5thbattlionacompanymarch1918
4th battlion A Company March 1918
A Company 1 and 3 Sections
Capt N.E. Mackeown (A Company)
1 Section Capt J.M. Martin MC
4063, 2Lt W.G.J. Wallace
8118, 2Lt R.C. Baker
2692, 2Lt A.V. Judges
3 Section 2Lt C.A. Karstel
4081, 2Lt C.A. Karstel
4686, 2Lt M. Begard
4605, 2Lt S Leach
At midnight on 22nd March the six tanks deployed at Saulcourt, E.15.a.46 in support of 117th infantry Brigade. Arrived at E.14.d.58 and were subject to heavy shell fire, withdrew to E.14.c.78.
At 3pm tanks 8118, 4081, 4605 moved down the valley in E.15.c and d. 4063, 2692,4686 all moved onto the high ground in E.21.a and b.
4605 broke down, but fired 500 MG rounds at enemy aircraft.
4081 helped to form a protective screen South of St Jean Wood, broke down but engaged enemy aircraft. The tank was repaired sufficiently to allow it to withdraw at the end of the action.
The remaining four tanks came into contact with the enemy massing near Jean Copse (E16b.0.5) and inflicted heavy casualties. The tanks were subject to very heavy shell fire and tanks 4686 and 4063 were set afire by direct hits, in 4686 2Lt Begard and 3 crewmen were killed and two wounded, in 4063 one crewman was killed and 2 wounded.
The remaining tanks withdrew to the green line with the infantry, 4605 being towed to J5.d.99 by 8118. All four tanks refilled in Buire Wood overnight.
On 23rd 4605’s engine was found to have seized. It was abandoned and set afire at J.15.d.99
4081 had withdrawn to Doingt wood overnight being unfit for action due to worn sprockets on the 22nd. It was joined by the retiring 8118 and 2692 and proceeded with them towards Clery. 4081 became badly ditched and was abandoned and set afire at H.3.b.48 near Maricourt.
Both surviving tanks, having spent the night in reserve at J.16.d.76. Withdrew to Peronne, thence to Clery. At night the tanks joined a general withdrawal towards Maricourt. 2692 broke down and was abandoned and set afire at H.4.b.57. the tanks Lewis Gun ammunition was placed in tank 8118.
On 24th March 8118 reached Maricourt about 9am, thence moved to join the 5th Tank Battalion at Bray arriving about 5pm. At 10.30pm the tank was ordered to take up a position near the Bray-Albert Road to which infantry were to retire.
On 25th March the enemy attacked at 11am. 8118 remained in action, under heavy shellfire, for three hours. Tank under orders of OC 1st tank battalion. Tank retired towards Bray and was handed over to 1st Tank Battalion.
A Company 2 and 4 Sections
OIC Major G. Nixon (A Company)
2 Section. Capt C.R. Nicholls
2817, 2Lt J Ball
2303, 2Lt R.G. Brazier
2374, 2Lt E Owen.
4 Section. 2Lt S.J. Ching
4065, 2Lt G. Mcnab
4682, 2Lt J.C. Ellis
2326, 2Lt C.F. Watherston
At midnight on 22nd March 1918 the six tanks deployed at Longvesnes, Valley in E.19.b. in support of 118th infantry brigade. The tanks lay up under camouflage at E.25.b.38 until 3pm when heavy enemy shellfire, directed by an aeroplane, drove them into the open. All six tanks withdrew to Buire wood, under fire all the way back. At 9pm all the tanks refilled in the Tankodrome at J.16.a.63. five of the six crews then proceeded to J.11.d.41 where they lay up for the night. 4065 broke down at J15.d.99 but was repaired and later proceeded to J.17.d.38.
On 23rd March 4065 fired 180 MG rounds at enemy aircraft whilst withdrawing from J.17.d.38 to I.7.c.55, where it was hit by shellfire and set afire.
Two photograph's shows 4065 and an unidentified supply tank being in German hands, apparently being driven to the rear. (X29.p96)
The other five tanks moved to Tincourt wood, J.6.c.83 at 2am to help infantry hold the Green line between Tincourt Wood and King Copse. At daybreak they helped disperse groups of enemy infantry advancing in the mist.
At 9 am tanks were ordered to withdraw towards Bussu with the infantry. Tanks were engaged with the enemy.
4682 and 2326 broke down and were abandoned and set afire.
2374 and 2817 patrolled in front of Tincourt wood covering infantry then 2374 became badly ditched at J.11 central in Tincourt Wood, 2817 had a track broken by a direct hit at J.11.c.98 near Peronne, both tanks were abandoned and burnt out.
2303 withdrew via the southern end of Buire Wood in J.18.a., passed between Buire Wood and Red Wood under heavy fire, thence into Bussu Valley. 2303 followed other tanks to Mt St Quentin where it broke down and was abandoned and set afire at I.15.d.67.
Miscellaneous
4057 was also in A company, under 2Lt C.F. Watherston’s command. It broke down in Buire Wood on 22nd and was then stripped for spares. The tank was abandoned and set afire on 23rd March.
Summary
Allocated: 13
Reserve: 0
At start: 12
Started: 9
Engaged Enemy: 9
Ditched / Broke down: 6
Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 1
Only 8118 survived the action, the other twelve tanks were destroyed.
2326 possibly photographed after capture by the Germans:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3449963013/in/set-72157601074582281/
Primary Source: Appendix to 5th (sic) Battalion’s War Diary in PRO WO 95 / 111
Summary of 4th Battalions march 1918 Battle History Sheets in PRO 95 / 93
4th Battalion - Outlying tanks March 1918
4th Battalion - C Company and Reserve Company March 1918
4th Battalion March 21st - 25th 1918