Embedded Files
Battle of the Selle, 23rd October 1918
A Company, 10th Battalion with 55th Brigade, 18th Division, XIII Corps
A Company, 10th battalion had 7 tanks in action on 23rd October 1918.
A Company
3 section - Capt Collins
9004, Cpl McNughton, Crew No 12
9876, Capt ES Garrod / 2Lt Patterson CR , crew No 16
9440, Cpl Taylor WH, crew No 14
9145, Lt Gray JR, crew No 13
4 section - Capt Gerrord ES
9164, 2Lt White HJ, crew No 19
9401, LCpl Went JE, crew No 15
9102, Cpl Evans, crew No 17
Wireless tank
6099, 2Lt Gait AW
Note
No BHS for 9004 and 9102, the OICs are those listed in the notebook on 19th October.
Orders
55th Brigade, with 6th Northants attached, were to attack in two bounds. two battalions in each bound, 7th Buffs and 8 East Surreys in the first bound on the left and right respectively. (W7Buff p105). The 6 Northants and 7th Queens in the second bound on the left and right respectively (W55b p45)
7th Buffs were to attack in two bounds, D company on the left and C on the right will capture the 3rd objective; B Company on the left and A Company on the right were to capture the 4th objective. Then the 6th Northants would leapfrog through. (W7Buff p95). Three tanks were to support the attack of the 7 Buffs front two companies, one tank was to support the attack of the rear companies (W7Buff p105)
"A" Company was to assist the 55th Brigade in capturing the 3rd, 4th and 5th (final) objectives, they were to cross the river Selle at K22d central at dusk on YZ night and lay up in the vicinity of K22b.8.2. all details were to be arranged with the commander of 55th Brigade (W10t p52). The objectives included Bousies and Robersart. If the 2nd Objective was not captured on the first day then the company was to wait in reserve for any further attacks.
9876 was to help the infantry capture 4th and 5th objectives moving with and behind the infantry (BHS)
9440 was to proceed with and behind the infantry to the final objective. (BHS)
9145 was to advance with and behind the infantry to the final objective, moving to assist when resistance was encountered. Specifically to deploy at L8b.9.4 and then support B Company, 7th Buffs in capturing the 3rd and 4th objectives. Then to assist the Northants in attacking the 5th objective. (BHS)
9164 was to help capture the 3rd and 4th objectives moving with and behind infantry (BHS).
55th Infantry Brigade was expecting to be supported by two sections of tanks, these were to deploy immediately to the rear of the 8th East Surreys and 7th Buffs (L8a, L8b, L8d - L15a) arriving there at Zero +240. The tanks were not to advance ahead of the infantry (W55b p31)
Start Point k23c.2.2. Start Time 04:00.
Wireless tank to be at L19a at Zero +180 and then to L14 central (W10Bv)
A signal tank would lay two pairs of cable for use by HQ formations operating in the divisional area (W55b p34)
A supply tank was allocated to the 7th Buffs and 8 Easy Surreys and was to carry 80 tins of water, 30 boxes SAA, 30 boxes Trench mortar Ammunition, 20 boxes RG (Rifle grenade ?) No.23, 60 filled LG drums 100 shovels and 40 picks, it was to unload at F25d.6.3 (W8ES p74)
Account of operations
The approach march was carried out on clear nights and thus went without mishap. At the SP the tanks were subjected to gas shelling on Y/Z night which inflicted some casualties. (W10Bv)
The tanks started on time in bright moonlight. (W10Bv)
7 tanks arrived at k22b.5.5 at 20:30 on 22nd. They waited here for the attack and were subjected to heavy shelling, 9401 was hit on track and knocked out. At 4:10 the remaining 6 fighting tanks moved off (W10t p59); the notebook states five tanks started on time, J7 experienced engine trouble and started late (W10Bv).
No 3 section went to L13d and attacked with the East Surreys (W10Bv)
9440 was in action for 3 hours, drove six and half miles and fired 560 rounds SAA. The tank set off from S7B K23c.2.2 under the superviosn of 2Lt Gray (tank 9145) . At point L3a.8.5 the tank captured a small enemy field gun and a map showing the enemies organisation, the tank broke down and parked up at L3a.2.0 at 16.20 hours. (BHS)
9876 was in action for three hours and twenty minutes, drove seven and a half miles and fired 80 rounds 6 pdr and 300 SAA. As the designated deployment point had not been captures the tank deployed with the infantry at I (?) 13.. the third objective was reached without much opposition and the tank rallied at L14 central. the tank then moved to the 4th objective and helped clear the village of Bouises . The tank then rallied and was knocked out at L11a.0.0 (BHS).
The infantry consolidated on the Green dotted line and the tanks rallied. About noon a counter attack developed from the area from north of Eveque in L5.6. and 12. 9876 Was detached to assist in breaking up this counter attack, it knocked out several MGs but was itself knocked out at L11a.0.0 by a field gun in the north of Eveque Wood. (BHS)
9145 was in action for five hours, drove seven and a half miles and fired 20 rounds 6 Pdr and 250 SAA. Moved off from k23c.2.2. at 0400 hours. On reaching L13b.2.7. the tank was ordered to move to the right to deal with some MGs enfilading the right flank. The tank used its 6pdrs to deal with these. Rejoined 7th Buffs at 7:30 then ordered by Lt Col Curtis (10th Tank Battalion) to deal with MGs in L3a.8.5. which the tank did. It was now 10:30, the tank was in advance of the infantry and so patrolled until 11:30 when the infantry came up. The tank now joined the attack either side of the Croix- Bousies Road, ensuring the infantry consolidated along the road F28c.4.7. to F28d.7.0. (BHS) The tank was ordered to reconnoitre Boiuses with A Company, 7 Buffs, the tank returned at 12:30 and reported that he had entered the villages and left the infantry mopping it up (W7Buff p102). At 1500 the tank retired and rallied in L14 central at 1620 hours. (BHS)
No record of 9004 actions.
No 4 section to L7d and attacked with the 7th Buffs. (W10t p59) (W10Bv)
9401 was hit and knocked out at the start point, broken tracks, no casualties (BHS).
9164 was in action for three hours twenty minutes, drove seven and a half miles and fired 115 rounds 6pdr and 600 SAA. The tank came under fire in L13, L14 and L15, before we reached the deployment point, three crew were wounded by splashes. The tank left the deployment point, L15a.5.3. at 7:20am and proceeded to the left of the slope, the enemy Mgs put up a strong fight. The tank passed through the infantry and mopped up the Wood in L9a, then dealt with Mgs in trees NE of the road at L9b.2.5. and L9b.5.2. The tank rallied at 9:30 at L15c.1.4. The tank went back into action at the second Zero Hour, 11:20; deploying from L10a.1.9. with orders to clear the factory and crossroads at L4b. At L4 central the infantry company commander indicated he was being sniped at from the factory and nearby houses, the tank used 6pdr fire to silence these and then hoisted the green and white flag to tell the infantry all was clear. the road form L4b to L5 was being heavily shelled and enemy Mgs were busy on the ridge to the NE. Two flashes were sighted in a hedge at F28d.8.2, the tank broke through the hedge, spotted and then silenced two field guns positioned there. The tank crossed the brook and proceeded up the ridge coming under heavy MG fire which wounded one of the crew. The tank retuned and rallied reaching L10a.1.9 at 1310 hours. (BHS)
No record of 9102 actions.
By 0925 D company 7th Buffs were badly cut up and the supporting B company only had two platoons but was pushign foreword with two tanks (presumably 9102 and 9164) (W7Buff p99)
All six tanks were heavily engaged in Bousies and as far as the Green dotted line, Three tanks went to help the infantry who signalled when they were held up in the copse at L9a. (W10t p59)
Tanks rallied at L14 central. (W10Bv)
The tanks led by their section commanders Capt. Gerrord and Lt Grey assisted the infantry of 55th Brigade (W55b p41)
According to 18th Division and 55th Brigade these tanks rendered great service to the infantry inflicting severe casualties and knocking out many Mgs (W10t p59). Lt Grey (9145) was especially helpful, several times reconnoitring ahead of the infantry and dealt with many Mgs showing absolute disregard for his own safety (W7Buff p103)
18th Division did not advance to the final objective and thus 6 Northanst and 7 West Surreys did not come into action (W7WS p81) (W6Nort p76)
Summary
Intended: 7
Reserve: 0
At start: 7
Started: 6
Engaged enemy: 6
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 4
Rallied doesn't include the tank that failed to start.
Engaged enemy and rallied both include the two tanks whose BHS are missing.
Aftermath
9876 handed to salvage (W10Bv)
Sources
W10a - Preliminary Report on Operations of 10th Tank Battalion & 301st American Tank Battalion with the XIII and IX Corps 23rd October 1918 - PRO WO 95 / 103
BHS - 10th Battalion Battle History Sheets PRO WO 95 / 103
10Bv - Original Notebook in 10 Battalions Box, Bovington Tank Museum
W10t - 10th Tank Battalion War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew,
PRO-WO-95-103-1, p57 - Diary entry, no detail.
PRO-WO-95-103-3_2
p41ff - Preliminary Report on Operations of 10th Tank Battalion
& 301st American Tank Battalion with
the XIII and IX Corps 23rd October 1918
p51ff - 10th Tank Battalion Order No 33
p56ff - 10th Tank Battalion Report on Operations. 23rd and 24th October 1918
BHS p73ff- BHS for tank 9876
p79ff - BHS for tank 9440
p82ff - BHS for tank 9145
p85ff - BHS for tank 9164
p76ff - BHS for tank 9401
p67ff - BHS for tank 9004 on 24th October 1918
p88ff- BHS for tank 9102 on 24th October 1918
W55b - 55th Infantry Brigade War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-2048-5
p30f - 55th Infantry Brigade order No 225
p37ff - 55th Infantry Brigade in the counter offensive of 1918. Narrative No. 6. The capture of Bousies and Robersart
p45 - Map
W7Buff - 9 Battalion East Kent (Buffs) Regiment War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-2049-1_4-
p94 - 7th Buffs Order No 161
p99 - Messages from battalion to brigade.
p102 - Report on Operations 22nd - 26th October 1918
p105 - R/759, Reference to order 151 para 3
W8ES - 8 Battalion East Surrey Regiment War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-2050-7-
p74 - Operation Orders
W7Wsur - 7 Battalion the Queens Own Royal West Surrey Regiment War Diary,
pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-2051-1_3, p81 - Diary entry.
W6Nort - 6 Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment War Diary, pdf download from PRO Kew, PRO-WO-95-2044-2_3, p76 - Diary entry.
S13 - The Tank Corp (1919) Major Clough Williams Ellis
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