6 Battalion 30 September 1918
The Battle of the St Quentin Canal. 30th September 1918
6 Battalion with the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division, IX Corp, 4th Army (OH)
6 Battalion, A company had 6 tanks in action on 30th September 1918 (H6):
A Company - Capt Howell RE
Section - Capt. Farrar JJ MC
3 tanks including
Lt Holloway
Orders
The IX Corps was to extend its left to help the Austro – American Corps. The 32nd Division was to establish a flank from the Northern edge of Joncourt back to Nauroy. The 32nd Division also had other tasks but these didn’t involve tanks. (OH)
Lying up place: G30d.2.8 (W6)
Eight whippets were attached to the 14th Infantry brigade on the left, when the attack of the 96th brigade on Joncourt was held up (OH) three tanks were ordered to support the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers, 96th Brigade attack on Joncourt. The tanks were to start from (H6) H20d.8.9 (W6) a point 800yds north east of Magny-la-Fosse and attack up the valley entering the village from the south. Supporting the infantry who were lying to the West and South of the village. (H6)
Account of Operations
Three tanks under Capt. Farrar JJ MC arrived at the starting point at 2:45pm. One was left in reserve, the other two attacked at 3:30pm. (H6)
Both tanks came under heavy MG and AT fire as they passed over the railway to the south of Joncourt (H6) 15 (sic) central (W6) Lt Holloway’s tank was hit three times by an AT gun and knocked out. The second tank reached the (H6) outskirts of the village, 15.8.8 (W6) then turned back to try and bring the infantry forward; the infantry couldn’t be found and the tank developed mechanical trouble so it returned to the valley and rallied. (H6)
The reserve tank was now committed to work through the village but it was hit and knocked out by AT fire (H6) at H15a.9.3 (W6) just south of the railway at Joncourt. (H6)
Summary
Total Tanks: 3
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 2
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 1
Notes
The rallied tank was suffering from mechanical trouble.
Aftermath
On 5th October A210, A384, A385 and A389 were all handed to salvage. (W6)
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.132 and pg.134