10 Battalion OB. March 1918

10 Tank Battalion OB. March 1918

Background

31^st Dec 1917 – tanks taken over from "A" Battalion ^(H1)

7^th January 1918 – 21 tanks (Cambrai veterans) taken over from 4^th Battalion ^(H10)

This is presumably an error, 21 being the total number of tanks on strength, including those received from "A" Battalion.

15^th February – 4 Tank tenders arrived ^(H10)

16^th February – 4 fighting tanks arrived ^(H10)

28^th February 1918 – 11 tanks taken over from 9^th Battalion ^(H10)

36 fighting tanks and 4 tenders on charge ^(H10)

5^th March 1918 – four fighting tanks left at Bray with driving school ^(H10)

Three of these were presumably J13 (m), J17 (m) and J30 (f), all of which were photographed after capture but are not listed as being with the battalion in March.

J13 and J17 both photographed in German hands: X74.p39 and X75.p174.

J30 was photographed liberated by the Australians after being captured by the German 2^nd Army http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3037402575/in/set-72157601074582281/

10 Battalion had 36 tanks on strength on 21^st March 1918.

"A" Company

1 Section

J5, 8082, m, "Joshua" with "A" Battalion at Cambrai

J7, 2821, "Jehu" with "E" Battalion at Cambrai

J8, 4685, "Jezabel" no prior record

2 section

J6, 2857, "Job"

J9, "Jonathan"

3 Section:

J2, "Jacob",

J10, "Judith",

section allocation unknown.

J3, “Jemima”

J11, “Jesse”,

J12, f, "Jericho"

JS1

JS2, 6032 no prior record

"B" Company ^(W10a)

J14 "Judge Jeffries"

J15

J16

J18

J19

J20, 2639 no prior record

J21, 2830, "Jingle", no prior record

J22

J23

JS3

JS4

"C" Company

J4, "Jael"

J25, 2023, "Jellico" with "A" Battalion at Cambrai

J26, "Jutland"

J27, ”Jewel”, 2LtHarper T no prior record

J29, 8078 , "Jade" with "A" Battalion at Cambrai

J31, "Juggler"

J32, 2854, "Jumping Jimmy" with "A" Battalion at Cambrai

J33, 2356, "Jock" no prior record

J35, "Jester"

J36, "Julia", Lt Dick JA

JS5

JS6

15 tanks were lost between 21^stand 28^th March 1918: J5, J3, J2, J10, J11, J12, JS1, JS3, J21, J14, J16, JS5, J27, J35 and J31 ^(W10a)

Notes

All names except J14 and J21 from Appendix 3 of War Diary ^(W10a).

J14’s name from two photos the Author is unable to reference which appear to show the same tank, one photo with name “Judge Jefferys” and the other with number J14. “Judge Jefferies” (sic) is also mentioned by Ernst Junger (Storm of Steel, P.261, Penguin, 2004) as being in the vicinity of the railway embankment near Achiet-le-Grand; he states it displayed a gallows with a noose hanging from it, though this isn't visible on either photograph.

J21 name from several photographs: : http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3006883274/in/set-72157601074582281/

J7 is mistakenly given the name "Joshua" on one of the Appendix 3 records, "Joshua" is confirmed as J5 by a photograph Courtesy of Gwyn Evans.

The same photograph shows J5 displaying the letter and numbers A 3 9 45 which the author believes indicate the tank was formally with "A" Battalion, 3 Company, 9 Section tank 45; this would make the tank 8082 which was "Astica" at Cambrai.

The serials of J8, J20, J25, J29, J32 and J33 are from the War Diary Transcript ^(W10); they are given for the 13^th April and thus may be different tanks on March 1^st.

The serial of J7 is taken from the War Diary entry for 23^rd June, the original J7 survived the March actions and thus may have still been with the battalion in June. The other tanks listed on the 23^rd June are all presumably replacements as tanks with their numbers did not survive the March actions.

The serial of J6 is taken form the undated list of "A" Company tanks in Bovington on which 2857 is with crew 6, the original J6 survived the March actions and thus may have still been with the battalion in June. Like 8082 (J7) 2857 had been with "A" Battalion at Cambrai.

J12 photographed next to a railway line on a postcard with German writing indicating the tank was at Favreuil (which is near Bapaume) .(E Bay item). The tank also appears in the same location in a second photograph taken from the opposite (starboatrd0 side (photo courtesy of Gwyn Evans). The tanks name is on the front Glacis on the second photo. On both photos the tanks Battalion number is on the side of the front horns. Above the Battalion number is a darker patch which is probably covering the tank's former name, on the right side the patch is larger and possibly also covers the tanks old battalion number.

J32, 2854 possibly named "Jumping Jennie" which was photographed derelict in a trench near Gommecourt with New Zealand troops on 10 August 2018:

1/2-013484-G

https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/troops-and-tank-france-1918\\

10 Tank Battalion OB. April / May / June 1918

10 Battalion took over 24 tanks from central workshops on 4^th April. They trekked to La Bazeque Wood and were camouflaged. ^(W10)

"A" Company - Maj JA Robinson MC^(W10Bv) Last known battalion

1 sect - Capt Murphy WR

2810, f, 2Lt Hart, Crew No 1 with "E" Battalion at 3rd Ypres

8030 , m. 2lt Hamilton, Crew No 2 no prior record

2694, f, 2Lt Linden, Crew No 3 with "B" Battalion at Messines

2 section - Capt FJ Lambert

2857 (or 2657), f, Lt Taylor, Crew No 6 with "A" Battalion at Cambrai

8109, m, 2Lt Champenney, Crew No 8 no prior record

4083, m, 2Lt Collins, Crew No 13 no prior record

No 3 section - Capt Henderson

6005, f / Sp, 2Lt W Robinson with "D" Battalion at Cambrai

6091, Sp, 2Lt EJ Sharpe no prior record

6035, Sp, Lt J McKonstry no prior record

4 section

4030, m, 2Lt Cheeper, Crew No 18 no prior record

2789, f, 2Lt Garrod DCM, Crew No 16 no prior record

2005, m, 2Lt CA Thompson, Crew No 17 with "B" Battalion at Cambrai

note

"A" company details from two undated lists in notebook in 10 Battalion Box, Bovington Tank museum.

The list appears to be correct for May / June 1918. Tank 4030 was with "A" Company when it was disabled by a direct hit at Mailley Maillet on June 16^th^.

6005 is listed as a female tank in one list and as a supply tank in the other, it was a top tower and therefore both.

"B" Company

unknown except

May 28^th, “B” company advanced section shelled, tank 6009 hit twice and left at D10c.9.1. ^(W10)

"C" Company

unknown except

J7, 2821, f, 2Lt Harwood WCJ with "E" Battalion at Cambrai

J11, 2597, f, 2Lt Harper T with "A" Battalion at Cambrai

J12, 4560, f, 2Lt Cronshaw LH no prior record

J13, 2545, f, 2Lt Oddy OG with "G" Battalion at Cambrai

J17, 4656, f, 2Lt Webb G with "D" Battalion at Cambrai

Sources