were still in need of help, 2Lt Martin and one recovered crewman were joined by two Australians and the four men took the tank back into action silencing all enemy resistance. ^(H13a)

3 tanks were knocked out, ^(H13a) presumably 9057, 9140 and 9181 ^(W13Bv). 3 rallied and were joined by the 2 tanks that failed to make the start line. 5 Other Ranks were killed, 6 other ranks wounded. ^(H13a) 2Lt Walker A and 1 other rank were wounded but remained on duty. ^(H13a)

Summary

Intended: 8

Reserve: 0

At Start: 6

Started: 6

Engaged enemy: 6

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 3

Notes:

Rallied doesn't include the 2 tanks that failed to start.

Aftermath

This was 13^th battalion’s last action. ^(H13a)

"Mudhook" no further record.

9140, "Mammoth"; 9057, "Mudlark"; 9181, Myooney" all salvaged by 2Lt Seddon on and after 7 Oct 1918 ^(W13Bv)

9183, "Molly" 2Lt Seddon recovered a Sponson door and gave it to this tank which was ditched on the Bellicourt road. ^(W13Bv)

9023, 9131, 9135, 9097, 9165, 9051, 9124, 9033, 9079, 9386, 9346, 9014, 9388, 9188, 9055 all possibly still operative.

Sources

OHA - Official History of Australia in the Great War of 1914-1918

W13a – War Diary of the 13^th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95/115

W13Bv - 13th Battalion Records, Bovington Tank Museum, E2007.12298, Salvage notebook of 2Lt Seddon

H13a – History of the 13^th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95/115

W25 - 5^th Tank brigade War Diary. In PRO WO 95/112 – no records found in authors photographs.

Beaurevoir Line - 3 to 5 October 1918