1 Battalion 17 October 1918
The Battle of the Selle. 17th October 1918
1st Battalion, with 151st Brigade, 50th Division, XIII Corp, 3rd Army
Background
On 14th October the battalion had 14 fit tanks (W1)
1st Battalion had 11 tanks in action on 29th September 1918 (w1)
Composite Company – Major Miskin MC (H1)
B Company
Section – Mann DM MC (W1a)
4 tanks
2Lt Urquhart
C Company – Maj Boxer (W1a)
Section – 2Lt Wilson A (W1a)
3 tanks
2Lt Churchill
Sgt Pilcher
Sgt Poulter
Section - Capt Robinson CT (W1a)
4 tanks
Cpl Collins
Companies and commanders unknown
9296, f
9391, f
9076, m
9122, m,
Note
The four tanks whose serial numbers are known were transferred from 4th to 1st Battalion on the 25th August (W4a), some or all may have been lost prior to the 8th October.
Orders
To start from lying up place a small orchard North of Escaucourt at 1am on the 17th and cross the Selle River (H1) via cribs at q34a.6.3, the river only being 8 foot wide and four foot deep at this point (w1a) to support the 151st brigade (OH)
The tanks were to cross the river Selle as soon after Zero as possible and then proceed at top speed to overtake the infantry at the red dotted line and lead them to the red line. (W1a)
Capt Manns section on the right with 151st and 149th Brigades, one tank to be detailed to mop up le Quennelet Grange and another La Roux Farm (W1a)
2Lt Wilson’s section on the centre was to deploy at Q16b.2.8 (W1a)
Capt Robinson’s section on the left was to proceed to Q16a clearing up both sides of the railway line en route to the Red dotted line and on reaching the red line to clear it from the Railway line to the Divisional boundary. (W1a)
Once the red line was captured all the tanks were to rally and prepare to deal with a counter attack or assist in a further advance to Basuel and the Green Line (W1a)
Account of Operations
11 tanks started on time (w1), Major Miskin was killed by a shell whilst going forward to river (H1)(CWG). One tank broke down on and failed to reach the River (W1) “B” Company tanks were leading and reached the river bank just as the barrage lifted (it started at 5:20am) (H1) All 11 tanks crossed the river Selle over specially made wooden cribs at St Souplet. Soon after crossing three tanks broke down and two bogged. The remainder followed the three battalions of the 151st Brigade but was unable to establish proper contact due to the mist and noise of battle. (OH)
Capt Robinson’s section lost a tank which broke down before it reached the river. Capt Robinson was knocked out by a shell splinter. Lt Maclen led the section forward but two tanks became bogged down in Q28. The one remaining tank under Cpl Collins ran over two MGs in Q28b on the right Divisional Boundary at the request of the infantry. The tank then went to La Quennelet Farm where Cpl Collins was directed to his objective on the left by Capt Mann. En route to this objective the tank successfully silenced an enemy Field Gun in Q17c, dislodged some Germans who climbed o top of the tank and silenced some trench mortars in Q10b; as there were no infantry visible the tank returned and rallied. (W1a)
2Lt Wilson’s section in the centre also lost a tank early in the action, 2Lt Churchill’s and his crew being overcome by fumes, they rallied in time to prepare to repel the expected counter attack. The remaining tanks both reached the Red dotted Line (intermediate objective) and became engaged with enemy Mgs and artillery. Sgt Pilcher’s tank advanced to Q18c where it was hit six times and set afire, all the crew being casualties. Sgt Poulter signalled for the infantry to follow then advanced alone and engaged Mgs in the brickworks in Q10b before returning to the railway and rallying. (W1a)
Capt Mann’s section on the right caught the infantry up almost immediately and overtook them, Lt Urquarts tank bogged and broke down in some marshland. The remaining three tanks reached the Red dotted line (intermediate objective) and helped clear La Quennelet Farm, then manoeuvred between the intermediate and first objectives mopping up MG nests. Cpl Collins tank from the left section appeared and was directed towards his objective. Capt Mann then rallied his section and two other tanks and stood by to repel a counter attack and assist the further advance of the 150th Brigade. Neither the counter attack nor the advance took place. (W1a)
The tanks fired a total of 374 6pdr and 11,700 SAA rounds (W1a)
Summary
Total Tanks: 11
Failed to Start: 1
Engaged enemy: 6
Ditched / Broke Down: 4
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 7
Note: Rallied is the number of tanks fit for action at the end of the day. (W1a) It is likely more tanks were recovered.
The summary sheet attached to the report of operations states 2 tanks were hit, only one is mentioned in the body of the report
Aftermath
This was 1st battalions last action.
Sources
W1– 1st Battalion’s War diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
W1a – Appendixes to 1st Battalions War Diary.
Appendix D. Preliminary order No.3 dated 15th October 1918. PRO WO 95 / 109
Appendix E. Operational order No.4 dated 16th October 1918. PRO WO 95 / 109
Appendix F. 4th Tank Brigade Report on Beurevoir Operations, October 17th, 1918. PRO WO 95 / 109
H1 – 1st Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol V, pg 310