3rd Battalion 26th March 1918

The Tanks at Colincamps. 26^th March 1918

3^rd Battalion, with New Zealand and 51^st Division, IV Corp, 3^rd Army ^(OH)

This was the Whippets combat debut

C Company, 3^rd Battalion had 13 Whippet tanks in action on 26^th March1918 ^(95-93)

C Company – Capt Price

9 Section - Capt Henderson AM

253, "Conqueror III", Capt Henderson

290, "Cherubim II", 2Lt Sewell

259, "Caesar II", 2Lt Parry

10 Section - Capt Gates WS MC

264, "Cleopatra", Capt Gates

265, "Conviviality", 2Lt Archibald

271, "Chaperon II", 2Lt Wilson

11 Section - Capt Weber

229, "Coquette III", Capt Weber

211, "Challenger", 2Lt Laing

241, "Carnoustie", Lt Dean

234, "Chanticleer", Lt Norman

12 Section - Capt Purdy EL MC

240, "Cayenne", Lt Hope

266, 2Lt Elsbury

281, "Comet III", 2Lt Thomas

Note:

The report of operations ^(95-93) and the Official History both state 12 tanks were in action, 13 are listed the summary of Battle History Sheets ^(95-93b) The war history states "C" Company had 15 tanks on this date ^(H3)

Tank names correct for 5^th August, may not be correct for March ^(W3)

The map of the action in the Report of Operations ^(95-93) implies Capt Purdy was also in a tank (unidentified), only the 13 tanks above are listed in the summary of Battle History Sheets ^(95-93b)

Whippets were photographed moving forward, possibly in march as there are no recognition stripes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlscotland/4700610414/

Background

3^rd Tank Battalion had 48 Whippets on strength on 24^th March 1918 ^(W23). A composite light tank battalion was formed on 26^th March 1918 consisting of "A and "C" companies 3^rd Tank battalion (15 tanks each) and "C" company 9^th tank battalion (16 tanks). On the same date seven Whippets: 215, 225, 246, 252, 258, 267, 270 were sent to watch the Montauban - Mametz line in case of a breakthrough. They did not come into action, all rallied ^(95-93) On 5^th August these seven tanks were with 3 and 4 sections ^(W3)

Orders

To move from the neighbourhood of Bray North towards Colincamps ^(95-93)

The tanks reached Colincamps, via the Mailey Mallet Road at noon.

Verbal orders were issued for the tanks to turn to the right and proceed down the main street in J30d and K36c and then leave the village by turning left in k25c. The tanks were then to form up left to right in the order: 11, 10, 12 and 9 sections. The left two sections to repel any attack form the direction of Hebuterne and the right sections any attack from the direction of Beaumont Hamel. ^(95-93a)

Account of Operations ^(95-93b)

“C” Company led the Battalion into Colincamps entering just in time to capture a strong German patrol which included two officers. Then the tanks moved towards Serre and dispersed 3 separate Battalion sized groups (500 men strong) of enemy troops. ^(95-93)

9 and 12 sections left the road at k25d and turned right around the wood and met 300 enemy who were advancing on the village from the east. The enemy fled upon seeing the tanks. 9 section successfully got behind one groups of the enemy who surrendered. 12 section pursued the enemy to the outskirts of Auchonvillers inflicting many casualties and capturing 4 MGs. Both sections patrolled for about an hour, until 3pm then returned to the village. ^(95-93a)

9 section’s three tanks were in action for 2 hours dispersing small bodies of the enemy in front of Colincamps, each drove 4 miles and fired 200 MG rounds. ^(95-93b)

12 Section’s three tanks were in action for only an hour and drove but 2 miles, nevertheless 240 fired 400 Mg rounds, and the other two tanks 200 each. 240 and 281 dispersed about 200 of the enemy near Auchonvillers, who fled after a putting up a brief resistance leaving equipment, including rifle and MGs. Meanwhile 266 ran over an MG and, despite suffering a number of stoppages with Hotchkiss, dispersed about 50 enemy who left behind 5 MGs. ^(95-93b)

The other two sections patrolled along the British held line towards Hebuterne and Serre; 10 section remaining in front of Hebuterne all afternoon. The sections dealt with some snipers and stayed out for 3 hours, withdrawing back to the village by 3:30pm when the situation was stabilised. ^(95-93a) All the tanks fired their guns but no tank fired more than 60 rounds. 10 section drove 8 miles, 11 Section 4 miles ^(95-93b)

All 13 tanks rallied. This operation apparently prevented a hostile enveloping movement towards Hebuterne. ^(95-93)

Summary

Total Tanks: 13

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 13

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 0

Rallied: 13

Aftermath

All tanks except 266 were with the Battalion on 5^th August and thus were presumably in action at Amiens.

Sources

W3 – 3^rd Battalion’s War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum

W3a –

W23 - 3^rd Tank Brigade War Dairy Appendices in PRO 95 / 105

95-93 – Preliminary Report of Operations of the Tank Corps march 21^st to 27^th 1918 - in PRO WO 95 / 93

95-93a – Light tank Battalion Narrative of operations from march 22^nd 1918 - in PRO WO 95 / 93

95-93b – Summary of Battle History Sheets - in PRO WO 95 / 93

H3 - War History of 3^rd tank Battalion in PRO 95 / 104

OH – Official History 1918 Vol I, pg 526ff

3rd Battalion. March 1918