11 Battalion. 27 August 1918

Battle of the Scarpe. 27^th August 1918

11^th Tank Battalion, with 3^rd Division, Canadian Corp, 1^st Army ^(OH)

11^th Battalion had 8 fighting tanks in action on 27^th August 1918 ^(H11)

Composite Company

Notes

The battalion had drawn Mark V* tanks on the 8^th to 11^th August 1918. ^(H11)

Orders

14 tanks were to support the Canadian Corps, 14^th Battalion provided four ^(OH) of seven tanks allocated, all of which were actually 11^th battalion vehicles with 14^th battalion crews (see 14^th battalion narrative). 11^th Battalion therefore presumably provided the 8 tanks which attacked with the 7^th CIF Brigade, 3^rd Canadian Division. Zero hour was 4:55am ^{(OH) (w53can).} 4 tanks each were allocated to the 53^rd and 58^th CIF battalions ^{(W53can) (w57can)}

Account of Operations

Zero hour was delayed until 10am, the tanks were aware of this and thus delayed their approach; the 7^th CIF was not aware of the delay and attacked as originally intended when the barrage came down at 4:55am. On being told that the infantry were attacking the tanks moved forward to support the infantry passing the 53^rd CIF battalion HQ at 6:15am. ^(w53can) [The delay isn’t mentioned in the 57^th CIF battalion’s narrative]

All eight tanks with the 3rd CIF Division were heavily shelled and knocked out or otherwise incapacitated ^(OH). All the objecrives were secured ^{(w53can) (w57can)}; a further advance was made later in the day ^(H11) 116^th CIF battalions attacking through the others. ^(OH)

11^th Tank Battalion casualties were 1 other rank killed, 5 other ranks wounded, 1 other rank gassed ^(H11)

Summary

Total Tanks: 8

Failed to Start:

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down:

Hit and Knocked out:

Rallied: 0

Note

Rallied is a guess

Aftermath

Sources

H11 – 11^th Tank Battalion’s War History, PRO WO 95 / 100.

OH – Official History. 1918. Volume IV. Pg.327 and Pg.328

w53can – War Diary 54 Canadian Infantry Battalion, narrative of events, August 26^th – 29^th – available online:

w57can – War Diary 57 Canadian Infantry Battalion – available online:

http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp

3rd Somme. 21 Aug - 3 Sept 1918