15 Battalion B Company 27 September 1918

Battle of the Canal du Nord. 27^th September 1918

15^th Battalion, “B” Company with 52^nd and 63^rd, VI Corp, 3^rd Army

15^th Battalion, “B” Company had 9 tanks in action on 27^th September 1918

C Company – Maj Field CNC MC

5 Section. Section Commander Captain Forster

O25, “Out to Kill”, 2Lt Roberts

O23, “O’Grady”, 2Lt Broadle

O21, “Otter”, 2Lt Hepworth

7 Section. Section Commander Captain Gibson

O24, “Orpheas III”, 2Lt Burn

O40, “Ot’ Stuff”, 2Lt Wadeson

8 Section. Section Commander Captain Hatton

O30, “Omniscient”, Lt Lloyd

O39, “Oriona”, Lt Throughgood

O36, “O’Darwina”, 2Lt White

O37, “Onslaught”, 2Lt Beckett

Notes

WD numbers from 8 Aug 1918 Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

All other information from Battalion War Diary.

Orders

5 section (3 tanks) was to operate with the 52^nd Division. It was to assist in mopping up the Hindenburg front line working southwards. Then it was to mop up the Hindenburg support line and finally make for Gaincourt.

8 section (4 tanks) was operate with the 63^rd Division. It was to assist in mopping up the Hindenburg front line working Northwards. Once lock 5 had been secured the section was to head for the Suger Factory via the Hindenburg Support Line.

7 section (2 tanks) was to operate with the 168^th brigade (number unclear). It was to cross the canal along the Hindenburg support line and then head for Anneux, its final objective.

Start time was 5.20am

Account of Operations

5 section Crossed the British front line just south of Mouvres at zero =+15. they crushed the enemies wire and dealt with portions of a trench running down to the canal. They then turned right and went down the Hindenburg line parallel to the canal, engaged I heavy fighting. The tanks all got as far as the Cambrai Road, two tanks crossed and recrossed the road (one five times) firing on the enemy. Enemy Mgs and field guns were very active, especially form Spoil bank on the eastern side of the Canal. O21 was hit early in the action but continued to fight despite every crew member being wounded. It successfully established contact between the Guards and 52^nd Divisions before it was knocked out by a third direct hit. 2Lt Hepworth was awarded the MC. O23 ditched early in the action and was hit at some point, it was unditched and continued to fight until a second hit knocked it out. O25 also fought well until it too was knocked o0ut by a direct hit. 2Lt Roberts and captain RP Forster also both received the MC. Total casualties in this section were 1 killed, 2 fatally wounded and 17 wounded of the 3 officers and 23 OR who attacked.

8 section. This section started form Sand lane, south of Moevres. O36 caught fire and was burnt out soon after starting, prior to crossing the Canal du Nord. O39 became badly ditched in a sunken road near the canal Du Nord, the crew dismounted, established a strong point and assisted the Infantry. O30 and O37 picked up their infantry in Mouvres and then crossed the canal between A and b crossing points. They got well ahead of the infantry and silenced numerous enemy Mgs in Lynx trench, at least one by crushing but most with 6pdr fire. The tanks proceeded onward to a point just north of the Sugar factory; both tanks developed mechanical trouble here (auto vac and gears) and turned back to the rally point. O30 was hit and knocked out at the rally point.

7 section. Arrived at Tadpole Copse, their start point, but couldn’t locate the infantry they were to support. At Zero +15 the Section OIOC, captain Gibson decided to attack along the prescribed route anyway. The tanks didn’t reach the canal until 6.45 am, being delayed crossing numerous trenches. Both “A” and “B” exits from the canal were now blocked, “A” crossing by a 7^th battalion tank and “B” by artillery who were moving through it. The 7^th battalion tank was towed out of the way and the two tanks proceeded to the Advanced RP via a now deserted lynx trench. At 2.15pm they assisted in mopping up Kangeroo trench and the Hindenburg Support and continued onto Anneux and Graincourt. At 4.30pm, at the infantries request and despite being low on fuel, the tanks resumed the advance towards the Marquion line with infantry they collected in E29c. They passed between Anneux and Graincourt and then engaged enemy MGs in Fontaine Notre Dammne and enemy who were moving towards the Marquion line, thus covering the infantries advance. The tanks eventually reached a point 1000 yds from Cantaing before hey withdrew east of the canal and their petrol ran out. The tanks scrounged some petrol forma KO tank and rallied on the 28^th.

Battalion casualties: 2 officers and 14 OR KIA, one Officers and two OR fatally wounded, 45 OR wounded.

Summary

Total Tanks: 9

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy: 7

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 5

Rallied: 3

Engaged enemy does not include O36 and O39.

Rallied doesn’t include O39 which had ditched early in the action, nor O30 which was KO at the rally point.

Aftermath

This was 15^th battalions last action.

Sources

Tank Names and Crew numbers from Battalion War Diary.

Other information from Battlegraph in Brigade War Diary

W15a - 15th Battalion War Diary Appendices, relevant reports and Battlegraphs – PRO WO 95-103

Canal Du Nord - 27 September to 1 October 1918