13 November 1916 - Supporting 51st Division
The Tanks on the Somme. 13th November 1916.
D Company with, 51st Division, XIII Corps, 4th Army
D Company intended to get 2 tanks into action on 13th November 1916
D company
Lt Bruce
Lt Telford
Notes:
Orders
Assist 51st Divisions attack on the Caves at Beaumont Hamel. Zero hour was 5:45am, the tanks were committed after 9.50am to help the infantry whose advance had been stopped. (S2.p139).
Account of operations
The tanks started and advanced down the road from Auchonvillers, they crossed the German front line, then one ditched just inside the lines at Q4d.95.15; the other ditched on the northern edge of the village (S2.p139).
Summary
Intended: 2
At start: 2
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 2
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out:
Rallied: 0
Penetrated by AP bullets: 0
Note
Aftermath
Sources
W4 - D Company’s War Diary. Transcript from Bovington Tank Museum.
S2 - Pidgeon, Trevor (2010) Tanks on the Somme
S12 - Chris McCarthy. (1998) The Somme. The Day by Day Account. Brockhampton Press.
S22 - Staedman, Michael (1995) Thiepval, Leo Cooper P. 86ff