16 Battalion 1 October 1918
Battle of the St Quentin Canal. 1st October 1918
16th Battalion, with 14th Australian Brigade, 5th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 4th Army (OH)
16th Battalion had 10 tanks in action on 1st October 1918 (H16)
B Company – Maj Lewis JE
Section - Capt Chick
2Lt Thompson EJ
2Lt Pease R
2Lt Downes BW
Lt Beardall TG
Section - Capt McCorry
Lt Kinross W
2Lt Stedman WJ
2Lt Needham R
Lt Jerram RM
Section – Capt Lowe
Lt Abreham JG MC
2Lt Macintosh N
Lt Needham R
Notes:
Tanks 9002, 9150, 9017, 9327, 9172 and 9599 were all handed over to 2nd Brigade on 31st December (W16), they may have fought in the above action.
Orders
To assist 14th Australian infantry brigade in an attack on the Sugar factory east of Nauroy and a strong point known as the Maze trench system West of Estrees.
54th and 56th Australian battalions with two sections, Capt Chick and Capt McCorry (8 tanks) to attack the Maze.
Captains Mc Corys section to assembly at g18a.5.6. Two tanks to start at 3am and overtake the infantry, the other two to follow 600 yds behind
31st Australian battalion on the right to attack the Sugar Factory with two tanks, Capt Lowe in support.
Account of Operations
Tanks reached western side of Nauroy at 3:15am. (H16a)
Tanks with 54th battalion had withdrawn by 7.40am after reporting Estrees clear of enemy (w54aus)
Capt McCory’s section with 56th battalion: as planned two tanks passed through the infantry just after leaving the start line, did good work then led the infantry into Estress. The tansk and infantry co-operated perfectly, the tanks demoralising the enmy (w56aus)
One tank broke down and failed to get into action, the others all successfully attacked all objectives being captured and in addition Joncourt, Estrees and Folemprise farm were captured many MG nests being silenced during the attack. Lt Needham drove and fought his tank single handed during this action as all his crew were overcome with fumes.
4 tanks rallied, one was hit and knocked out whilst returning, one broke down whilst returning and the rest (MkV*) had broken tracks. (W25) No casualties were sustained.
Summary
Total Tanks: 10
Failed to Start: 1
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 4
Hit and Knocked out: 1
Rallied: 4
Note:
A fifth tank also rallied later.
Aftermath
16th Battalion was next in action on the 3rd October 1918
Sources
W16a – 16st Battalion’s War diary in PRO WO 95- 115
H16a – 16st Battalion’s War History in PRO WO 95- 115
W25 – 5th Tank Brigades War Diary. 16th tank battalion report on operations with 5th Australian Division on 1st October in PRO WO 95 - 112
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol 5 pg 140
W31Aus – War Diary 31 Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W54Aus – War Diary 54 Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W56Aus – War Diary 56 Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.