7 Battalion 30 August 1918

Battle of the Scarpe. 30^th August 1918

7^th Battalion with 95^th Brigade, 5^th Division, VI Corp, 3^rd Army ^(H7)(OH)

7^th Battalion had 8 MKIV tanks in action on 24^th August 1918 ^(H7)

A Company – Capt Mc Elroy ^(H7)

4 Tanks

B Company – Capt Allerton ^(H7)

4 tanks

Notes:

One of the tanks may have been 4610 which was photographed moving through Bapaume. (The first World War in 100 Objects (2013) Gary Sheffield p221. )

Orders

To assist the infantry in advancing from 500yds east of Beugnatre to capture the village of Beugny ^(H7) and the old British trench lines 600yds west of it^{. (OH)} “A” company to advance on the left to the north of Begnatre. Two of “B” company’s tanks were to advance along the north of Beugny two were to advance along the south side of the railway ^(H7)

Account of Operations

One “A” company tanks broke down and failed to start. The advanced was shelled heavily and the crews were forced to wear gas masks. 2 “A” company tanks and the right hand pair of “B” companies tanks were hit and knocked out on the high ground North east of Beugny. A third “B” company tank broke down. The two surviving tanks got lost and failed to make the objective. The tanks did assist the infantry who were able to capture the first objective with slight loss. ^(H7) The first objective was an old British line 600 yds west of Beugny. The left of the attack succeeded but the right failed and the left was thus forced to retire. ^(OH)

Summary

Total Tanks: 8

Failed to Start: 1

Engaged enemy:

Ditched / Broke Down: 1

Hit and Knocked out: 4

Rallied:

Note:

7^th Battalion was next in action on the 1^st September 1918

Sources

H7 – 7^th Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum

OH – Official History 1918 Vol IV, pg.363

2nd Bapaume - 30 August to 3 September (3rd Army)