3rd Battalion 31st March 1918

3^rd Battalion. 31^st March 1918

3^rd Battalion with 50^th Brigade ^(W23), 17^th Division ^(95-93b), V Corp, 3^rd Army ^(OH)

Note: the preliminary report states this attack was to support 50^th Division.

The author has assumed the Official History is correct.

A Company, 3^rd Battalion had 4 Whippet tanks in action on 31^st March 1918 ^{(w1a) (W23)}

1 Section – Capt Firth F ^(W23)

226, "China II", Capt Firth

263, "Cyprus III", 2Lt O’Dowd

269, 2Lt Breen

276, "Cardiff", 2Lt Jenkins

Note:

Tank serial numbers from 95-93b

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

Commanders names from W24

Background

The composite Light Tank battalion was ordered to withdraw from Camp 165 at 1am on the 26^th March. "A" Company 3^rd tank battalion destroyed the engines of all broken down whippets of 3rd tank brigade driving school ^(H3), these are presumably the six whippets photographed after capture by the Germans on Hill 101: 214, 218, 221, 222, one unidentified relatively intact Whippet (possibly 220) and one Whippet chassis: X75.p178; most of these tanks were photographed in the same positions when the allies recaptured the area on 20 Sept 18 :

IWM Q 23596: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205264042

IWM Q 23600 : http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205264046

^{According to the summary of BHS only 2 Whippets had been destroyed when Bray camp was abandoned (95-93) This is presumably incorrect.}

Only four of "C" company, 9^th Battalion's sixteen whippets had reached the new base at the southern edge of Mailey Mallet wood P23d.7.8, by 6am on the 26^th, all the other tanks had broken down en route. ^{(H3) (W3a)} Two of these tanks may have been 220 and 249 were captured, apparently in running condition, by the Germans in March and converted to beutepanzers: X74.p46, X75.p179, S75.178.

All of "C" company, 3rd battalion's whippets reached P23d.7.8 by 10am on 26^th March ^{(H3) (W3a)}

Orders

To assist 7^th East Yorkshires, 50th Brigade ^(OH) in an attack on strong Points at W15 central, on the high ground E of Bouzincourt. Zero at 5:30am ^(W23).

Account of Operations

276 – Broke down immediately after leaving the start point and failed to get into action. The tank rallied. The OIC was wounded by a shell splinter at 8:15am and died in the evening. ^(W23)

The remaining three tanks went into action against the Pimple West of Aveluy ^(95-93). All set off at Zero in Heavy rain and about 100yds visibility ^(W23).

269 - In action for 2 hours, drove 2 miles, fired 150 MG rounds ^(95-93b). This was probably the first tank to arrive at the first objective where he fired on two strongpoints from each of which 30 to 50 enemy bolted, three strips of Hotchkiss bullets were fired and shot down 20 or 30 enemy, then the gun jammed. Two more Hotchkiss also jammed and the last was damaged by enemy fire about 5:55am. The tank now manoeuvred firing the odd round until heavy Mg fire penetrated the engine via a crevice in the bonnet and disabled the Engine. Tank was destroyed and abandoned ^(W23). OIC wounded ^(95-93b).

263 - In action for an hour, fired 250 MG rounds ^(95-93b). 226 – In action for 2 hours, drove 3 ½ miles, fired 300 MG rounds ^(95-93b). Both tanks reached the 1^st objective at Zero +18 and Zero +20, and the 2^nd Objective at Zero +25 and Zero +22 but saw no enemy at either location. 263 then went North West along the South side of posts and thence to Cross Roads at W15b.7.4, which was reached at about Zero +38. Dispersed small parties of enemy ^(W23), 3 MG jammed, fourth Knocked out by enemy fire and the tank experienced some mechanical trouble. Rallied ^(95-93b) about 6:30am ^(W23)

226 also went to the crossroads W15b.7.4 and killed or dispersed a number of the enemy. The British Infantry were reluctant to follow the tank. All the revolver ports were broken off by MG fire. And all the Hotchkiss were out of action. The tank turned to rally but was informed the infantry were held up near a derelict aeroplane so a Lewis gun was borrowed off the infantry and the tank went back into action and inflicted more damage on the enemy. Rallied at 8am ^{(W23) (95-93b)}

The infantry had failed to advance and hold the ground cleared by the tanks, probably due to long range fire from the Brickworks in W22a which was too far away for the tanks to silence. ^(W23)

The Official history states the attack was to support the 7^th East Yorks of 50^th Brigade only one tank reached the objective and that was abandoned. Of the other three one failed to start, one stuck and another was damaged. The objective was taken but could not be held. ^(OH)

Summary

Total Tanks: 4

Failed to Start: 1

Engaged enemy: 3

Ditched / Broke Down: 0

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 3

Aftermath

226, 263 and 276 were all in action in August.

Sources

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

W3a –3^rd Light Tank Battalion. Operations of “X” Company near Cauchy on 14^th and 15^th April 1918 in PRO WO 95 / 106

95-93b – Summary of Battle History Sheets of No. 3 Battalion Tank Corps in PRO WO 95 / 93

W23 – 3^rd Tank Brigade War Diary Appendix 2, Report of Operations of 31^st March 1918 – in PRO WO 95 / 105

OH – Official History 1918 Vol II, pg.104f

3rd Battalion. March 1918