G Battalion 23 November 1917
The Tanks at Cambrai 23rd November 1917
G Battalion with 12th South Welsh Borderers,119th Brigade, 40th Div, IV Corp, 3rd Army (S25)
G Battalion had 17 tanks in action in action on 23rd November 1917.
19 Company, 8 tanks (W21) Company Commander Major Fernie (H7)
Captain Wright
G15, , 2Lt McChlery,
G45, , 2/Lt. Faine,
G54, , 2Lt McElroy,
G74, 2Lt Clegg, a "D" Battalion tank.
G75, 2Lt Maelor Jones, Tank D13, See D Battn.
Captain Griffiths
G63, E ?, 2Lt Windle,
G64, E ?, 2Lt Budge,.
G77, D12, 2/Lt. Karstall , Tank D12. See D Bttn.
20 Company, 3 tanks (W21)
G29, "Gorganzola"
G21, “Grasshopper II”
G34, "Ghurka"
Note
20 company's records are missing. Both “Grasshopper II” and "Gurkha" were photographed KO and captured in Bourlon Wood and thus must have been in action on the 23rd. "Gorganzola"'s inclusion is speculative.
The Summary of Operations 20th November to 23rd November 1917 states "G" Battalion committed 16 tanks to action on the 23rd November. 19 and 21 Companies' Battlegraphs have survived and show they committed 13 tanks to action, thus 20 Company presumably committed 3 tanks.
21 Company 6 tanks (W21)
9 Section Capt Merchant HG
G5, ????, Glenlivet II, 2Lt C Cutts
10 Section 2Lt McConnell
G7, 2562, Giggle, 2Lt Advey
G46, ????, Gina, 2Lt Christie
11 Section Lt Fearnley
G51, 2727, , Goliath, 2Lt Leeds
12 Section Capt Kinnerson CH
G9, 2564, Gondolier, 2Lt T Gibson
G11, 2768, Glamorgan, Sgt Hayrick
Note
"Ghurka" may have made up the third tank of 12 section: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/6007185274/in/set-72157625639179301/
Orders
WO-95-2605-2 p68
119th Brigade was to capture the high ground to the North of Bourlon wood, Zero 10:30 am.
12th SWB on the left,19th RWF on the right, each battalion attacking on a two company front.
17th Welsh in support and 18th Welsh in brigade reserve.
Right divisional boundary: F.20.c6.0 through F.8 central
Inter brigade boundary - cross roads E24.a to E18 central inclusive thence along west edge of Bourlon Wood skirting village in E.12.d and b to raod junction inj E12b.9.9. thence along road to its junction with railway at F1c.2.8. inclusive.
Inter battlion boundary will be the ride in F19c.3.9. thence through the centre of the wood though the "B" in Bourlon thence to F1b.9.1.
12 tanks were allocated to 119th Brigade: (WO-95-2605-2 p68)
The tanks were allocated to 12 South Welsh Borderers on the left of the Brigade, these were to attack through Bourlon Wood towards the centre of Bourlon Village. (W21a)
a) Three tanks to proceed along the road on the western edge of the wood. (WO-95-2605-2 p68)
b) Three tanks proceed up the ride in F.20a. and splay out as the situation demands.
c) six tanks will crush the wire and cover the ground in between a) and b) and act as the situation may demand.
These tanks will pass through the infantry advance line at Zero, (WO-95-2605-2 p68) 10:50am, having started from Graincourt (W21a).The atnsk were then to lead the infantry into the wood (S25).
G9 and G11 were both ordered to reach Bourlon Wood South East and then Bourlon Wood North East.
Account of Action (W21a)
General
The "G" battalion tanks didn’t start until midday, one and a half hours after H-hour as supplies failed to come up. (W21a)
The 12 SWB attack started at 10:30 as scheduled, there were tanks in front of the left company but none in front of the right company. (WO-95-2606-6 p133)
The attack was very successful, almost the whole of Bourlon Wood and village were taken. (W21a)
Two "G" battalion tanks broke down, another was hit and burnt out, these can all be accounted for in 19 and 21 companies which would indicate that all three of 20 Company’s tanks reached their objectives and rallied, however "Grasshopper II" and "Ghurkha" were both photographed destroyed in Bourlon Wood after the battle.
The tanks found the going difficult but were able to assist the infantry by overcoming specific strongpoints. At 11.40 the British attack paused having overcome the strongly held Fontaine to Bourlon track. By 1pm the SWB had reached the northern edge of the Wood where they were subjected to a German counter attack which was held with the assistance of a tank. (S25)
Between 1.30 pm and 3pm Counter attacks cut off a company of 12 SWB in Bourlon Village, this company was able to fight its way back to British lines with the assistance of a tank. (WO-95-2606-6 p133)
19 Company
G75 Broke down and failed to start
G54 and G64 both broke down just beyond the British front line, neither engaged the enemy. G54 was repaired and rallied.
The other five tanks all attacked (W21a), found the going difficult but were able to assist the infantry by overcoming specific strongpoints (S25). At 11.40 the British attack paused having overcome the strongly held Fontaine to Bourlon track. By 1pm the SWB had reached the northern edge of the Wood where they were subjected to a German counterattack which was held with the assistance of a tank (S25).
The Battlegraph indicates all five tanks engaged the enemy and reached the objective; G45 was hit and burnt out. The other four tanks all rallied (W21a).
21 Company
G51 broke down in Graincourt was repaired and rallied without getting into action
G7 and G46 both started late and failed to engage the enemy, they turned back before reaching objective and rallied.
The other three tanks all attacked (W21a), found the going difficult but were able to assist the infantry by overcoming specific strongpoints(S25). At 11.40 the British attack paused having overcome the strongly held Fontaine to Bourlon track. By 1pm the SWB had reached the northern edge of the Wood where they were subjected to a German counterattack which was held with the assistance of a tank (S25).
G5 engaged the enemy but became ditched and was abandoned in the Wood.
G9 and G11 both reached their objectives: Bourlon Wood South East and then Bourlon Wood North East, they didn’t engage the enemy but successfully rallied (W21a).
Summary
Intended: 17
Reserve: 0
At Start: 15
Started: 15
Engaged enemy: 9
Ditched / Broke Down: 2
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 11
note
All three 20 company tanks are included as having started and engaged enemy; two are assumed knocked out and one to have rallied.
Aftermath
“Grasshopper II” was blown up and left in the Wood:
X25.p106, X60.p58
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/3871818760/in/set-72157601074582281/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drakegoodman/5407427892/in/set-72157625639179301/lightbox/
"Glenlivit II" photographed derelict in German Hands: https://www.flickr.com/photos/7700258@N05/16209891228/in/set-72157601074582281
Sources
W7 - G / 7 Tank Battalion War Diary, transcript from Bovington tank Museum.
W21a – 1st Tank Brigade War Diary, Summery of operations 20th to 23rd November 1917. PRO WO 95/98
H7 – G / 7 Tank Battalion War History, transcript from Bovington tank Museum.
S25 – Bourlon Wood, Cambrai (2002), Jack Horsfall and Nigel Cave
S30 – The Boiler Plate War, (1963), John Foley
S51 - First World War Tanks (1986) E Bartholomew
S60 - Track Prints (2009) Richard Pullen
WO-95-2605-2 p68 - 119th Infantry Brigade Order No 128, dated 4 AM, 23 Nov 1917, download from PRO Kew.
WO-95-2606-6 - 12 SWB War Diary, download from PRO Kew.
The description of this action in the 17th Welsh Battalions' war diary makes no mention of tanks: http://www.17thwelsh.ukf.net/Nov_17_Pages/Nov_17_Gough_BourlonWood.htm
The description of this action in the 119th Brigade's war diary makes no mention of tanks: WO-95-2605-2 p72