7 Battalion 30 August 1918
Battle of the Scarpe. 30th August 1918
7th Battalion with 95th Brigade, 5th Division, VI Corp, 3rd Army (H7)(OH)
7th Battalion had 8 MKIV tanks in action on 24th 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:
7th Battalion was next in action on the 1st September 1918
Sources
H7 – 7th Battalion’s War History. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
OH – Official History 1918 Vol IV, pg.363