6 Battalion 29 September 1918
The Battle of the St.Quentin Canal. 29th September 1918
6 Battalion, with the 97th Brigade, 32nd Division, IX Corp, 4th Army (OH)
6 Battalion, A Company had 9 tanks in action on 3rd September 1918 (H6):
Capt. Howell RE OC
9 tanks
Note
Twelve tanks had joined the battalion from Central Workshops on 12th September. (W6)
The tanks were all marked with recognition signs, a large red “IX “for IX Corps and four white circles in a diamond pattern for 32nd Division. (H6)
Orders
The 46th Division was to secure the first objective, then the 32nd Division was to pass through and secure the second. (OH)
Lying up place, L22a.2.2 (W6) one mile north of Le Verguier (H6)
“A” company was ordered to operate with 97th Infantry brigade, 32nd Division they were to operate against the Hindenburg defences between St Quentin and Vendhuile, crossing the St Quentin canal as close to the southern entrance to the Bellicourt Tunnel as possible. (H6)
?? Company of 9th Battalion were also attached to 32nd Division. (H6)
Account of Operations
The tanks left the lying up place at 11:45am arriving at Magny-la-Fosse (H6) G30d (W6) at 2pm and making contact with the infantry. (H6)
At 4:45pm four tanks under Sanders VG attacked with the Border Regt. (H6), 97th Brigade (OH) the object being to capture and holding Le Haucourt Ridge (W6). The attack was successful and the tanks rallied at 5:25am. (H6) The returning tanks reported a gap in the line at H15a and H15c. (W6) south of Joncourt. (H6)
The 32nd Division reached the first objective and attacked from there at 6pm. All ten (sic) whippets were attached to the 97th Brigade. (OH)
At 6pm two tanks, each with a company of Argylls went to close up the gap in the British line sptted earlier. A389 was hit and disabled, the objectives were achieved and the other tanks rallied at 8pm. (H6)
Also at 6pm four tanks were sent up the valley to clear up MGs on the Le Haucourt ridge, (H6) 21b and 21d (W6) this was done, the tanks patrolled for some time in front of the infantry then rallied at 8:15pm. (H6)
The attack was a success, though the 97th Brigade’s attack was stopped just short of the second objective (OH)
Summary
Total Tanks: 6
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 6
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 4
Aftermath
Sources
H6 – 6th Battalion War History, (1919) Naval and Military Press
W6 – 6th Battalion War Diary. Transcript from BovingtonTank Museum.
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 5, pg.104 and Pg 139