Battle of the Sambre, 4^th November 1918

I Section, 9^th Battalion with 25^th Division, XIII Corps

9 Battalion's I Section intended to get three tanks into action on November 4^th 1918

"I" Section - Lt Dalgleish MC

Three tanks

9107, 2Lt Knowles

2 Lt Jones ND

Supply, wireless and signal tanks

See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.

Notes

2 Lt Jones is recorded as being wounded on 4th November, (H9t.p53) the only officer wounded on the 4th November was with "I" section. (H9t.p43)

9107, 2Lt Knowles from 75 Brigade's War Diary (W75b p66)

Orders

C Company 9th Tank battalion was split into three sections, "I" section's three tanks were to support 75^th Brigade, 25^th Division and assist in securing a crossing of the Sambre Canal (H9) (OH) at Landrecies. 1/8 Warwicks on the left, 1/5 Glosters on the right, 1/8 Worcesters to leapfrog at the canal and capture Landreceries, Initially the red Line, then send outposts to the red dotted line. H hour was at 06:15 (W75b) (W8Worc p52) . Four tanks were originally planned for, two with each battalion, their primary mission was to attack the enemy front line, once that had been subdued the two tanks with the Worcesters would proceed just north of the Fontaine-au-bois to Landrecies road to the railway at G16d.6.3. Those with the Glosters were to south following the line of the light railway in G15b and to where it joins the main line at G22a.0.2. thence NE along the main line to G16d.6.3 From there onwards all four tanks were to assist the infantry crossing the canal by providing covering fire from the NW bank. (W75b p40) (W8Worc p54). The tanks were to cross the Sambre River and assist in operations on the SE side, however tanks were only to cross over bridges certified safe by the RE officer on the spot. (W75b p49).

"I" Section's tanks were to rally in the valley at G9central, or, if no able to a the tankodrome at L15c (L75b p49)

Then usual signals were to be used between infantry and tanks:

From infantry to tank: Helmet waved on rifle, tanks needed here. Rifle pointed in direction of obstruction.

From tank to infantry:

Red and yellow flag - Tank broken down don't wait.

Green and white flag - All's well come on.

Tricolour flag - British tank coming back to rally. (W75b p53)

Supply, wireless and signal tanks

See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.

Account of operations

One of "I" section's tanks was hit and KO on the British front line, one man was killed, the officer and four other ranks were wounded (H9t), the officer is presumably 2Lt Jones who was the only 9th Battalion Officer wounded on this day (H9t p53). The second tank broke down just short of its objective, the third reached its objective and rallied. The broken down tank also rallied later (H9t). The tanks gave great assistance to the infantry, silencing about forty MGs (OH) one tank assisted the Worcesters A Company in silencing enemy MG fire from a Chateau at G16a.1.1.. this fire had already stopped the advance of the Glosters, Four officers and 35 men were captured in the chateau (W75b p64) (W8Worc p59). Another tank helped C Company Worcesters on the left of the attack, they reached G16b.0.7 and were engaged by Mgs firing along the road from the railway. These MGs were dealt with with the tanks assistance. (W8Worc p60). At 06.45 a tank helped the 8th Warwicks deal with enemy posts in G9c.65.10, at 07.00 to 08.00 a tank helped the infantry deal with opposition at G16b.55 (W75b p64) .

9107 helped clear enemy infantry from Faubourg Soyers and elsewhere acting in close support of the infantry. (W75b p66)

15 Brigade captured all their objectives and captured about 350 prisoners, one field gun and three anti tank guns (W5Glos p28)

Supply, wireless and signal tanks

See 2 Tank Supply Company narrative for details.

Summary

Allocated: 3

At Start: 3

Failed to Start: 0

Engaged enemy: 2

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 1

Rallied: 1

Aftermath

Rallied does not include the tank that broke down.

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

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 and 44, and Map in PRO-WO-1017-6 p16

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

W75b - War Diary of 75 Infantry Brigade - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2249-6 p38f, p49, p53, p61f

W8Wark - War Diary of 8th Battalion Warwickshire Regiment - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2251-4 p11 - Very brief entry, no mention of tanks.

W8Worc - War Diary of 8th Battalion Worcester Regiment - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2251-2 p47, p58f

W5Glos - War Diary of 5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment - Pdf Download from PRO Kew - PRO WO 95-2251-1 p28 - No mention of tanks

Map - 9 Battalion, C Company, "I" Section 4 November 1918

Sambre - 4 to 11 November (4th Army)

I / 9th Battalion