8 Battalion, C Company, 4 July 1918
Hamel. 4th July 1918
8th Battalion.
C Company – OIC Major J.A. BENNEWITH (H8)
9 section (?)
H41, 9037, 2lT DE Courcy LJ
H42, 9028, 2Lt Dunlop R
H44, 9044, Lt Murrey JJ
10 section (?)
H46, 9026, Lt McDonald J
H47, 9306, 2Lt Wilkinson GH
H48, 9011, Lt Jackson HM
11 section (?)
H50, 9416, Lt Harding TR
H51, 9310, Lt Jefferies RDG
H52, 9001, m, 2Lt Murriman W
12 section (?)
H53, 9353, 2Lt Googe JN
H57, 9128, m, Lt Harrap RE
H60, 9385, Warick W
Notes
H53 serial number number from 8th August when 2Lt Googe with 9353
H42’s 2Lt Dunlop was with 9197 on 8 Aug.
H44’s 2Lt Murrey with 9152 on 8 aug.
Orders
Assembly point: in Hamelet Village (H8)
Company to co-operate with the 44th and 43rd A.I. Battalions in the capture of HAMEL VILLAGE and the trench system on the high ground east of it (H8).
H41, H42, H44 attached to 44th battalion, 11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.
H46, H47, H48 attached 43rd battalion, 11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.
H50, H51, H52 attached 11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.
H53 attached to 44th battalion, 11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.
H57 attached 43rd battalion, 11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.
H60 attached 4th battalion, 11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.11 brigade, 4th Div AIF.
Narrative
H41, H42, H44 all attacked.
H41 broke down for 5 mins (autovac) but was repaired, then Hit and damaged. The tank turned to rally but the engine broke down. The tank didn’t fire its guns.
H42 and H44 both attacked along the North side of Hamel Wood and engaged the enemy. H42 was hit [probably by an At rifle], 2 crew were wounded and the engine damaged. H44 reached the objective but was Penetrated by AP ammo which wounded 2 Other Ranks. The tank rallied with a damaged track.
H46 and H47 both attacked and assisted the infantry in the capture of Hamel village and Notamel Wood, H46 crushed an MG in the wood and fired on some enemy troops. H47 cleared enemy form the enemy front line and then patrolled the line until the infantry came up, the tank then entered the wood and fired on an enemy MG who’s crew surrendered. Finally the tank entered Hamel village and fired on enemy therein. H46 and H47 both rallied.
H48 attacked through Hamel village via the main road but was hit and knocked out by a British shell at P10a.3.4. the tank was abandoned.
H50 and H51 both entered Hamel village and fired on suspected enemy positions. H51 entered SW corner of Hamel and patrolled South thereof, crushed one MG, fired on some enemy in a trench who surrendered, fired on retreating enemy. Both tanks rallied.
H52 suffered a Direct hit and was disabled (track broken) just before German front line. Did not fire its guns. Tank abandoned Photographed missing track near Hamel (X42.p132) and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3460834800/in/set-72157601074581465/
H53 and H57 both started on time. H53 went to S of Hamel village and sprayed houses and ground to front with MG fire whilst waiting for the barrage to lift. Proceeded to final objective, firing into a trench and compelling more Germans to surrender. Rallied. Whilst returning to rally unditched another tank.
H57 silenced two MGs in the village at P10c.1.5. with 6pdr fire. Entered destroyed and burning village immediately after barrage lifted. Ran over two abandoned MGs and an abandoned TM. Patrolled ridge to East of the village then rallied.
H60 Started 19 minutes late due to Autovac trouble, and was then hit and disabled (right track broken) at P9b.1.6. and was handed to salvage. The tank didn’t fire its guns.
Summary
Total Tanks: 12
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 9
Ditched / Broke Down:
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 9
Rallied includes H44 which was damaged.
Aftermath
The following tanks were in action on August 8th with the indicated OIC
9026, Lt MacDonald
9128, Lt Harrap RE
9306, 2Lt Wilkinson GH
9310, Lt Jackson FH
9353, 2Lt Goodge JN
9385, Sgt Sherwood F
9416, Sgt McLennan SC
9152 was handed form C Coy to salvage on 14th August, though it isn’t listed as a fighting tank on the Amiens Battlegraphs, it was possibly a spare tank on 8th August
9001 must have been handed to Central Workshops as it was converted to a Tadpole tail tank (the only Mk V male to be so converted).
Source Central Workshops War Diary and photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937584142/in/set-72157601074581465/ .
The following tanks are not recorded again
9011, 9028, 9037
Sources
8 Battalion Battle History Sheets, transcripts from Bovington Tank Museum.