11 Battalion. 29 September 1918

Battle of the Canal du Nord. 29^th September 1918

11^th Tank Battalion, with 33^rd and 21^st Divisions, V Corp, 3^rd Army ^(OH)

11^th tanks Battalion was with 3^rd tank Brigade ^(H11)

11^th Battalion had 7 fighting tanks in action on 29^th September 1918 ^(H11)

B Company

7 tanks

Lt Miller

The following tanks were handed to 14^th Battalion on the 25^th September, 2 of these came from “A” company; some (possibly all) of these were returned to 11^th battalion in early October

9572, 9584, 9863, 9559, 9561.

Notes

The battalion had Mark V* tanks ^(H11)

Orders

3^rd Division’s 98^th brigade were to advance down the valley towards Villers Guislain at 3:30am; they were to come up level with 100^th brigade by 5;30am when both brigades were to attack together; ^{(OH) t}hree tanks were to support this attack. Zero hour 03:30 hrs ^(H11)

21^st Division’s attack on Gonnelieu, ^(H11) was supported by four tanks, two each with the 62^nd and 110^th brigades. ^(OH)

Zero hour was also 03:30 hrs ^(H11)

Account of Operations

33^rd Division’s tanks: One tank broke down and withdrew early on. Lt Millers tank was to go around the west of Villers Guislin, it was surrounded by enemy infantry and disabled either by a landmine or by bombs put under the track. All the crew were captured, the OIC and a corporal (Morgan) later escaping and returning to British lines. The third tank was hit and knocked out in the village. ^(H11) there was a ground mist in the valley and the moonlight was very faint. One tank helped the infantry capture Villers guislian and the trench to the south; enemy counter attacks recaptured some ground and the 98^th Brigade was pulled back to the start line in the evening to prevent it being encircled. ^(OH)

Casualties were 1 officer killed (Not found in CWG), 6 other ranks wounded. ^(H11)

21^st Division’s tanks: the 63^rd Brigade’s attack did not go well, one battalion started late and missed the barrage, another reached a position south of Gonnelieu but had to withdraw for fear of being encircled. ^(OH) One tank broke a track early on, the other entered Gonnelieu where it was knocked out ^(OH) or ditched in the German front line, the crew were all captured before the infantry came up. ^(H11)

The official history does not mention the other two tanks that were allocated to 110^th brigade, but the brigades attack was quickly stalled, the only advance being of 500yds by a single company. ^(OH) The two tanks were presumably those that had petrol trouble, and that which was blown up when it ran over a landmine in an uncharted British mine field. ^(H11)

The tanks operated on a very wide front, only 1or 2 tanks per battalion of infantry, thus their moral effect was very diminished. ^(H11)

Casualties: 5 other ranks killed, 2 other ranks wounded; 10 other ranks missing. ^(H11)

Summary

Total Tanks: 7

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 4

Hit and Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 0

Note

Rallied does not include the ditched or broke down tanks some of which probably rallied.

Aftermath

2 other ranks were wounded conducting salvage operations on the 30^th September.

11^th Battalion was next in action on 8^th October.

Sources

H11 – 11^th Tank Battalion’s War History, PRO WO 95 / 100.

OH – Official History. 1918. Volume V. Pg.116 and pg.117

Canal Du Nord - 27 September to 1 October (3rd Army)