8thbattalionmarch23rdto27th1918

H4, 8083, 2lt Lyness had been with crew H5 on 21st March

2Lt Batstone had given H3, 8021 to 2Lt Folkard on 24th as it was broken down.^(W8bh)

C Company

9 section (?)

???, 2579, , Harrison Bill

???, 8086, 2Lt Couper, James

???, 8105, 2Lt de Courcy, JG

10 Section

H44 (??), 8022, m, 2Lt Jennison RC

H45, 2695, f, 2Lt Bond G

H46, 4563, 2Lt MacDonald J

11 section (?)

H47, 2856, 2Lt Jefferies ROG

H48, 2569, 2Lt Eddon JF (not included in War Diary)

H49 (?), 2875 (?)

12 section (?)

H50, 2645, 2Lt Jackson FH

H51, 2893, “Hiawatha” (??), Lt Heath (not in WD)

H52, 2075, 2Lt Hora

Notes

H6 still carried the crew number I46 ^(BHS)

Orders

H1 was To proceed to rallying point, Guedecourt, owing to tank being mechanically unfit. ^(BHS)

H3 was to take tank back to Gueudecourt and from there to Acheux. ^(BHS)

H4 was to cover retreat of infantry to position behind Barastre by demonstrating in front of village. ^(BHS)

H22 and H23 were to Proceed to Baraste and create a demonstration while infantry consolidated. ^(BHS)

Account of operations

The tanks moved to Villers-Au-Floos and from there attacked.

A Company

H1 broke down 700 yds SE of les Boeufs, between les Boeufs and Guedecourt whilst withdrawing. The tank came under heavy fire whilst broadside on to the enemy, the crew withdrew then reoccupied the tank and fired all remaining 6 pdr ammunition into les Boeufs. The infantry meanwhile had rallied 600 - 900 yds in the rear so the crew abandoned the tank after smashing all working parts, then withdrew and handed 4000 SAA rounds and the LG to the infantry ^(BHS).

H3 was abandoned as unfit by its OIC 2Lt Batstone RR. 2Lt Folkhard took charge of the vehicle and his driver managed to repair it and take it to Acheux via Guedecourt. It was eventually handed in at Beauval ^(BHS). 2Lt Bastone and crew H12 took tank 2824 into action (see below).

H4 approached Barastre village from the SW, passed it about 800 yds from the SE side. Soon after passing the village the enemy were engaged with 6pdr and LG fire, no friendly infantry were in sight so the tank withdrew to the crucifix at O15d.45.15, passing tow KO tanks en route. On reaching the Crucifix H4 was itself hit and set afire. All crew wounded. ^(BHS) Note: In action near Bus on Summary.

H6 was taken over by 2Lt Fyffe DR on the night of the 23^rd, it broke down on the 24^th but eventually made it back to Beuval where it was handed over to central workshops ^(BHS) .

H22 started late due to autovac trouble, on nearing Baraste it stopped to help "Havoc" which was ditched, H22 was then hit and KO, 1 crewman killed and four wounded. The OIC stayed close to the tank until he was forced to retire by the advancing Germans, the tank was on fire when he left. ^(BHS)

H23 moved towards the objective but was hit and set afire before reaching it. It had fired at enemy field gun flashes suffered the OIC and 2 crewmen wounded, 1 crewman killed, and one crewman missing ^(SUM)

C Company

2875 and (presumably) 2579 were both unfit for action and were thus withdrawn and destroyed (see below).

2 Sections of C company (5 tanks) proceeded to Barestre village (2 tanks), and patrolled the gap between Haplincourt Wood and the village (3 tanks) ^(W8).

The other five C Company tanks moved towards Haplicourt village and Wood ^(W8).

Battle History Sheets:

8086 and 8105 both attacked towards Barastre, 8086 was hit three times and knocked out. 8105 broke down whilst approaching the village and fired into it at long range whilst stationary, the tank was eventually abandoned and destroyed. (both accounts from Summary only).

H44, H45 and H46 were ordered to cover the retirement of the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division to the Red line. All three tanks patrolled between Haplincourt and Baraste, all three were hit and destroyed. H45 and H46 whilst coming out of action; H45 at Villers au Flos and H46 on the red line.

(H44's account based on Summary only)

H47 was ordered to the West of Haplincourt Village where it successfully covered infantries withdrawal it was hit three times and destroyed whilst engaging Haplincourt Wood.

H48 went into action N of Haplincourt Wood (N9a.8.9), it fired past retireing British troops into two waves of advancing enemy troops, who turned and fled from the tanks fire. Several Flamethrowers were destroyed. One group of enemy got to the right of the tank and fired on it with AP ammo, wounding both right hand gunners and disabling both Lewis guns. Tank then turned but two more Lewis guns were disabled so the tank withdrew, eventually to Courcellete. it was finally handed over at Beauval.

H50, H51 and H52 were attached to the 61st Division. The tanks started at 1.45pm a then patrolled between Haplincourt Wood and Barastre covering the Infantries withdrawal H52 was hit five times and KO at 3pm, H50 and H51 withdrew, eventually to Courcellete ^(w8BH). H50 2645 was burnt at Destremont farm ^(w8) .

Hickey is presumably referring to this action when he states Vivesh was in "Hong Kong" (2612) when it was knocked out ^(S61.p172). Vivesh was actually in 4580 according to the tank's 24^th March BHS. ^(BHS)

Summary

Total Tanks: 18

Failed to Start: 4

Engaged enemy: 14

Ditched / Broke Down: 3

Hit and Knocked out: 9

Rallied: 2

In total 6 C Company tanks were Knocked out by hostile artillery: 2075, 2695, 2856, 4563, 8022 and 8086 (war Diary.

Aftermath

C Company's remaining tanks all broke down and were destroyed whilst retiring towards Guedecourt:

2875 was unfit for action, it was taken over by 2Lt Allwood who destroyed it on the 25th 500yds from Courcelette

8105 was destroyed at Baulencourt.

2579 was burnt out at Bancourt.

8021, “Hielan' Laddie” Ditched and broke down at O.21.b. The tank was abandoned and destroyed.

H4 possibly photographed whilst derelict after allies recaptured area: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P01322.010

H23 was photographed whilst derelict post War: X83.p107 [ Note: the caption to this photo says it was taken at Cambrai, Hickey's account and the BHS imply this is incorrect ].

"Hummingbird" photographed, presumably whilst derelict as it appears to have German writing on the sponson: E Bay photograph, unable to reference.

..........................................................................................................

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 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. Driver KIA, OIC and 3 OR 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

H6, 2831 filmed, on April 9th / 10th still bearing the name" Inviolate" and the crew number I46.

IWM 184: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060022684

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/

Primary 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