8 and 16 Battalion 3 October 1918
Battle of the Beaurevoir Line. 3rd October 1918
8th and 16th Battalions, with 7th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, Australian Corps, 4th Army (OH)
Composite company of 8th and 16th Battalions had 10 tanks in action on 3rd October 1918 (H16) (W8)
Composite Company – Col Lipton (13th Tank Battalion)
Major Clivley of the (16th Battalion). (H8)
16th Battalion section – Capt Hall JS
4 Section
Sgt West water W
Sgt Cole HC
Cpl Redfern FA
8 battalion section – 6 tanks - Capt Rodgerson A MC (H8)
2Lt Hutchinson D.C.M.
Plus 5 more tanks.
Notes:
Tanks 9002, 9150, 9017, 9327, 9172 and 9599 were all handed over to 2nd Brigade on 31st December (W16), some may have fought in the above action.
9038 had joined C Company on17 September 18 W8
Orders
16 Mk V and 8 Whippets were to support the 2nd Australian Division’s attack on the Beaurevoir Trench System, and the villages of Beaurevoir and Ponchaux and Wiancourt and the high ground close to Prospcct Hll. (H8)
To cross the Toreens canal, capture Grandecourt and Prospect hill and mop up the Beaurevoir line en route.
8 tanks of the 13th Battalion and 8 Whippets of the 3rd Battalion were allotted to the 5th AIF Brigade. (H8) five with 25th battalion on the right, three with 27th battalion on the left (W27aus)
6 tanks of the 8th Battalion and two tanks of 16th Battalion were to support the 7th AIF Brigade (H8)
all Mk V tanks were under the command of Lt Col Lyon P. (H8)
Lying up places W. and N.W. of ESTREES. (H8)
Account of Operations
8th battalion’s tanks started out at 7:45pm on the 2nd October. Five tanks broke down, three of these ditched as they were unable to use the heavily congested roads and thus had to cross the heavily shelled Hindenburg system (H8) and failed to get into action. (H8). One tank from 16th Battalion also ditching on the way forward (W16a) The Official history says only 8 tanks were allocated, of which 3 arrived. (OH)
4 tanks attacked, 3 from 16th Battalion (H16a) and of 2Lt Hutchinson’s tank from 8th battalion (H8). They started late but 3 caught up the Australians at the Beaurevoir Line and helped them deal with the outposts and thus capture the trench line by 8am. (OH) 2 tanks assisted 25th Battalion and then stayed with it, one later capsized and caught fire about B14a.6.9; the other retired with the infantry to mushroom Quarry. The tank crew being exhausted the Australians volunteered, the tank thus went back into action with the Tank Corps officer and driver and a scratch crew of gunners. The intention was to deal with some Mgs in B15c.3.1 which were firing into the rear of 5th AIF Brigade. The tank received a direct hit right through the tank which knocked it out. (W25aus)
2Lt Hutchinson’s tank did good work around Lormussette but eventually ran out of oil. The tank crew formed and MG post and held out until relieved by the 6th Inniskilling Fusiliers. Oil was obtained form a broken down tank but heavy shell fire prevented the recovery of 2Lt Hutchinson’s tank until the night of the 3rd. (H8)
The attack was successful but he line had to be withdrawn back to the start point due to the failure of the attack on the left (H16a).
2 tanks rallied in the evening (OH), 2Lt Hutchinson’s (H8) and one from 16th Battalion (H16a).
No mention of tanks is made in the brief account of operations in 27th battalions war diary (W27aus) it seems likely they failed to arrive.
Summary
Total Tanks: 10
Failed to Start: 6
Engaged enemy: 4
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 2
Note:
Aftermath
9038 was possibly involved in this attack and was photographed ditched in the Hindenburg line:
X9.p17, http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3436139994/in/set-72157601074581465/
8th Battalion’s last action. 4 tanks handed to 16th Battalion on the 4th October, 3 tanks to 4th Battalion on the 6th October. (W8)
16th Battalion was next in action on the 5th October 1918
Sources
W8 – 8th Tank Battalion’s War Diary, Transcript form Bovington tank Museum.
W16a – 16st Battalion’s War diary in PRO WO 95- 115
H8 - 8th Tank Battalion’s War History, Transcript form Bovington tank Museum.
H16a – 16st Battalion’s War History in PRO WO 95- 115
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol 5 pg 163
W25Aus – War Diary 25 Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W27Aus – War Diary 27 Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.