1st Battalion. 25 April 1918
The Tanks at Villers Bretonneux. 25th April 1918
1st Battalion, with 8th Division, III Corp, 4th Army (OH)
1st Battalion had 8 MK IV tanks in action on 25th April 1918 (w1a)
A Company – Major Pearsall HG MC
12 Tanks (W1a)
Section – Lt Houlton
Female
Female
Female
Section – Capt Keogh FB (W1a)
Male
4700, Female
Female
Un specified section
Female - Lt Payne JRS
Composite section “B” and “C” Companies – Capt Hunniken FS
Male, 2Lt Butler
Male
Male
Male
Notes:
On 16th April the crews painted the distinctive red and white aeroplane recognition marks on the top of the tank’s cabs (W1).
On 17th April three complete crews from “B” Company and two crews from “C” Company were sent to man “A” companies tanks, their crews having been affected by gas whilst in the Wood at O34a and O34c (W1).
The Report contradicts itself stating that each section had one male and two female tanks, later stating that Lt Houlton’s section had three female tanks. (W1a)
The following tanks were salved by No 2 field Salvage Company in May and June 1918 from the Villers Brettenoux (mostly Querrie Wood) area and were therefore presumably with 1st battalion:
2037, 2315, 2320, 2606, 2627, 2682, 2732, 2738, 2831, 2867, 4086, 4611, 4612, 6009
In addition 6039 was probably with 1st Battalion as on 15th to 17th May 1918 (OIC Lt Ashworth) when it and 2738 helped the French recover a German A7V (A7V, 542, Elfriede (S6.p14) ) from near Villers Bretonneux 95-109
Orders
At 9:45 pm on the 24th Lt Houlton was ordered to take his tanks (three females) to U3a which he reached at 2:30am on the 25th. (W1a)
At 4:00am the tanks were ordered to deal with hostile tanks in U4 and U5 and complete mopping up Villers Brettenoux. Lt Houlton got in touch with 51st and 52nd Australian Battalions who stated they were being harassed by enemy MGs in Bois d’Arquanne, Villers Bretennoux and the Railway south west of the village. (W1a)
At 11.00pm on the 24th orders were received from 3rd Tank Brigade to send all 4 male tanks in “B” and “C” Companies to Daours. Capt Hunniken gathered the four tanks; 2 from Merricort L’Abbe, one from C20.d.6.8. and one from C11.c.3.9. proceeded to Daouers O1a.3.0, which was reached at 10am on the 25th (W1a)
Account of Operations
Lt Houlton
At 6:20am the tanks proceeded along the eastern edge of the Bois D’Arquanne and silenced enemy MGs therein, they then silenced an enemy trench mortar in o34a.8.2 and went along the valley in O34d and O35c but found no enemy there so rallied back to U3c. (W1a)
The tanks were then ordered to mop up Villers Brettenoux which they re-entered via the Valley in O34d and O35c. A few small parties of the enemy were dispersed near the railway station, and the tanks patrolled around the South West edge of the village but no other enemy troops were met so the tanks returned to U3a by 12:30pm, rounding up 8 prisoners in O35c en route. (W1a)
As the Australians had no further use for the tanks they withdrew to T4a, en-route the tanks were ordered by Brig Gen Elles to tow a derelict Whippet [presumably 244], this proved impossible and the whippet was abandoned in U3b7.5 [bottom half of reference letters missing on photograph of original document] (W1a)
At 4:30am on the 25th Lt Payne was ordered to take his tank to U1a, the tank broke down but eventually started at 8am. It went to O27c5.4 where an officer of the 23rd Brigade indicated he should patrol the Bois D’Arquenne, Lt Payne did so until 4:30pm but encountered no enemy. (W1a)
At 1:20am on the 25th Capt Keogh was ordered to take two tanks to T11 central from whence they would proceed to mop up the Bois de Hangard in U16a. The attack was cancelled as the infantry had moped up the wood without the tanks, one tank 4700 had broken down en route and proceeded very slowly. Both tanks returned to T4a by 7:20am. (W1a)
Composite section
Capt Hunniken set off for Villers Bretonneaux at 10am on the 25th with three tanks, the fourth having broken down before reaching the Daoures.. At 11am Capt Hunniken reported to the BGC of 15th Australian Brigade who said he only needed one tank to stand by at O34a.8.8. as the line was not established there; 2Lt Butler remained and the other two tanks returned to T4a. At 5:40pm 2Lt Butler was ordered by 8th Division to support 1 company of pioneers and mop up the South East corner of Villers Bretonneaux, then proceed to assist the 15th Australian brigades attack on the Monument in U6a central. The tank did as ordered but broke down in the South East corner of Villers Bretonneaux. (W1a)
Note: The War History incorrectly merges the actions of the 25th and 26th April. The above is based on the report which is assumed to be correct.
Summary
Total Tanks: 8
Failed to Start: 2
Engaged enemy: 4
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 8
Note:
Total doesn’t include Capt Keoghs two tanks.
Aftermath
Some of the surviving tanks fought again on the 26th.
The following tanks were salved by No 2 field Salvage Company in May and June 1918 from the Villers Brettenoux (mostly Querrie Wood) area and were therefore presumably with 1st battalion:
2037, 2315, 2320, 2606, 2627, 2682, 2732, 2738, 2831, 2867, 4086, 4611, 4612, 6009
Sources
W1– 1st Battalion’s War diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
W1a – HQ 3rd Tank Brigade. Report on operations South of the river Somme from 24th April 1918, to 26th April 1918 in PRO WO 95 / 109
H1 – 1st Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
OH – Official History 1918 Vol II Chap XXI, pg 881ff
S43 - Tank Warfare (1933, 1987 edition), Frank Mitchell MC