6 Battalion March to June 1918

6^th Battalion. March 21^st – June 16^th 1918.

6th Battalion only fought one action, with two tanks during this period, at St Leger on 22^nd March.

6^th Battalion was to defend positions from Monchy-le-Preux in the North to Mory in the South.

8 Other Ranks were killed and one officer and 6 Other Ranks wounded when one of the first shells of the Germans preliminary bombardment hit the orderly room on the 21^st March. The tanks were then prepared in the tankodrome and moved to their lying up positions where they remained overnight.

On the 22^nd March the 3^rd Division retreated, this division was holding the line in front of the 6th battalion.. “A” and “C” Companies were to attack towards St Leger and Neuville Vitasse respectively with two separate Brigades of the Guards Division.

In the event only two tanks of number one section attacked at 5pm from Judas Farm towards St Leger in support of some infantry from a Welsh [Guards ?] Regiment.

The tanks crew numbers were changed to 6 / 01 , 02 etc. 2341 was 6 / 36 OIC 2Lt Munro WO 95-95-6 Pg 33. It is not known if these new designations were painted on the tanks.

The Battalion was then withdrawn to the railway embankment near Ficheux.

6^th Battalion stayed in reserve but did not see action again before handing their Mark IVs over to workshops on the 16^th June.

Sources

Primary Source: 6^th Battalion’s War History (p101ff)

Also WO 95-95-6 Pg 33 - Tank Corps No. G.27/14 - History of tank 2341, 23 Dec 1918

Kaiserschlacht