5th Battalion March 21st - 23rd 1918

5th Battalion. 21st – 24th March 1918.

5th Battalion OB 21st March 1918

Prologue

The battalion was in 4th Tank brigade with the 1st (W1) and 4th Battalions (S13.p162)

December 1917 – A number of tanks (perhaps 26, the War diary is a little unclear) were brought back from the Cambrai Area. Some of these may have been used by “A” Company in March 1918; “B” and “C” companies both drew new tanks at the beginning of March.

2nd march 1918 - 24 repaired Mk IV from CW to 5th battalion (CW)

1st to 3rd March 1918 – “B” and “C” Companies drew 12 tanks each.

All three companies to Tankodrome, Buire Wood, J11a.4.2.

19th March – 3 tenders drawn

The battalion had its proper allocation of 36 fighting tanks on March 21st (95-93); many of these tanks were relatively old and thus suffered from mechanical problems (H5)

Orders

The 4th Brigade was in reserve in near Cartigny, South of Peronne (S13.p162)

21st March 1918

At 5.15pm 4 tanks of “A” Company sent to Nobescourt and Smallfoot Wood to XIX Corps, 66th and 24th Divisions.

22nd March 1918

The remaining 28 tanks (sic) moved up in the early hours (W5), with 4th Battalion's tanks (S13.p162)

The Battalion was ordered to cover the retreat of the infantry (H5) the tanks went into action as follows (W5) :

12 tanks at Hervilly wood

7 at Hervilly

7 at Roisel

6 at Cross Wood

1 tank at Vixen Redoubt

1 tank at Villers Carbonnel (Viper redoubt in the War History)

34 tanks in total

17 rallied at Cartigny

The tanks were hampered by the mist which reduced visability to 20 yards or so (S41.p44)

The Summary gives the following details:

4066 broke down and burnt out, didn't move.

Photographed by Germans after capture:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/8510786215/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/14470142896/, https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/13995277670/

Possibly with 2025 which drove 2 miles, broke down and was burnt out in Doignt Wood on the 23rd.

With 66th Division

2083, started for Roisel but had to turn back due to mechanical trouble. The OIC was wounded.

2033 was in action for 4 hours and drove 4 miles fired 50 rounds 6 pdr and 2000 MG, 3 OR wounded. Successfully retired.

2808, its OIC and all 7 OR went missing. The tank was burnt

2811 Drove 20 miles, fired 300 MG Rounds, In action near Rossel, OIC wounded, Successfully retired.

2961 (Sic) drove 6 miles and broke down (note: incorrect serial number as no tanks bore serials number starting 29)

4571 was in action near Roisel for 2 hours, the enemy being closely supported by 2 field guns, and drove 12 miles fired 900 MG Rounds, the tank broke down. Captured.

4659 was in action near Roisel for 4 hours and drove 15 miles fired 2000 MG ROUNDS,

4661 was in action near Roisel for 4 hours, the enemy being closely supported by field guns; drove 15 miles fired 2000 MG Rounds, the tank broke down and was burnt out

With 24th Division

2394 in action for 2½ hours, drove 20 miles, fired 12 rounds 6pdr, 1500 MG rounds. 1 OR wounded, 1 missing, tank had mechanical trouble but successfully covered the withdrawal of 24th Div infantry.

2741 was in action for an hour near Le Verguier, Successfully retired.

4056, With 24th Div drove 20 miles and fired 100 MG rounds. 2 OR wounded. Successfully retired.

With 8th Hussars

About 12 noon 6 tanks assisted the 9th Dismounted Brigade (19th Hussars and the remainder of the 8th Hussars), in a counter attack Northward front Bois de la Croix, south of Hervilly. The tanks were all incapacitated at an early stage but the attack successfully retook part of Hervilly Wood and drove the enemy back into Hesbecourt, and thus temporarily halted the enemies advance.

The Cavalry officers only reported seeing three tanks; enemy accounts mention four having been accounted for by machine guns and others by rifles from 43rd regt 1st Div. But they mention a second tank attack later 89n the day dealt with by fire from captured guns, which seems to be the counter attack mentioned in the text. (OH 1918 vol 1 pg 285f).

In the Summary six tanks are listed as being with the 8th Hussars:

2359, Drove 2 miles but broke down on way into action and burnt out.

2712, In action 6 hours, fought rearguard action to Green Line, Drove 12 miles, fired 750 MG rounds, Ordered to attack Hervilly village but found it deserted, broke down.

4681, Drove 7 miles, Tank and all 8 crew (including OIC) missing near Hervilly

4695, Drove 5 miles, fired 2000 MG Rounds, In action near Hervilly. Broke down

6001, In action 9 1/2 hours, fought rearguard action to Green Line, Drove 8 miles, fired 1000 MG Rounds, broke down.

8046, Drove 7 miles, Tank and all 8 crew (including OIC) missing near Hervilly Wood

In action near Hervilly:

2331, Drove 16 miles, fired 1000 MG rounds, In action near Hervilly. Successfully retired.

2710, In action 1 hour, Drove 8 miles, fired 500 MG Rounds, In action near Hervilly village. Attempted to save 60pdr and dragged it for some distance until rope broke. Broke down and burnt out.

With 50th Division (Which had been brought forward to hold the Green lione whilst 24th and 66th divisions retired)

2680, With 50th Division, drove 2 miles and fired 1000 MG Rounds, broke down, crew in action thereafter outside tank.

Location of action not recorded

2781, In action 2 (?) hours, Drove 17 miles, fired 3000 MG Rounds, 1 crewman wounded, In action E and in Roisel, killed numbers of enemy, All guns out of action from MG fire. Successfully retired.

8043 broke down on way into action but successfully retired.

2636, Drove 25 miles, fired 1000 MG Rounds, successfully retired.

No details are given of the following tanks action but they all broke down and most were set afire and abandoned.

Some of these tanks were presumably destroyed on the 23rd.

2543, Drove 6 1/2 miles then broke down and burnt out near Tincourt.

2544, Drove 4 miles, broke down and burnt out, presumably after passing through Peronne as it was photographed there: http://zoom.iwm.org.uk/view/365209&cat=photographs&oid=object-205216492

2762, Drove 2 miles then broke down and burnt out

2787, broke down burnt out. ? In hours in action column

2829, Drove 5 miles, broke down

2838, Drove 5 miles but broke down and destroyed, crew in action outside tank after it was abandoned. Later photographed in German hands: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/936763223/in/set-72157601074582281/

The following four tanks possibly lost on the 23rd:

2314, Drove 6 miles, broke down and burnt out

2525, Drove 6 miles then broke down due to water being mistakenly put into petrol tank.

4009, Drove 11 miles, direct hit, 2 OR wounded

4010, Drove 12 miles, broke down

23rd March 1918

5th Tank Battalion had 17 tanks at the start of the day. (OH 1917 Vol 1. Pg 350) this total prsumably includes the 3 Supply (Tender) tanks.

The three Tender tanks were ordered to Moislains, which the enemy were found to have occupied; they were all destroyed.

The rest of the battalion was ordered to retire over Brie Bridge.

Ten tanks failed to reach Brie and were destroyed en route, this presumably includes the three tenders:

2033 broke down and burnt out

2613 broke down

2636, Drove 25 miles, fired 1000 MG Rounds, abandoned N of Brie bridge due to lack of petrol,

and four of those listed as lost on the 22nd above (possibly 2314, 2525, 4009, and 4010 from the mileage they drove).

The Summary and photographs (see aftermath below) indicate that seven tanks successfully reached Brie and one (2741) crossed the bridge. The Official History states five tanks appeared at Brie bridge sometime between 2 and 3 pm, they were too wide to cross the bridge with their sponsons out and thus were set afire and abandoned. The last tank was apparently just ahead of the enemy on whom it was firing with good effect. (OH 1918 vol 1 pg 350). It is possible that two of the tanks (2741 and another) reached the Bridge earlier and thus are not mentioned to in the Official history.

The Summary and indicates the following four tanks were abandoned at Brie:

2331 was abandoned and destroyed at Brie Bridge. (Photographed see below)

2781 was abandoned as Brie Bridge being destroyed.

4056 was abandoned and burnt at Brie Bridge as it was too wide to cross with male Sponsons. (photographed see below)

4559 was refused permission to cross Brie bridge and thus was abandoned and burnt out. (photographed see below)

In addition photographs (see below) clearly show both the following tanks at Brie:

2811 which an out of petrol and was destroyed.

8043, which had driven 16 miles, and was then burnt out.

2741 successfully crossed over at Brie.

4014 also appears on a photograph of the bridge but the Author believes this to be an altered photo of 4056. (see aftermath below)

One of the tanks destroyed at Brie was commanded by 2Lt TE Van Zeller. It had been in action all day, under heavy and continuous shell fire, covering the retreat of the infantry whilst moving from Cartigny to the Somme. This tank reached Brie bridge in the late afternoon only to discover it was about to be destroyed and that the tank was unable to cross; the Tank was thus destroyed (S13.p163).

Private “Val” Field was driving one of the tanks destroyed at Brie. According to him the Bridge was too narrow to allow the tanks passage with their Sponsons out and the Royal Engineer in charge of the bridge's demolition refused to give the crews enough time to push the Sponsons in. Private Field destroyed his tank but the bridge wasn’t demolished for another two hours (S41.p44).

It is worth noting that only three of the tank listed above (4056, 8043 and 2331) were male, and that the female 2741 successfully negotiated the bridge. Thus the three females were presumably not abandoned because they were too wide.

24th March 1918

2741 was in action West of the Somme but broke down and was destroyed. Over the three days the tank had driven a total of 24 miles and fired 800 MG rounds.

Summary

Allocated: 39

Reserve: 0

At start: 36

Started: 20

Engaged Enemy: 18

Ditched / Broke down: 11

Knocked out: 3

Rallied: 0

Note

Totals include the 3 supply tanks.

Knocked out is the three missing tanks.

All 39 tanks were ultimately lost.

Aftermath

The Battalion was formed into Lewis gun Companies and did not see action in tanks again until 8th August.

4056 was photographed derelict at Brie bridge on 20th September 1918:

IWM Q 23602 - http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205264048

IWM Q 23603 - http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205264049

Several other photographs exist which apparently show the tanks destroyed at Brie bridge. It is unclear when these photographs were taken.

IWM Q 7081: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205238936

Five tanks are visible in this photo (l to r): back half of unidentified tank (presumably either 2781 or 4659) , 2811, 4056, 8043 and 2331: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/13642279674/in/set-72157601074582281/

The Serial numbers on these photos are:

8043 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3949932889/in/set-72157601074582281/

- https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/12981786875/in/set-72157601074582281/

4014 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3036801552/in/set-72157601074582281/

2811 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3037395087/in/set-72157601074582281/

- https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/14073082536/in/set-72157601074582281/

2331 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/13642279674/in/set-72157601074582281

4056 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/4096542605/in/set-72157601074582281/

4659 and 4056 (presumably) are also on these two photographs (4659 serial visible on e bay photo):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937604844/in/set-72157601074582281

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2238511911/in/set-72157601074582281

and X11.p127

The photograph showing 4014 appears to show exactly the same tank as the second (x11.p127) photograph showing 4056, the 4014 photograph appears to have been modified for some reason. A discussion is ongoing on Landships.com.

4571 was captured by the Germans, renamed "Liesel" and used by them against the French at Fort La Pompelle on 1st June 1918.

The Serial number is visible on a photograph in Ian Passingham, (2003) "All the Kaisers Men" pg 186-187

Numerous other Photos exist of "Liesel", some are listed here:

www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2973390461/ in/set-72157...

www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2977242275/ in/set-72157...

www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/2997519462/ in/set-72157...

www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/937598458/i n/set-721576...

2829 was photographed in German Hands. X60.p78

https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/13909548597/in/set-72157601074582281/

2741 was photographed after capture

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/5902335120/in/set-72157601074582281/

2712 was photographed next to a German grave.