The Tanks at Kaiserschlact. 23rd March 1918

1st Battalion with 25th Division. 

1st  Battalion had 22 tanks in action on 23rd March 1918

"A" Company

2503, 2Lt Bell 

8059, 2Lt Evans LA o

"B" Company

2344 2Lt Shaw 

2377 2Lt Bradbeer 

unknown company

4692 

6015 

plus 16 other fighting tanks

Prologue

31st Dec 1917 – Battalion from 2nd to 4th Tank Brigade, tanks handed over to the 10th Battalion (H1)

16th Feb – 1st Battalion draws 6 MK IV tenders from CW and one from 4th Battalion (H24).

17th Feb - 4th Battalion takes over four MK IV fighting tanks from 1st battalion and two from the 5th (H24).

23rd Feb - 1st Battalion took over six tenders form 5th Battalion and fitted sponsons (CW)

8th March - 8 MkIV from Central Workshops to 1st Battalion (CW)  

10th March - 7 MkIV from Central Workshops to 1st Battalion (CW)  

11th March - 12 MkIV from Central Workshops to 1st Battalion (CW)  

18th March – “B” Company handed over two Supply tanks to 4th Battalion and three to the 5th Battalion (H1).

19th March – “B” Company drew 12 tanks from CW, despite ten of the tanks refusing to start, all 12 were eventually de-trained at Tincourt Station. Then the 12 tanks set off for Buire Wood but 2048 broke down a mile and a half from the Wood (at (62C) J.17.a.80.30(W1)) and was eventually destroyed on the 23rd to prevent it falling into the hands of the enemy. (H1).

2656 was one of the Battalions tanks which withdrew from Buire Wood (95-93).

“A” Company: Male: 4, Female : 8, Supply: 0 (H1)

“B” Company: Male: 6, Female : 6, Supply: 6 (H1)

“C” Company: Male: 4, Female : 4, Supply: 4 (H1)

Some of the supply tanks were possibly Top Towers and thus fully armed female tanks

21st March - At 10pm, 1st Battalion placed at disposal of VII and XIX Corps for a counter attack on the morning of the 22nd (H24).

 22nd March - At 9am, 1st Battalion were ordered to move all Tanks to Three Tubs Wood, NW of Doingt and thence to Moislans (H24).

A Company tanks 4067 and 8134 failed to complete the journey (W1n) 

Account of Operations

23rd March 

At 8am on the 23rd 1st Battalion (22 Fighting tanks and 9 Tenders (W1n) , presumably doesn't include "C" Company's fighting tanks) was ordered to hold the high ground WNW of Moisloins (in front of Bouchavesnes (H24)) with "A" and "B" companies, "C" Company was held in reserve (North of Bois Narrieres (H24)).

4692 and 6015 broke down whilst deploying but served as strongpoints to the east of the ridge ( i.e. in front of the line) (W1n) they were abandoned and destroyed when the Battalion withdrew (95-93)

“A” and “B” companies remaining 16 tanks deployed on the reverse slops of Ridge C16 in an elliptical line running from C16 central to C22 central supporting a South African Infantry battalion (W1n).

The battalion was only attacked by small parties of the enemy, forty being killed and two captured. Harassing fire was directed on the Moislains – Haut Allaines Road and the enemy was forced to deploy on several occasions and even change the direction of his advance (W1n).

“C” Company were deployed in reserve on the Eastern edge of Marrieres Wood from c13d central to C19b central. The enemy were seen to detour around Moislons, presumably to avoid the tanks which had apparently been spotted by aircraft which had dropped flares on the tanks position (W1n).

At 3.30 pm it became apparent that enemy columns were working their way around either flank and that there were no friendly infantry for several miles to the north. The Battalion was thus redeployed in depth.

4 tanks were left with the South Africans, 2503, 2Lt Bell and 8059, 2Lt Evans LA of "A" Company and 2344 2Lt Shaw and 2377 2Lt Bradbeer from “B” Company (W1n).

The rest of “A” Company withdrew to replace "C" Company (W1n).

The rest of “B” Company withdrew to Ridge running through B23b (W1n).

The “C” Company withdrew to B24b (W1n).

At 6 pm the tanks with the South Africans were ordered to withdraw, 2503 and 8059 did so but 2344, and 2377 both broke down and were destroyed after firing off all their 6 pdr and MG ammunition (W1n) (95-93).

A supply tank withdrew from Moislains just before the Germans took the town, Lt MacFayden’s tank broke down and was destroyed, the crew remained with it and engaged the enemy until the Battalion was outflanked and ordered to withdraw to the ridge in front of Clery-sur- Somme (H1)

Tanks apparently did good work (H24)

The tanks were withdrawn to a new position on the ridge running through B17.23.29 ( the ridge in front of Clery-sur- Somme (H1) ) in support of about 200 men from a variety of regiments, the tanks deploying about 200 yards in front of the infantry (W1n).

The Tenders were sent back towards Maricourt to refill from the dump at A30b (W1n).

8059 Drove 6 miles. Broke down and burnt out near Clery (95-93) 

4607, Drove 8 miles. Broke down and burnt out near Moislains 95-93

4697, Drove 12 miles. Ditched near Maricourt 95-93

8045, Drove 18 miles, Broke down near Maricourt, not destroyed. 95-93 

4925, Being withdrawn, Drove 15 miles then broke down and burnt out. 95-93

6002, Drove 14 miles. Withdrawn from Tincourt to Maricourt. Broke down and burnt out. 95-93

6048, Drove 14 miles. Mechanical trouble going into action. Withdrawn from Tincourt to Maricourt. Broke down and burnt out. 95-93

2098 date not given.  Broke down and failed to start. Not destroyed. 95-93

6023 date not given. Broke down. BHS incomplete. 95-93

Summary

Intended: 22

Reserve: 8

At start: 18

Started: N / A

Engaged enemy: 

Ditched / Broke Down: 5

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 

Lost whilst trekking: 9

note

Reserve is "C" Company's presumed 8 tanks.

Ditched broke down is the five tanks indicated as lost in the narrative above.

Aftermath

Primary Sources:

H24 - War History of 4th Tank Brigade in PRO WO 95/108 (H24)

95-93 - Summary of battle History Sheets in PRO WO 95-93

W1n - Narrative of Operations 21st – 31st March 1918 PRO WO 95-109

W1 - 1st Battalion War Diary Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

W1a - 1st Battalion War Diary PRO 95-109

H1 – History of 1st Tank Battalion, Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum

1st Battalion 21st - 30th March 1918