6 Battalion 5 November 1918
The Battle of Sambre. 5th November 1918
6 Battalion, with 2nd Scots Guards, 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, VI Corp, 3rd Army (OH)
Part of 2nd Tank Brigade, transferred from the 4th tank brigade on the 19th October (H6)
6 Battalion, Composite Company had 4 tanks in action on 5th November 1918 (H6):
Composite Company
6 tanks
Lt Brock
Lt Jones
Lt Plant
Notes
On 19th October the engines on tanks A332 and A335 were transferred (W6t).
On the 21st October A315, A235, A237, A241, A242, A317, and A340 joined the Battalion (W6t)
On the 24th October A230, A290, A345, A353, A211, A257, A305, A240, A283, A318, A293, A289, A308 and A342 joined the Battalion (W6t)
Orders
The tanks were following the VI Corps attack, 6 ditched or broke down whilst moving forward, including A351 and A290. Six tanks eventually reached Bout – la - Haut where they agreed to attack in support of “A” Company, 2nd Scots Guards, who were pinned down in a sunken road at H33c by MG fire (H6). The tanks split into two sections, one section being ordered to go in a North Easterly direction, one tank going through Bermieres, the other two around the west of Bermieres. The second section of two tanks were sent to the railway 400yds to the right of Farm de Cambren (H6) N4b(W6t) to cover the advance of the Grenadiers (H6).)
Account of Operations
Lt Brock’s section of two tanks (W6t) left the road east of Bout – la – Haut and immediately came under heavy MG fire. They fired short bursts of suppressing fire into the hedgerows and railway embankment, seeing a few fleeting targets; then turned back to bring the infantry forward (H6).
Lt Plant’s section of three tanks silenced a battery firing on Lt Plant’s centre tank from the north east are of Buvignes (H6), H36a (W6t) the battery was fired on and dispersed.; two Mgs were also put out of action. Lt Plant and Lt Jones then returned to Bermieres and met the 2nd Scots Guards who were advancing through the village (H6), at 12.30, the tanks led the infantry into the village (W2SG.p109). The tanks joined the infantry and attempted to support their attack on the high ground that ran through Buvignies. Lt Plant’s tank broke down and the driver was hit whilst attempting to repair it, Lt Plant boarded Lt Jones’ tank and it proceeded to advance behind the German lines where it became bellied (H6) at N5b.9.9 (W6t) on a tree stump in Buvisiau, the tank was blown up about midnight and the crew all captured. The 2nd Scots Guards advanced and formed a line near Buvignies (H6).
The other four tanks all returned and rallied (H6).
Summary
Total Tanks: 6
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and knocked out:
Rallied: 4
Aftermath
Lt Jones tank was found at N5b.9.9 when the British liberated the area.
This was 6th Battalions last action. This was the last British tank action of the Great War.
Sources
H6 – 6th Battalion War History, (1919) Naval and Military Press
W6t – 6th Battalion War Diary. Pdf download from PRO Kew, WO 95-107-3, p119
W2SG - 2nd Scots Guards War diary, Pdf download from PRO Kew, WO 95-1223-4_2, p109
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 5, pg.498f
The following sources do not mention tanks
W3GB - - 3rd Guards Brigade War Diary, November and December 1918, Pdf download from PRO Kew, WO 95-1222-7
Map - 6 Battalion, 5 November 1918
Sambre - 4 to 11 November 1918