11 Battalion. 29 September 1918
Battle of the Canal du Nord. 29th September 1918
11th Tank Battalion, with 33rd and 21st Divisions, V Corp, 3rd Army (OH)
11th tanks Battalion was with 3rd tank Brigade (H11)
11th Battalion had 7 fighting tanks in action on 29th September 1918 (H11)
B Company
7 tanks
Lt Miller
The following tanks were handed to 14th Battalion on the 25th September, 2 of these came from “A” company; some (possibly all) of these were returned to 11th battalion in early October
9572, 9584, 9863, 9559, 9561.
Notes
The battalion had Mark V* tanks (H11)
Orders
3rd Division’s 98th brigade were to advance down the valley towards Villers Guislain at 3:30am; they were to come up level with 100th brigade by 5;30am when both brigades were to attack together; (OH) three tanks were to support this attack. Zero hour 03:30 hrs (H11)
21st Division’s attack on Gonnelieu, (H11) was supported by four tanks, two each with the 62nd and 110th brigades. (OH)
Zero hour was also 03:30 hrs (H11)
Account of Operations
33rd 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 98th 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)
21st Division’s tanks: the 63rd 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 110th 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 30th September.
11th Battalion was next in action on 8th October.
Sources
H11 – 11th Tank Battalion’s War History, PRO WO 95 / 100.
OH – Official History. 1918. Volume V. Pg.116 and pg.117