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Battle of the Sambre, 4th November 1918
A Company, 9th Battalion with 50th Division, XIII Corps
9 Battalion's A Company intended to get six tanks into action on November 4th 1918
A Company - Major Harrison, MC
Section
I3
I4
I8
Section
three tanks
Supply, wireless and signal tanks
See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.
Notes
Tank I3, I4 and I8 battalion numbers from 3 Royal Fusiliers (London) War Diary (W3Lon)
Orders
To cooperate with 3 / Royal Fusiliers and 13 / Black Watch (Scottish Horse) , 149th Brigade of the 50th Division in an attack on the SW corner of the forest de Morval H9t)(OH) [Note: The 9th Tank Battalion's War History incorrectly identifies the Brigade and Division being supported].
The Infantry were to follow a creeping barrage which was to advance at 100 yards every six minutes, pausing when it reached the Red dotted line at H + 170 and resuming its advance to the red line at H+230. During the pause the tanks were to mop up the area between the Red dotted line and the yellow line (W50Div PRO-WO-95-2812-1_6 p120ff). The author has been unable to discover the position of the yellow line.
13 Black Watch were on the left of the attack, jumping off point ran from G8a.95.65 to G2c.55.35. Two of the three tanks supporting the 13 Black Watch were to pass through the belt of trees in G11a.5.8 and will then assist in mopping up the Saw Mills (W13BW)
The Royal Fusiliers were on the right of the brigade front, the three tanks (I3, I4, I8) with them were to start with the infantry from their jumping off line at zero. The tank's objective was the line of trees in G11b and G12a and G12d thence to work southwards to to the canal bank to establish posts in H7c (W3Lon); capturing the spur in G12d and H7c (W50Div PRO-WO-95-2812-1_6 p8)
149th and 150th Brigades were to advance in the first phase of the attack to the Red line, 151st Brigade would then pass through at Zero plus 300 mins and advance to the Green line. (W3Lon)
Tanks were to form up 400 yards behind the infantry at Zero minus one hour (W50Div PRO-WO-95-2812-1_6 p12)
Zero was at 06:15 (OH)(W50Div)
Clayton indicates the tanks were to advance half an hour before the infantry, the author cannot find any reference to this in the original sources.
Supply, wireless and signal tanks
See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.
Account of operations
The day started very misty, progress was slow until the mist lifted at 9.45. (W149b)
Five tanks advanced. There was no front line as such, the Germans were scattered throughout the forest (sic) in numerous small posts, from which they attempted to delay the British Advance. The tanks' work was thus fairly easy, though one broke down prior to reaching its objective. One tank was hit and KO and abandoned at its objective. The four surviving tanks all rallied. One Other Rank was killed (H9t), presumably on the KO tank.
The tanks with the 3 Royal Fusiliers did good work (W3Lon) the tanks with their Black Watch assisted in the advance (W13BW) The Red line was reached by 1100 hours (W149b)
An order issued at 12.25 on the 4th tells the Scottish Horse (13 Black Watch) and Royal Fusiliers ( 3 London) to clear the belt of trees in G11b.3.7 to G12a.3.5, this suggests the tanks objective was not captured by this time. (W3Lon)
Supply, wireless and signal tanks
See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.
Summary
Allocated: 6
At Start: 5
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 3
The ditched tank also rallied later in the day.
Aftermath
This was 9th battalion's last action.
Sources
W9t - War Diary of "I" /9th Tank Battalion - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-107-7, p29
Note: The "I" /9th Tank Battalion War Diary appendixes for November 1918 which should be in PRO-WO-95-107-2 are missing.
The War Diary of the 9th Tank Battalion, transcript from Bovington tank Museum does not contain the records for November 1918 as they are missing.
H9 - War History of the 9th Tank Battalion, transcript from Bovington tank Museum.
H9t - War History of "I" /9th Tank Battalion - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-107-5 p43 and 44, and Map in PRO-WO-1017-6 p16
OH - Official History 1918, Vol V p474
W50Div - War Diary of 50 Division - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2812-1_6 p4, p6, p8, p12, p120ff
W149b - War Diary of 149 Brigade - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2827-5 - p94, MAP p76
W3Lon - War Diary of 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers (London) Regiment - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2831-2 - p35, p71, p73 MAP P78
W13BW - War Diary of 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion Black Watch - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2831-4 - p15
Map - 9 Battalion A and B Companies 4 November 1918
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