Battle of the Sambre, 4^th November 1918

C Company, 9^th Battalion with 17^th, and 38^th Divisions, V Corps

9 Battalion's C Company intended to get six tanks into action on November 4^th 1918

"C" Company - Captain Warren, MC

Three tanks

Section - Capt Halleson

Three tanks

Notes

Capt Halleson was the section commander of the three tanks ordered to support 17th Division. (W17d)

"I" section was also part of this company but was detached to support the attack of 25th brigade further south, this narrative is elsewhere.

Background

The companies other two tanks failed to complete the long trek prior to this action (H9t)

Orders

C Company 9th Tank battalion was split into three sections, each section was allocated to a separate Divisions: 38th, 17th and 24th.

Three thanks were to support the attack of 17th Division which was to attack on a one brigade, three battalion front (W17d). Two with the northern battalion, starting from X23A, one with the southern battalion starting from X29b (W52b p21). No 1 tank was to cross the roads in S20c at 6:15 am, at the same time as the leading infantry, breaking down hedges en-route to assist the passage of the infantry and was to help clear the enemy from the road junction at s20d.1.0. This tank was then to follow 300 yards behind the leading infantry assisting in silencing strongpoints as needed (W17d). The other two tanks were to follow the infantry like tank No 1. All were to reach the vicinity of the Red Line and then rally in S15d (W52b)

Two (OH), three (W10SWB) or four (W113b) tanks were to support 38th Division's attack, primarily operating with 115 Brigade (W113b) also 9^th Tank Battalions History incorrectly says 39^th Division (H9t)

115 Brigade were to capture the first objective, the Blue Line (W113b) , 800 yards inside Mormal Forest (W10SWB). 113 Brigade were to capture the second objective, the Red Line and 114 Brigade was to capture the third and fourth objectives, the brown and green lines (W113b).

One tank was to operate with each of 115 Brigades three battalions: one with 17 RWF on left, one with 10 SWB in the centre and one with 2 RWF on the right. Zero 06.15 (W2RWF). In the event two tanks operated with the 10 SWB (W10SWB), the tank allocated to 2 RWF failed to arrive (see below) (W2RWF)and there is no mention of tanks in the 17 RWF War Diary (W17RWF).

Account of operations

Only one tank was available to support 17^th Division, this was hit and KO just after starting before it crossed the British front line (H9t) (OH) (W17d WO-PRO-1985-4 p8), one crewman was killed and two wounded (H9t) (OH)

Only two tanks are mentioned supporting 38^th Division, the tank detailed to support the 2RWF on the right didn't arrive. It was very misty. The two tanks that did start did useful work, assisting the infantry by silencing MGs along the eastern edge of the Forest of Mormal. (H9t) and thus clearing the way for the infantry to advance (W115b). They also helped by breaking down hedges which had been reinforced with thick wire; the tanks did not enter the wood itself ^(OH). One tank bellied on a tree stump, the other broke down and thus both were left in the field (H9t).

The 2RWF advanced without their allocated tank, fortunately a tank from 14 Tank Battalion (N1, 9557) had drifted north and joined the 2RWF. (see 14 Battalion A and B Company narrative) 9557 silenced enemy MGs in the southern edge of Englefontaine and also assisted the 2RWF by suppressing the enemy who were in the 400 yard wide gap that had opened between the 38th and 18th Divisions flanks. (W2RWF)

115 Brigade had reached its objective by 7.15, one hour after zero, they had only encountered very weak opposition from the 16th and 58th German Infantry Divisions. An hour later, at 08.15 the 113 Brigade passed through to continue the attack (W10SWB).

Summary

Allocated: 6

At Start: 4

Failed to Start: 1

Engaged enemy: 2

Ditched / Broke Down: 2

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 0

Aftermath

Rallied does not include the tank that broke down.

The bellied and broken down tanks were both recovered several days later (H9t).

This was 9th battalion's last action of the Great War.

17th Divisions account is very damning of the tanks:

...in no previous attack made by the Division had tanks proved of service. It is questionable whether employed in twos and threes with Divisions they are employed usefully. Their slowness makes them an easy target for enemy guns. Two or three Supply Tanks to carry up supplies and stores during and after an attack would on the other hand be of value to a division as was shown when the Division attacked Gauche Wood. (W17d WO-PRO-1985-4 p8),

In contrast 38th Division were very positive and praised the tanks contributions.

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 9^th Tank Battalion, transcript from Bovington Tank Museum does not contain the records for November 1918 as they are missing.

H9 - War History of the 9^th 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, p44, p53; and Map in PRO-WO-1017-6 p16

OH - Official History 1918, Vol V p471f, 472f, 479f

W38d - War Diary of 38 Infantry Division - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - WO-PRO-2541-4_2 - No mention of tanks.

W113b - War Diary of 113 Infantry Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2554-5 p11ff

W115b - War Diary of 115 Infantry Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2560-5 p168f

W2RWF - War Diary of 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2561-1 p31ff

W10SWB - War Diary of10th Battalion South Wales Borderers - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2562-1 p51ff

W17RWF - War Diary of 17th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2561-1 p108 - Brief account, no mention of tanks.

W17d - War Diary of 17 Infantry Division - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - WO-PRO-1985-4 p8, PRO WO 95-1985-5 p38f, p66

W52b - War Diary of 52 Infantry Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2011-4 p11, p23, p48, p13.

Note none of 52 Brigade's three infantry Battalions mention tanks in their War Diary entries:

10 Lancashire Fusiliers (PRO-WO-2012-3), 9 Duke of Wellingtons (PRO-WO-2014-1), 12 Manchesters (PRO-WO-2012-2)

The War Diary of the 9^th Tank Battalion, transcript from Bovington tank Museum does not contain the records for November 1918 as they are missing.

Map - 9 Battalion, C Company, 4 November 1918

Sambre - 4 to 11 November (4th Army)

I / 9th Battalion