13 Battalion, B Company, 4 July 1917
Hamel. 4th July 1918
13th Battalion.
B Company – OIC Major Griffin (H8)
5 section (?)
1, 9062, 2Lt Fraser AR,
2, 9087, m, 2Lt Rawlinson J
??, 9404, 2Lt Edward GA,
All tank’s section allocation a guess.
6 section
a, 9084, m, 2Lt Smith AC
b, 9081, m, 2Lt Maitland VK
c, 9142, m, 2Lt Pain A
a and b tank’s section allocation a guess.
7 Section
1, 9033, 2Lt Ward
2, 9051, 2Lt Anderson R
3, 9346, f, 2Lt Hall RH
8 Section
36, 9079, Lt McNamara C
37, 9165, 2Lt Mayo HH
3, 9386, f, 2Lt Yeo PD
Number 1 and 2 tank’s section allocation a guess.
9062 BHS with 8th battalion BHS. 9062 with B Company on 8th August.
Notes
Lt Payne is with 9124 on 8th August, not 9142
Orders
Assembly points: 2 sections in Hamelet Village and 2 sections in the Orchard (H8).
Company to support the 4th and 11th A.I. Brigades in rear of “C" Company 8th Battalion and "B" Company 8th Battalion (H8).
5 section
To support C Coy, 8th Tank Battalion, 4th Tank brigade. North of Hamel and deal with MGs east of Hamel.
To follow 250 - 300 yds behind first wave to artillery halt. Merge with first wave thence proceeded infantry to final objective and patrol there whilst infantry consolidate.
6 section (?)
Support 11th brigade. 4th Australian Division. and C Coy 8 tank Battalion.
To right of Hamel.
7 Section
Support 11th brigade. 4th Australian Division.
To proceed 300 yards behind leading wave of tanks, catch them up during artillery pause and then merge with them and proceed to final objective
8 Section
To follow in support of B Coy 8th Tank Bttalion, replacing casualties to tanks of this Coy and keeping 200 to 300 yds in rear of them until artillery barrage halt at Z+31, and then to merge with first wave, and ensure that the infantry should reach their final objective.
Crew No 3 - to investigate the banks and dugouts in the vicinity of Bottom and Neville Terraces, particularly to ascertain if there were any tunnels about.
Narrative
5 Section
9062, Engaged enemy S side of Hamel, then ditched in quarry, recovered and rallied.
9087, Attacked. Fired 13 rounds 6 pdr and 50 rounds MG ammo. Little resistance met. Towed 9142 out of action, whilst returning pulled 9084 back onto its tracks as it had fallen onto its side.
9404, Attacked on time, two Mgs surrendered without firing a shot. Formation: 3 tanks abreast on left of road, female tank in center. Eventually reached East of Hamel on rising ground, fired on enemy who went to ground, 2 Mgs crushed, one destroyed by fire, one captured. tank penetrated by AP ammo, 2 OR wounded. Tank Rallied.
6 Section
9084, Gained objective, fired 10 rounds 6 Pdr. Fell onto side and pulled back upright by 9087 whilst it was coming out of action.
9081, Silenced enemy Mgs on rise to right of Hamel with case shot. Proceeded up to top of rise and silenced two more Mgs. Covered consolidation. Rallied.
9142, Attacked, fired three 6 pdr rounds, camoflaged netting caught fire. Tank hit by shell fire and towed out of action (by 9087) to O13a Map 62d. 1 OR slightly wounded.
7 Section
9033, OIC wounded soon after start. Driver lost direction in darkness. Tank did not see any action. Rallied.
9051, To proceed 300 yds behind leading wave of tanks, catch them up during artillery pause and then merge with them and proceed to final objective. Carried out orders. Silenced 6 MGs in nest at P16b.04, killing 30 enemy with Case shot and capturing 16 more. Covered consolidation, rallied.
9346, Carried out orders, followed 250 - 300 yds behind first wave to artillery halt. Merged with first wave thence proceeded infantry to final objectives in front of Accroche Wood. Patrolled for 20 mins whilst infantry consolidated. Fired 300 rounds SAA. Rallied.
8 Section
9079 and 9165 both carried out orders, following 250 - 300 yds behind first wave to artillery halt. There Merging with first wave and thence proceeded infantry to final objective and patrolling there whilst infantry consolidated.
9079 At some point fired 28 rounds SAA and eliminated an MG at P21a central thus enabling infantries advance. 9165 Eliminated MG and crew with 6pdr fire at P61a.5.8. then likewise dealt with retiring Germans at P61b.4.8. both tanks Rallied.
9386, Carried out orders, followed 250 - 300 yds behind first wave to artillery halt; whilst doing so examined banks and dugouts in Bottom and Nivelle terraces to ascertain if a tunnel was there. No tunnel found. Crushed Mg and Crew at P20 central. proceeded along final objective past Huns Walk. Unditched tank “Midhook” (?) at about p22a. Patrolled in front of final objective whilst infantry consolidated. Rallied.
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 11
Ditched / Broke Down:
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 11
Aftermath
All tanks except 9404 were in action again on 8th August.
Sources
13 Battalion Battle History Sheets, transcripts from Bovington Tank Museum.
8 Battalion Battle History Sheets, transcripts from Bovington Tank Museum.