5 Battalion 29 September 1918
Canal St Quentin. 29th September 1918
5th Battalion with 3rd Infantry Brigade (H5), 1st Division, IX Corp, 4th Army (OH)
5th Battalion was with 3rd tank Brigade (OH)
5th Battalion had 6 tanks in action on 29th September 1918 (W5) (H5)
“B” Company
6 tanks
Notes
“B” company had drawn 4 composite and 2 male tanks on the 20th August. (W5)
The battalion’s war diary states this action occurred on the 30th September (W5)
Orders
To support 3rd Brigade’s attack on Thorigny village and Talent hill. (H5)
Rally point: m20c.1.1. (W5)
3rd Infantry Brigade were to operate on the right of 1st Division which was to protect the right of 46th Division which
Account of Operations
4 tanks broke down (W5) 2 tanks reached the objective, one broke down and the other caught fire whilst crossing a steep bank whilst returning. (H5)
The 1st division advanced 3 /4 of a mile to the St Quentin – Bellicourt road by 2;30pm. But heavy fire prevented a further advance to the next objective, the Thoringy – le Tronquoy road1,000yds further on. The Official history makes no mention of tanks supporting the 3rd Infantry Brigade during the advance. (OH)
Summary
Total Tanks: 6
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 6
Hit and Knocked out:
Rallied:
The 4 tanks that broke down may have failed to start, some tanks rallied.
Aftermath
Sources
H5 - 5th Battalion War History - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
W5 - 5th Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
OH – Official history. 1918. Volume V p98 and 105f