8 Battalion, B Company, 4 July 1918
Hamel. 4th July 1918
8th Battalion.
B Company - OIC Major G.A. GROUNDS, D.S.O.,
5 Section
H21, 9030, Sgt Sibbaild A
H22, 9008, 2Lt Browns ML
H23, 9315, 2Lt Sutherland AA
H30, 9058, Lt Hodges HR, , , ,
6 Section - Capt jones
H24, 9007, Lt Caffrey JM
H25, 9319, 2Lt Humphreys HW
H27, 9044, m, 2Lt Etherton GH
7 Section
H28, 9292, f, 2Lt Draper CT
H29, 9308, 2Lt Hadley SN
H33, 9183, 2Lt Jeavons CG
8 Section – Section Commander Lt Glanville
H31, 9419, 2Lt Lewis Williams J
H32, 9372, 2Lt Few CE
Notes
H22 WD number based on 8th August records when 2Lt Brown in charge of 9008
Capt jones was the section commander of H25’s section, possibly 6 section
Orders
Assembly point: in an orchard adjoining the southern boundary of Fouilloy Chateau Grounds (H8)
Company to co-operate with the 13th, 15th and 16th A.I. Battalions in the capture of VAIRE and HAMEL WOODS and up to the edge of ACCROCHE WOOD (H8).
H21, H22 - D Coy, 16 Bn, 2 S Div, 4th Aus .
H23 - BV and D Coys, 4th Div 4th Bde.
H30 - D Coy, 15th bttn AIF, 4 AIF, 4 Bde.
H24, H25, H32 - 16 bttn, 4 bde, 4 Aus Div.
H27 - 13th AIF, 4 Div, 4 bde.
H28 - 13th AIF, 4 Div, 4 bde.
H29 - 4 AIF, 4 bde.
H33 - 13 Bttn, 4 Div, 4 Bde AIF.
H31 - 4 AIF, 4 Bde.
H32 - 16th Bttn AIF, 2 Div, 4 Bde.
Narrative
H21 Ran over and crushed possibly abandoned MGs in Vaire trench (p14b.7.3.) the tank then drove through Vaire Wood and reached the objective meeting H23 and H25 before returning to rallly point. The tank did not fire its guns.
H23 silenced 2 MGs and ran over a trench mortar all in Vaire Trench. Reached objective. Rallied.
H22 Attacked, crushed one MG and fired on another. The tank Reached objective and rallied.
H24 and H25 both Attacked and reached their objectives and rallied but did not fire on the enemy. Reached objective. Rallied.
H27 crushed the enemy trench system at P20b.3.2. then suffered a Direct hit and was KO at P21a central. The Australian private who was acting as liaison in tank was KIA and 4 Other ranks were wounded and one was missing. The tank locked and abandoned.
H28, Passed Vaire Wood and raked it with MG fire from left sponson. Saw H27 KO and moved left to close gap with13 battalion.
H29, Started late, engaged enemy. Rallied.
H30, Attacked. Engaged enemy. Everything went according to plan. Rallied.
H31, Attacked. Did not fire guns. One enemy MG surrendered in approach of tank. Rallied.
H32, Attacked, 2 MG crews fled on approach of tank, captured MGs. Broke down at P20b.15.60, towed to P14b.
H33, Attacked. Crushed MG at P20 central , thence round Vaire Wood to Huns Walk where another MG was crushed. Crushed more enemy along Huns Walk Trench thence to rally point.
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 12
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 10
Engaged enemy includes tanks that did not fire their guns but crushed enemy defenses or to which enemy surrendered.
Broke down is H32 which was towed to the rally point (not included in rallied total).
Aftermath
The following tanks were in action on August 8th with the indicated OICS
9007, 2Lt Jefferies SS
9008, 2Lt Browne ML
9030, Sgt Mitchell AJ
9058, Lt Hodges HR
9183, 2Lt Jeavons CG
9292, 2Lt Draper CT
9315, 2Lt Sunderland AA
9308, 2Lt Hadley SN
9319, 2Lt Humphreys HW
9372, 2Lt Few CE
9419, 2Lt Williams AJ
9044 joined 8th Battalions C Company on 17th September 1918.
Sources
8 Battalion Battle History Sheets, transcripts from Bovington Tank Museum.