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Battle of the Sambre, 4th November 1918
B Company, 9th Battalion with 50th Division, XIII Corps (OH)
9 Battalion's "B" Company intended to get Five tanks into action on November 4th 1918
"B" Company - Captain Warren, MC
Section
I36, m
I39, f
Section
3 tanks
Capt. Clegg - Section commander
2Lt Boult
Supply, wireless and signal tanks
See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.
Note
I36 and I39 battalion numbers and sexes from 7 Wiltshires War Diary (W7Wilt p65)
Captain Clegg was in charge of a section (BOH.p228)
2Lt Boult was in command of a 9th battalion tank on this day and had been with tank I34 on 1st October (BOH.p228) (S99.p110)
Tank I21, B Coy had arrived with the battalion on 27th October (W9t)
Orders
"B" Company were to cooperate with 150th Brigade of the 50th Division in an attack on 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. (W50Div PRO-WO-95-2812-1_6 p120ff)
The tanks were given two objectives. Initially they were to support a frontal attack on a frontage of 1200 yds, to a depth of 1600 yds This would bring them to the South West edge of Morval forest. They were then to proceed in a North by north West direction to mop up a triangular space purposely left by the infantry (H9t) (W50Div PRO-WO-95-2812-1_6 p120), No troops or tanks were to enter the the triangular space until after H +150 mins as it was was to be bombarded by artillery until then. The triangle was formed by the red dotted Line, the Laie de La Carriere and the brigade boundary. (W2Mun)
The 150th brigade was to attack with two battalions in front and one in reserve (W2Mun).
2nd Northumberland Fusiliers were to attack on the left, two companies abreast and two in support, each company was to have two platoons abreast with two in support. Each of the attacking companies was supported by a tank. The left most platoon of the support company was to form a flank guard with one of the tanks, they were to proceed to G3a.5.8. (W2NF).
7th Wiltshire were to attack on the right of the brigade front. Tank I36, female with the left company and tank I39, male with the right company. The creeping barrage would reach the edge of the forest at Zero + 75 mins on the left and Zero +82 mins on the right. From here to the red dotted line there would be no barrage, the artillery instead shelling the roads and tracks 500 yards ahead of the infantry. (W7Wilt)
The tanks were to proceed the infantry to the edge of the forest, though the infantry were to attack without the tanks if they were out out of action. From the edge of the forest the infantry were to advance without the tanks. Should the infantry need a tank to perform a special task a smoke bomb was to fired in the direction the tank was to go. Further communication was to be had by messages being handed through the trap door in the rear of the tank. (W2NF), (W7Wilt)
2nd Munsters were in support, their A and C Companies were to advance to G3a.8.5 by Zero +100, there they would meet the four tanks. A company would then mop up the area east of the track running from A26b.3.9 to A27a.8.1 C Company mopping up the area west of this track. (W2Mun)
The left flank of the brigade was protected by a standing barrage until H+120. This barrage was to advance north from H+120 until H+162 in front of the advance by 2 Munsters' A and C companies which was to start at H+150 mins. At h +162 this barrage was to meet the barrage coming south in front of the 18th Divisions attack. (W2Mun)
"A" company would be attacking on the left with 150th Brigade (H9) [the history incorrectly identifies this as 130th brigade].
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)
Supply, wireless and signal tanks
See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.
Account of operations
The day started very misty which caused some units to loose direction (W150b)
One of the tanks assigned to the 2 Northumberland Fusiliers ditched in a pond on the approach march and thus did not make the start point (H9) (W2NF).
One tank's crew was overcome by gas (OH).
The remaining three tanks, one with the Northumberland fusiliers, and two with the Wiltshire Regiment (I36 and I39), successfully reached the first objective (H9t) by 10am [Red dotted Line ?]. The Infantry continued the attack and reached the first objective [Red line ?] by 12.00. (W2NF). or 12.45 (W7Wilt)
The gassed crew was replaced by a scratch crew from the 2/R Dublin Fusiliers, caught up the infantry at 8.50am and did good service (OH)The Royal Dublins' War Diary does not mention this (S103)
The 2nd Munsters' A company met three tanks in the sunken at H+120 mins (08.15) and proceeded to mop up the open country to the west of the Forest d Mormal towards Preaux au Bois, this was accomplished by 13.15. The attack followed the creeping barrage northwards. (W2Mun) Only one tank started on time with the Munster's, the other two were late, all three had moved through the area between the Divisions by 10:20 (W150b)
2Lt Boult's tank broke a track before zero but was repaired and started on time, the OIC led the tank on foot for most of the day. Two crew were wounded and four guns put out of action. (BOH.p228)
All the tanks worked independently and reached their second objectives. (H9)
All the tanks rallied, six other ranks were wounded. (H9)
Supply, wireless and signal tanks
See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.
Summary
Allocated: 5
At Start: 4
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 4
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 4
Aftermath
The tank that failed to start remained ditched for several days (H9t)
The gassed tank is counted as having started, engaged enemy and rallied.
This was 9th battalion's last action of the Great War.
Capt Clegg and 2Lt Boult both received Bars for their MC for this action (BOH.p228)
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
W150b - War Diary of 150 Brigade - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2833-4 - p107,
W2NF - War Diary of 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2836-1 - p38, p39, p42, p43
W2Mun - War Diary of 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2837-1 - p95, p118
W7 Wilt - War Diary of 7th Battalion Wiltshire regiment - Pdf Download from Kew - PRO-WO-95-2836-2 - p65, p69
Map - 9 Battalion A and B Companies 4 November 1918
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