16 Battalion 1 October 1918

Battle of the St Quentin Canal. 1^st October 1918

16^th Battalion, with 14^th Australian Brigade, 5^th Australian Division, Australian Corps, 4^th Army ^(OH)

16^th Battalion had 10 tanks in action on 1^st 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 2^nd Brigade on 31^st December ^(W16), they may have fought in the above action.

Orders

To assist 14^th 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.

54^th and 56^th 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

31^st 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Tanks with 54^th battalion had withdrawn by 7.40am after reporting Estrees clear of enemy ^(w54aus)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

16^th Battalion was next in action on the 3^rd 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 – 5^th Tank Brigades War Diary. 16^th tank battalion report on operations with 5^th Australian Division on 1^st 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.

St Quentin Canal - 29 September to 2 October 1918