1 Battalion 29 September 1918
The Tanks at St Quentin Canal. 29th September 1918
1st Battalion, with 30th US Div, Australian - American Corps, 4th Army (OH)
1st Battalion had 24 tanks in action on 29th September 1918 (W1a))
A Company
3 sections (W1a)
12 tanks (W1a)
B Company – Major Miskin
3 sections (W1a)
12 tanks (W1a)
Lt Hopgood
Capt. Hill
Companies and commanders unknown
9296, f
9391, f
9076, m
9122, m,
Notes:
1st Battalion also had a wireless tank on this date, which had been detached from 4th battalion (W4a) It is not mentioned in 1st battalions records.
Up to 16 of the tanks were MKV, the reminder were MkV* (w1)
Lt Hopgoods Company designation is not given, he may have fought with “A” Company
C Company were due to take over ten tanks which didn’t arrive due a train derailment, the company’s place was taken by “B” Company 4th Battalion (H1)
The four tanks whose WD 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.
1st battalion had apparently dispensed with the letter " A " on their crew numbers, instead sporting large " 1 " (W23)
Capt. Hill was OIC of a tank in "B" Company 1st Battalion according to the BHS of tank 9145 of 4th battalion (WMH)
Orders
“A” Company and “B” Company 4th Battalion were to start at 5:50am and lead, “A” Company on the left (to the north of Bellicourt (H1)) with 119th Regt, “B” 4th on the right with 120th Regt; “B” Company 1st Battalion was to start at 6:20am and form a left flank (W1a) south to Nauroy (H1
Objectives Green line East and South of Bellicourt and Nauroy (W1a)
Account of Operations
Very heavy mist made direction keeping difficult, tanks having to rely on their compasses. (H1) the “mist” was actually a British Smoke screen which blew back towards the tanks whose vision was limited to 1 to 5 yds, the infantry lost direction immediately. (W1a)
“A” Company
The 119th regiment was fired on from 27th US Divisions sector and turned left to face the fire. Despite this problem Bellicourt and the South end of the tunnel were taken and the right almost reached the Hindenburg support Line South of Nauroy. (OH)
1 tank broke a track and failed to start; 3 tanks ditched in bad ground behind British lines. (W1a)
5 tanks ditched after reaching the Hindenburg Line just west of the Canal Tunnel; 2 tanks reached the tunnel and did good work, one was knocked out east of the tunnel and one rallied.1 tank reached the Green line and was knocked out 600yds east of it at a30b.3.7. Seven tanks rallied. Company fired 21300 rounds SAA and 395 6 Pdr (W1a)
Note: The account above is based mainly on the report which is somewhat at variance with the Battalion History which states: 8 tanks reached the Hindenburg line, crushed the wire and silenced enemy MGs they then preceded to their final objective but en-route two were hit and Knocked out and two ditched, the remaining four made to the further end of the canal tunnel. (H1). the author has assumed the report is more accurate.
“B” Company
The 120th regiment leaned closely on the barrage, crossed both the Hindenburg and the Hindenburg support lines and reached Nauroy, a gain of 4000yds (OH)
All 12 tanks started an hour late when their accompanying infantry finally arrived, Maj Miskin and 2 section commanders shepherded the tanks forward, 5 reaching the Green Dotted line to find British troops already there. (W1a) The 32nd AIF battalion had advanced to the tunnel in G15a G15b, G9c and G9d, then borrowed seven tanks from 1st battalion to deal with heavy opposition there (w32aus) One of these tanks may have been 9th battalions I2 which fought with 1st battalion all afternoon after mistaking the 1 of their crew numbers for " I " (W23) tanks did useful work East of Bellicourt and north of Nauroy clearing up many MGs. 7 tanks rallied, 2 received direct hits, 2 broke down, 1 ditched and burnt out. Company fired 7100 rounds SAA and 284 6 Pdr (W1a)
2 Lt Hopgood’s tank was ditched close to the enemy for two days in the Hindenburg Line, it successfully held out until some Australians arrived and dislodged the enemy, the crew then unditched the tank and rallied. (H1) The Summary attached to the report indicates a tank broke its Coventry chain in the enemy front line trenches and was brought in on the 3rd October (W1a), this may be Lt Hopgoods tank
Note: The account above is based mainly on the report which is somewhat at variance with the Battalion History which states: 7 tanks made good progress and cleared the ground East of Bellicourt and North of Nauroy, 2 broke down and two were hit and burnt out (H1)
2Lt F May of 1st Tank Battalion died on this day (CWG)
Capt Hill of 1st Tank Battalion died on the 2nd October 1918 (CWG) Possibly as a result of wounds received on this day.
Summary
Total Tanks: 24
Failed to Start: 1
Engaged enemy: 18
Ditched / Broke Down: 9
Hit and Knocked out: 6
Rallied: 15
Note:
The above is based on the summary sheets at the end of the report, the numbers differ slightly from those indicated in the report itself, one of the rallied tanks was unfit having been hit in the radiator.
Aftermath
1st Battalion next in action on 8th October 1918 (w1)
Sources
W1– 1st Battalion’s War diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
W1a – HQ 4th Tank brigade. Report on Bellicourt operations 29th September 1918 in PRO WO 95 / 109
W23 - 3rd Tank brigades report on operations with IX Corp on 29th September 1918 in PRO WO 95 / 95
W4a – Appendix to 4th Battalions War Diary. Summary of tanks on Strength – August 1918. PRO WO 95 / 110
4th Tank Battalion. Order No.24 undated but probably 28th September 1918.
W32aus – 32nd Australian Battalion's War Diary. Downloaded from AWM.
H1 – 1st Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
OH – Official History 1918 Vol V Chap VII, pg 241ff
WMH - Henshall Papers, IWM 73 / 126 / 1
St Quentin Canal - 29 September to 2 October (4th Army)