7 Battalion 28 September 1918

The Canal du Nord. 28^th September 1918

7^th Battalion with 7^th Canadian Brigade, 3^rd Division, Canadian Corp, 1st Army ^{(H7) (OH)}

7^th Battalion had 8 MKIV tanks in action on 28^th September 1918 ^(H7)

B Company – Maj Rossi – Ashton CG

8 tanks

2Lt Duncan WB MC

Notes:

One of 2 reserve tanks commanded by 2Lt Duncan WB MC

Maj Rossi – Ashton CG was in command of the company on the 27^th August he may not have been in charge on the 28^th.

Orders

To support the 7^{th (H7)} and 9^{th (OH)} CIF brigades in attacking from North East of Bourlon Wood to capture the ^(H7) remainder of ^(W7) the Marcoing Line, 2500yds to the East ^(H7) and Fontaine Notre Damne. ^(OH). 7^thBrigade on the left, 9^th on the right ^(W52can) 6 tanks to attack, 2 to be held in reserve. Objectives 1st: Marcoign Line in F5 and F11, 2nd: the Main Arras – Cambrai Road between Raillencourt and St Olle. Tanks to start from F8b and F8d at Zero hour, 6am. ^(W7) The Royal Canadian Regt, 7^th CIF Brigade was to be led by 3 tanks; the 9^th CIF brigade by 4 tanks ^(OH) The PPCLI were to support the RCR, the 42^nd CIF Battalion was in reserve ^(WRCR) the 43rd CIF Battalion was to lead the attack of the 9^th Brigade, the 52^nd CIF Battalion in support were to pass through and capture the village of St Olle and the bridgeheads over the canal in A4 and A9b. 2 tanks were to support each battalion ^(W52can)

Infantry Brigade composition:

7^th CIF Brigade: Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR); Princess Patricia’s Canadian light infantry (PPCLI); 42^nd Royal Highlanders (Montreal), the Black Watch; 49^th (Edmonton). ^{(s15.p27) (S33.p24)}

9^th CIF Brigade: 43^rd (Winnipeg, Cameroon Highlanders of Canada); 52^nd (Port Arthur, New Ontario,); 58^th (Brantford, Central Ontario); 16^th battalion (Nova Scotia, Ontario County) ^{(s15.p27) (S33.p24)}

Account of Operations

6 tanks started forward at zero and led infantry to the Marcoing Line, encountering heavy fire en-route and crushing enemy MGs. One tank moved towards the northern edge of Raillencourt and silenced MGs firing from there. ^(W7) The 43^rd CIF Battalion, 9^th CIF Brigade captured Fontaine Notre Damne but the left of the attack ^(w43can) was stopped short of the Marcoing line by heavy MG fire, a further attack at 4pm failed to capture the line. ^(OH) Neither the 43^rd or 52^nd CIF Battalions’ accounts mention tanks. ^{(W43can) (W52can)} The RCR were also held up by fire and a thick belt of wire but eventually captured the front trench of the Marcoing line by 12:30pm. ^(OH) The four (sic) tanks sent to assist them worked too far to the right, one was knocked out by MG fire, the other three came forward to assist the RCR but all were knocked out by MG fire and a gun firing from the right of St Olle. ^(WRCR) The 7^th Tank Battlion’s war history claims all eight tanks reached the Marcoing line. Four went beyond to the Arras – Cambrai Road between Raillecourt and St Olle. This appears to be mistaken.^(H7) Infantry rallied and the tanks then rallied at E10b. One officer and 4 other ranks were wounded. ^(W7)

In the report of operations the RCR suggested Whippets would have been of more use in the fighting at ST Olle than the “Useless” Mk IV or V”

At 5:30pm the two reserve tanks were committed without infantry support, they left F3 central and proceeded to the main Cambrai – Arras road in F5a and F5b, firing on the enemy with their MGs as they moved forward. The tanks then patrolled but saw no enemy; they rallied at E10b in the gathering darkness where they were bombed and strafed by enemy aircraft. The infantry attacked at 7pm ^{(W7) (H7)}

Summary

Total Tanks: 6

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out: 4

Rallied: 6

Note:

Aftermath

7^th Battalion was next in action on the 30^th September 1918

Sources

H7 – 7^th Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum

W7– 7^th Battalion’s War Diary - Report on action of B Company 28^th September 1918

Report on Minor action by 2 tanks of B Company 28^th September 1918

Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum

OH – Official History 1918 Vol V. Pg.54

WRCR – War Diary of the Royal Canadian Regiment – available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp

W43can – War Diary of the 43^rd Canadian Battalion – available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp

W52can – War Diary of the 52^nd Canadian Battalion– available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp

Canal Du Nord - 27 September to 1 October 1918