16 Battalion 29 September 1918
Battle of the St Quentin Canal. 29th September 1918
16th Battalion, with 3rd Australian Division, Australian-American Corps, 4th Army (OH)
16th Battalion had 29 Mk V* and 7 Mk V tanks in action on 29th September1918 (H16)
A Company – Maj Clively RC
Section – Capt Persse
Lt Walker EH
2Lt Robinson W
Sgt Dibbon FC
2Lt Howard RJ
Section – Capt Clements EF
Lt Troughton JHW
2Lt Brodie J
2Lt Anderson AG MC DCM
2Lt Bonthrone G
B Company – Maj Lewis JE
Section – Capt Brown EG MC
Lt Brocklehurst ST
Lt Smith OT
2Lt Paterson C
2Lt Hughes JC
Section – Capt Tull JE
2Lt Wincer GL
2Lt Elkington RL
2Lt Dupre HE
Lt Christopher R
C Company Maj. Clough J MC
2Lt Stedman WJ
Composite Coy – Capt Hall JS
Lt Rae W
Lt Newman JWE
2Lt Meek Lb
2Lt Jamison
Sction – Capt Bryce H
Lt Cobban HLN
Lt de Witt CA
2Lt Johnson WV
2Lt Herbert EJ
Notes:
“A” and “C” Companies had each drawn 12 MK V* tanks from central stores on 17th and 19th September. (W16)
“B” Company had drawn 5 Mk V* from the driving school at Sautricourt, and 7 Mk V from central stores on 18th and 19th September. (W16)
Tank 9579 of “A” Company caught fire whilst entraining on the 21st and was replaced. (W16)
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 (H16)
Whilst the 27th US Division had reached all its objectives on the 27th September it had failed to mop up properly and significant numbers of Germans were still holed up in pockets behind the new front line. The Attack on the 29th thus had to begin 1000yds back from the start line in this sector; as the presence of allied troops made it impossible to safely use artillery to help the infantry subdue these pockets it was decided to use 6 tanks from 4th battalion. The advance was to start an hour before zero, the intention being that the 27th Division would have fought its way to the start line at Zero. (W24)
Once the 27th US Division, supported by 301st US Tank Battalion (OH) had captured the Green line, the 3rd Australian Division to pass through and capture Red line.
27th US Division to start at Zero Hour: 05:50am, 3rd Australian Division to pass through Green line at 11am.
“A” Coy (less one section) with 11th Australian Brigade on the right (H16a), 41st and 44th Battalions (W11bAus).
“C” Coy (less one section) with 10th Australian Brigade on the left.
“A” and “C” companies to start from Templeaux – Ronsoy Area.
Composite Company of 2 sections with 9th Australian Brigade in reserve, to start from Z Copse
“B” Coy attached to13th Tank Battalion to stand by in L1a (sheet 62c) and assist in exploitation.
Account of Operations (H16)
The morning was very foggy making following the battles progress difficult.
“A” and “C” companies both started forward at 9am and met their infantry at 9:30am near Rifleman’s Post and Z copse respectively.
Tanks immediately came under heavy fire, the 27th US infantry Divisions’ attack having failed. (H16a)
All “A” Company’s tanks were out of action by 11am (W11bAus) All the tanks with 41st Battalion were knocked out before the brown line was reached (W41aus)
All 8 tanks with 10th brigade were knocked out by mines and shellfire (W10bAus)
The tanks ran into a minefield and came under heavy enfilade fire from Bony, (H16) two tanks managed to capture the ridge near Quennemont Farm but were almost immediately knocked out by artillery fire from Bony (W16), all the tanks bar one were knocked out. The remaining tank was penetrated several times by AT bullets but rallied. (H16) The german 77s had been ordered to especially target tanks, AT rifles had also been issued (W41aus)
The infantry advance was stopped.
The composite company was ordered forward with the 9th Australian Infantry brigade. They went into action half way between Z Copse and Le Sart Farm, coming under heavy fire from Guillimont Farm. The tanks and infantry went forward. One tank was knocked out at Doleful Post by fire from the direction of Macincourt farm
The advance was halted and the tanks and infantry held back behind the ridge. At Mid day the tanks were ordered to Malakof Farm, F30b. By 4.55pm they had reached F29d.7.5. having carefully negotiated an old allied minefield en route. The enemy were shelling Malakof Farm and the Hargicourt Road so the tanks were ordered to rally at L7c central; 6 tanks rallied.
One tank of “B” Company carried up telephone wire for 3rd Australian Division. It was penetrated several times by AT bullets but rallied.
Casualties – 21 other ranks killed, 31 wounded and 16 missing.
A Company – Maj Clively RC
Section – Capt Persse
Lt Walker EH - Wounded
2Lt Robinson W - KIA
Sgt Dibbon FC
2Lt Howard RJ - Wounded
Section – Capt Clements EF
Lt Troughton JHW - Wounded (W16)
2Lt Brodie J - Wounded
2Lt Anderson AG MC DCM
2Lt Bonthrone G - Wounded
B Company – Maj Lewis JE
Section – Capt Brown EG MC - Wounded
Lt Brocklehurst ST
Lt Smith OT - Wounded
2Lt Paterson C - Wounded
2Lt Hughes JC - Wounded
Section – Capt Tull JE - Wounded
2Lt Wincer GL - Wounded
2Lt Elkington RL
2Lt Dupre HE - Missing
Lt Christopher R - KIA
Composite Coy – Capt Hall JS
Lt Rae W
Lt Newman JWE
2Lt Meek Lb - Wounded
2Lt Jamison
Section – Capt Bryce H
Lt Cobban HLN
Lt de Witt CA
2Lt Johnson WV - Wounded
2Lt Herbert EJ
C Company Maj. Clough J MC
2Lt Stedman WJ
Also 2Lt Kirby HGR, 2lt Boughton CH, 2Lt Bedford P.
Summary
Total Tanks: 25
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down:
Hit and Knocked out: 17
Rallied: 8
Note:
Total Tanks and Rallied both include “B” Companies telephone wire carrier.
The fate of the two missing tanks from the composite company is not recorded, they are included in the hit and knocked out total.
Aftermath
16th Battalion was next in action on the 30th September 1918
Sources
W16a – 16th Battalion’s War Diary in PRO WO 95- 115
W24 - 4th Tank Battalion. Report upon action of 6 tanks of “A” company with 27th American Division. September 27th 1918 - PRO WO 95-110
H16a – 16th Battalion’s War History in PRO WO 95- 115
OH – Official History 1918 Vol V Chap VII, pg 95ff
W10bAus – War Diary 10th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.
W11bAus – War Diary 11th Australian Brigade. Downloaded from AWM.
W41Aus – War Diary 41st Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM.
W44Aus – War Diary 44th Australian Battalion. Downloaded from AWM. – no reference made to tanks.