4 Battalion. 5 October 1918
Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, 5th October 1918
4th Battalion with 25th Division, XIII Corps (OH)
Under revision, yellow information in note form only
4th Battalion had 8 fighting tanks in action on 5th October 1918.
Commanding Officer Major Baird HS (H4)
9066, 2Lt ??? [illegible]
9085, 2Lt Murrell
9096, 2lt Cain W
9107, 2Lt Compte, EJ
9145, 2lt Miller H
9182, 2Lt Boulter
9326, 2Lt Gill GH
9440, 2Lt Nicholls
Note
All details from BHS
A wireless tank was also in operation.
Orders
No written orders were issued as the attack was only arranged the night before it commenced.
Three tanks were allocated to 74th brigade and three to 7th brigade; they were to assist in the capture of the village of Beaurevoir. (W4a) (H4)
The 25th Division was to secure the line Geneve, Pochaux-la, Sablonniere- Guisancourt Farm; including the capture of Beurevoir. Eight tanks were to support the attack, four were to clear Bellevue Farm then attack Beaurevoir from the west or north, the other four tanks were to move along the Torrens Canal then enter the village from the south. The tanks were to co-operate with the infantry but also but operate independently, not waiting for them. (OH)
9085, Orders: To go Bellevue Farm and mop it up once barrage lifted, thence to high ground NW of Beurevoir and then mop up Beurevoir village.
9145 Orders : Attack Bellevue Farm then Beurevoir Ridge, B4 central.
9182, Ord; to go round S end of Beurevoir and assist infantry in taking high ground to the E, if Necessary go into village for a short dist.
9096, Orders: Southern outskirts of Beurevoir.
9107 Orders: to assist infantry in capturing Beurevoir and high ground NE of village.
Account of operations
As it was very dark tanks often had to be recovered after ditching in shellholes. 2 tanks broke down en route to the starting point, one shed a track,and the other suffered mechanical trouble (W4a) (H4) ; 9440 broke down at f29a.8.5 and was abandoned, 9066 broke down but was repaired and rallied (BHS). The 6 surviving tanks failed to reach the start point and actually started form Jill Copse (or Gill Copse (B19d (H4) ) at Zero-10 mins (W4a) (H4)
Northern Section
The barrage lifted from Belle Vue Farm to the north of the village at Zero +10 minutes, 2 tanks assisted in capturing this farm, dealing with strong enemy resistance and silencing at least one enemy MG. (W4a) (H4)
9085, SP B20pc.40.10, started at Zero 06:00, followed track to Torrens Canal and crossed same. Went up hill in b15a to Beurevoir Mill which was no longer occupied by the enemy. Advanced on Bellevue Farm and cleared enemy out of same. Headed for Beurevoir and silenced and MG in house at B9c.2.2. Patrolled high ground to NW whilst waiting for barrage to lift. Once barrage lifted (Z + 80mins) entered town from NW, B9b, under extremely heavy MG fire, patrolled Western outskirts of the town dealing with enemy MG. Developed auto vac trouble so returned via track in B9d a, silencing enemy Mg en-route. Returned and rallied. One crewman wounded. Fired 98 6pdr and 1264 SAA
9145, Started from Mushroom Quarry at 5:56am. Went East up valley but went a bit too far, reached La Motte Farm and then steered north. Passed Beurevoir Mill and then, whilst under heavy German barrage, attacked and destroyed MG in corner of Bellevue Farm. Went NE, silenced enemy MG firing on front left of tank. Time now 6:30am, infantry now in advance of ridge, tank cruised along western side then rallied. Fired seven 6 pdr and 30 rounds SAA.
These two tanks then turned towards the village and silenced an enemy MG in a building at B9c.2.2. As the village was still under bombardment one tank, commanded by Lt Cain, a Manxman (H4), maneuvered around the north and the other (Lt Boulter, S(H4)) entered the village by the road in B9b. Many enemy MGs were silenced in the village. The infantry gained the high ground but did not attempt to enter the village from the north. (W4a) (H4)
9182, Started Zero +10 went round S end of village, silenced some MG at b10c.0.3 at inf (manchesters) request. Went into village, returned to fetch infantry. Then ordered by my Company commander, Maj. Baird to go with infantry as far into village as poss. Went into village along road in B16a, twice turned back to get infantry. Went almost to crossroads B10c.4.7 returned to find infantry lining north railway bank on the road. At infantry’s request silenced an MG on railway bank a short way to the east. Right track broke B16a7.8. fired into village then abandoned tank and retired to British infantry. Fired 200 rounds 6pdr, 1000 rounds SAA
9096, Broke down ??) and reached Mushroom Quarry b20a.5.8 at 7:30am. Then advanced on Beaurevoir via the South East slopes of Beurevoir Mill hill. Advanced with infantry then turned and advanced on Beurevoir railway station, firing on small groups of fleeing enemy infantry whilst doing so. Entered village and went down road from NW to SE meeting no opposition but fired Armour Piercing rounds into houses on either side of the road. Returned to rally, broke down at A30a.3.6. Fired 40 armour piercing rounds, 20 case shot and 150 rounds SAA.
The third tank of the Northern section was pierced by AP ammo and had three crewmen wounded whilst it was dealing with numerous enemy MGs at the railway to the West of the village. (W4a) (H4)
Southern section
The tanks approached via the Torrens Canal, two tanks dealing with many of the enemy who were stubbornly defending here ) . One tank ditched at B15d.5.7. (W4a) (H4) presumably 9326 which broke down at B15d.9.8 (BHS). The remaining two tanks advanced around the station and into the village, one tank reached the church. The infantry had stopped at the railway line so the tanks returned to bring them on and then re entered the village, noticing deadenemy MG gunners lying about their guns. The infantry still refused to advance further than the railway do the tanks rallied at their RP: A28c.2.3 (BHS)
9107, Advanced. Tank went round village, firing on enemy MGs in village on right flank. Several silenced including one behind a wall in N of village. Went to NW of village, firing on enemy. Rallied. 29 6dr. 300 SAA
The Wireless tank proved useful even though it broke down at A27 central..
The tanks helped the infantry gain a little ground, including Bellevue Farm and part of the Beaurevoir-Guisancourt Farm road; all the gains were lost however when the fog lifted. Five tanks (sic), having advanced along the Torrens canal, entered Beaurevoir from the south and enagaged the enemy. The infantry did not follow, one tank was lost. (OH)
Summary
Total Tanks: 8
Failed to Start: 2
Engaged enemy: 6
Ditched / Broke Down: 3
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 4
Note: One of the broken down tanks is listed as having a broken track and being inaccessible.
The ditched tank was eventually Unditched and was fit for further action.
Aftermath
9326 railed on the evening of the 6th (BHS)
Five tanks were fit for action following this action. 6 more were taken over from 6th and 13th battalions.
4th battalion was in action again on 9th October 1918.
9066, 9107 and 9326 all in action again with 4th Battalion on the 9th October (WMH)
9085 - with Red Russians in 1920 (S63.p41)
9145 and 9440 both in action with 10th battalion on 23rd October (W10a)
9182 - From Central Workshops to Advanced stores in March 1918 (CW)
9096 - no further record
Sources
W4a - 4th Tank Battalion. Report on action of eight tanks with 25th Division at Beaurevoir. October 5th 1918 - PRO WO 95-110
BHS - Battle History Sheets of tanks in Imperial War Museum, Hemshall Papers IWM 73 / 126 / 1
H4 – History of the 4th Tank Battalion - Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.
OH - Official History, 1918, Vol 4. Pg.175f
Beaurevoir Line - 3 to 5 October 1918