8th Battalion A and B Composite Company. 24th march 1918

A Company (3 and 4 sections) and B company (7 and 8 Sections)

Composite Company Commander Major Grounds ^{(H8 BHS)}

A Company

3 Section

H7, 8116, "Harrier II" ^(W8a3), 2Lt Hassell TG or Lt Miles ^(W8)

H8, 2622, f, “Huntsman III”, 2Lt Galloway

H9, 2870, f, “Hoick Holloa”, 2Lt Wilson

4 Section

H10, 2867, “Huntress”, 2Lt Whitehead ^{(W8bh) (H12 BHS)}

H12, 2824, 2Lt Batstone ^(W8bh)

8021, "Hielin Laddie", 2Lt Folkard CE was in this section according to the War Diary. Listed as H3 with 1 section above.

B Company – Grounds ^(S61.p167)

7 Section - Capt DE Hickey ^(S61.p167)

H27, 2355, ““Hermosa II”, Lt Nickle

H28, 2566, “Harlequin II”, Lt Miles

H29, 2822, Lt Beddard

(Note: Hickey mistakenly states H27 was “Havoc” and H28 “Hadrian”, he doesn’t name H29 S61.p167, he also implies “Havoc” was a male tank S61.p169)

8 Section

H30, 6016, “Harrow II”, 2Lt Hotherstall

H31, 2844, “Hadrian II”, 2Lt Draper

H32, 8014, “Hydra III", 2Lt Gibbons

2Lt Gibbon’s tank serial number from the transcript of the Battle History Sheet, according to the War Diary it was 8041, “Hydra II”. 8014 was formally “Hilda”, 8014 had been transferred from "A" Company to "B" Company during January 1918 ^(W8) .

These ten (eleven or twelve) tanks were to demonstrate towards BUS to allow the infantry time to withdraw from Bertincourt.

H7 and H28 both broke down prior to the action and thus did not attack.

H7 was not able to move and remained with the two supply tanks at the point of Assembly. The tank was eventually moved to Courcellette via Gudecourt but broke down and was abandoned and destroyed about a mile from Corcellette.

Orders

The Composite Company was to proceed to make a demonstration against BUS to cover the infantry's retirement. ^{(H8 BHS)}

H10 and H12 were to approach as near to village of Bus as possible and harass the enemy with machine gun fire. ^(BHS)

Account of operations

At 12 noon the remaining tanks moved forward and directed fire into BUS, this caused the enemy to retire from the village. 45 minutes after the tanks initially advanced an enemy observation balloon went up and the tanks were shelled.

H8 demonstrated was on the left flank of the Composite Company it opened a brisk LG fire on the enemy but after 30 minutes received a direct hit from an 8 inch shell , burst into flame and was destroyed, the whole eight man crew were killed.^{(W8b)(W8a3)(BHS)}

H9 also operated on the left of the composite company, and also opened a brisk LG fire on the enemy; whilst apparently manoeuvring to avoid the shellfire that KO H8 the tank disappeared over the ridge at O.24.a, to the NE of Bus and did not return. Tank and crew presumably captured. (W8b)(W8a3)(BHS)

H10 and H12 are not mentioned in the War Diary Narrative. According to their battle history sheets both tanks advanced. H12 ditcehd and broke down in the Blue line, about 300 yds from the objective; it fired 90 rounds SAA, was then abandoned and destroyed. H10 fired 2000 rounds SAA and collected H12's crew as it retired. Whilst returning to Courcelette H10 broke down near Guedecourt, was abandoned and destroyed ^(W8bh).

H27 successfully attacked, suffering 3 crewmen wounded by bullet splashes, then rallied at Guedecourt.

H29 was in action for an hour and drove 1 1/2 miles but then broke down and was hit and Knocked out whilst heading towards Barastre at O16c central; one crewman was wounded.

H30 successfully attacked then rallied at Gueudecourt. Unfortunately it broke down and was abandoned and destroyed at Orvillers.

H31 is not mentioned in the War Diary, according to the battle history sheet it also successfully attacked then retired to Acheaux via Caucellette and Aveloy.

H32 was Hit and set afire. The driver was killed, Lt Gibbons and 3 other ranks were wounded.

The Battle history sheets state that H28 was subsequently abandoned and destroyed by its crew at Les Saes.

According to the War Diary H27 suffered engine trouble all day, nevertheless it and “Hermosa II” both attacked and then rallied at Aveluy where both tanks were probably (“Hermosa II” definitely) handed over to C Company.

According to Hickey ^(S61.p175) “Havoc”, H27 made it to Coucellete where it and the other surviving tanks were destroyed.

Summary

Total Tanks: 11

Failed to Start: 2

Engaged enemy: 9

Ditched / Broke Down: 3

Hit and Knocked out: 4

Rallied: 2

It is assumed all 9 tanks that started engaged the enemy.

Hit and knocked out includes H9

25^th March

Battalion retired to Courcelletee, thence to Aveluy (Brigade Driving school according to Hickey S61.p182) and Acheux.

26^th March

A and B Companies formed into Lewis gun companies.

C Company took over all tanks (The Battalion’s War Diary implies only 6 tanks left).

C Company ordered to take six tanks to Marieux to attack enemy armoured cars approaching from Sourastre, these turn out to be 3^rd Battalion’s Whippets.

Hickey (s61.p182f) states he was in charge of these tanks, and that there were only five of them. He believed them to be from the Driving school.

27^th March

C Company hands over 6 remaining tanks to Mechanical school at Beauval.

Presumably H6 (2831), H25 (8002), H26 (2894), H27 (2355), H31 (2844) , H48 (2569)

Note: H25, 8002, and H26, 2894, “Hurricane” Both survived the action on 21^st March but are not mentioned in any source thereafter.

Aftermath

H8, 2622 photographed in German hands, seemingly undamaged, still bearing crew number I31. Photographs courtesy of Gwyn Evans.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2587919/Former-dustman-salvaged-5-000-historic-photographs-WWI-heroes-action-RUBBISH-DUMPS.html

http://www.landships.net/t57128283/tank-men-to-identify/

Sources:

W8 – War Diary of 8^th Tank Battalion in PRO WO 95 / 114

W8a3 – War Diary of 8^th Tank Battalion, 3 Section Commanders Report of Demonstration against Bus in Transcript from Bovington tank Museum.

W8b – War Diary of 8^th Tank Battalion, "B" Company Commanders report 21^st - 31^st March 1918 in Transcript from Bovington tank Museum.

W8b7 – War Diary of 8^th Tank Battalion, 7 Section Commanders report 24^th March 1918 in Transcript from Bovington tank Museum.

BHS - 8^th Battalions 1918 Battle History Sheets; Transcript from Bovington Tank Museam.

SUM - Summary of 8th Battalion's March 1918 Battle history Sheets in PRO WO 95 / 93

S61 – Rolling into action (1934 ?) DE Hickey p 155ff

8th Battalion March 1918