12 Battalion. 3 September 1918

The battle of Drocourt Queant. 3^rd September 1918

12^th Battalion with 2^nd Division, VI Corp, 3^rd Army ^(OH)

“A” company, 12^th Battalion, had 3 tanks in action on 3^rd September 1918

“A” company - Capt Inglis HT DSO

3 tanks

Note

The following tanks were probably still with "A" company on this date:

L1, 4554, "Ladybird"; L11, 8021, "Liaison"; L7, 8034, "Looter"; L12, 8103, "Lochiel"; L18, 2713, "Lioness"; L2, 2802, "Leader"; L6, 4510, "Lily"; L13, 4565, "Love"; L14, 2621, "Lassie".

Orders

3 tanks of “A” company were to support 2^nd Divisions attack on Morchies and Maricourt. A fourth tank remained in reserve. ^(H12)

Zero was at 5:20am ^(H12)

The tanks were driven most of the way forward by spare crews the fighting crews only driving the last 2000 yds. (W12a)

Account of Operations

Three tanks attacked with the 6^th and 99^th brigades at zero; only scattered MG fire and little opposition was encountered the enemy having withdrawn to the Canal Du Nord; some small groups remained behind in dugouts and surrendered. The tanks patrolled around Maricourt Wood and Morchies for some time, the Whippets then went through in pursuit and the heavies rallied. One man was wounded during the approach march as the enemy guns fired a last few salvos before withdrawing. ^(H12)

Summary

Total Tanks: 3

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 3

Aftermath

L6, L7, L11 and L12 were all in action on 8^th October 1918

Sources

W12 - War Diary of 12^th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

H12 - War History of 12^th Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum

OH – Official History, 1918 Vol IV. Pg.419

Drocourt / Queant - 2 to 3 September (1st Army)