B Battalion OB. 31st July 1917
WORK IN PROGRESS
4 Company 23rd August 1917 (W22):
1 Section - Capt Groves HBM
B3, 2520, “Blue Bird”, Lt Goodhall AH
B4, 2043, "Bulwark", 2Lt Chambers PC
B5, 2511, “Bystander”, 2Lt Colley EV
B33, 2707, f, “Bushranger”, 2Lt Lane WI
Notes:
Tank names and commanders from the Report on action of tanks (W2a)
B3 and B5 Crew numbers from the Summary of battle history sheets. (W22)
2043 is missing from the summary of battle history sheets, presumably because it failed to start.
2707 is not given a crew number in the summary of battle history sheets, it has the crew number B33 in the list in the war diary (W2) , it was possibly with a different crew on this date.
4 Company 22nd August 1917 (W22):
2 Section (W22)
B11, 2771, “Bison”, Lt Dalby A.A.
B12, 2555, “Boadicea”, 2Lt Dickens D.T.J.
B13, 2567, “Bear”, 2Lt Simpson A.G.
B14, 2041, “Belladonna”, 2Lt Bentafield H.W.
Notes:
Crew Commanders names from list in B Battalion War diary, may not be correct for 22nd August (W2).
B14 is given the serial number 2014 in the Battle report, but is listed as 2041 in both 7th June (Messines) and 31st July Battle graphs in 2nd Brigade War Diary (W22).
All other information from Battle reports for 22nd August in 2nd Brigade War Diary (W22).
1 and 4 Companies attempted to get 7 tanks into action on 27th August 1917
"B" Battalion section - OIC Capt Partington
3 unidentified tanks
One commanded by Lt Coulson (W2)
5 Company
Company Commander: Maj F. Tucker. 2IC: Capt G.B. Cokell. R.O: Lt S. Doward
5 Section Capt Dudgeon EB
B22, 2037, m, “Buccaneer”, 2Lt Crerar A,
B23, 2700, f, “Bandit”, Lt Simpson W,
B24, 2019, m, “Brigand”, Lt Vans Agnew F
B25, 2663, f, “Barbarian”, 2Lt Brockwell S.A.,
6 Section Capt Lambert RG in B29
B26, 2786, "Bayardo", 2Lt Cox L.H.
B27, 2007, m, "Bloodstone", 2Lt Hoyland WL,
B28, 2038, m, "Black Arrow", 2Lt Ramsden W.G.,
B29, 2674, f, "Ballyhackle", 2Lt Birnie W.J.G,
7 Section Capt Diamond HW
B31, 2020, m, "Bohemian", 2Lt Porter G.E.
B32, 2039, m, "Baron", 2Lt Thompson G.E.V.
B33, 2707, f, "Bushranger", 2Lt Gordon Clarke N.J.
B35, 2675, f, "Bogey", 2Lt Doyle J.E.
Supply
B39, 712, “Badger” 2Lt Thomas EA
B40, 726, “Buffalo”, Lt Craig WA
Notes:
Tank Names and Supply tank details from list in B Battalion War dairy (W2).
Tank Sexes from 7th June (Messines) Battle graph in 2nd Brigade War Diary (W22).
Other information from 31st July Battle graph in 2nd Brigade War Diary (W22).
In "Following the Tanks" Barbarian II" is given WD number 2663, it is possible the WD number is correct and the original "Barbarian" fought at Cambrai.
6 Company
9 Section. Lt Harcourt A.C.
B41, 2035, m, “Boomerang”, 2Lt Tuite MAW
B42, 2699, f, "Battle Axe", 2Lt Spedding RK
B43, 2008, m, “Buluwayo”, 2Lt Evans CM
B44, 2665, f, "Behemoth" , 2Lt Townsend FJ
11 Section Lt Scrutton A.E.
B45, 2015, m, “Blunderbuss”, 2Lt Dancy H
B48, 2664, f, "Blue Bow", 2Lt Boag H
B46, 2036
B47, 2561, f, "Bridget", 2Lt Palmer DA This tank fought with 12 section
12 Section Capt Morrison CF
B49, 2668, "Britannia", 2Lt Henderson T
B50, 2013, m, ”Brian Boru”, 2Lt Hamlet FA
B51, 2034
B52, 2774, ”Benbow”, 2Lt Clarke BR
Supply
B18, 775
B54, 746
Spare Tank (from 4 Company)
B13, 2718, f, “Backslider” - No crew or OIC.
Notes:
All the above tanks except B47, 2561 and B52, 2774 had been with the company at Messines. The crews had apparently been renumbered.
B51 and B46 are not listed on the Battle graph but are listed in the orders. Crew B51 were with tank 2034 at Cambrai, this tank had also been at Messines. B46 is presumably 2036 which had been with 6 Company at Messines but wasn't present at Cambrai.
Section numbers from 95-109.
2718 tank name from list in 2nd Battalion War Diary (W2).
Names of B42, B48, B50 and B53 all from "Following the Tanks" (S37) and Ian Verrinder (S73.p198). B50's name also used by Signaller Sydney Fuller (X59.p120)
Other tank names from "Notes on tank operation on 31st July (W73)
Tank Sexes from 7 June (Messines) Battle graph in 2nd Brigade War Diary (W22).
Signaller Sydney Fuller witnessed the tanks advance and says four were called "Brian Boru", "Boomerang", "Britannia" and "Bentley" (X59.p120).
B47, 2668 and B49, 2561 were called “Bridget” and “ Britannia”, though which tank had which name is unclear, both tanks were knocked out. (W73). Ian Verrinder says B49 was "Britannia" and B47 was "Bridget" in his narrative (S78.p76f) but lists them the other way round in his list as does "Following the Tanks" (S78.p198)
In "Following the Tanks" B47, 2668, is called “Beaver”;- 2Lt Henderson T, with Crew B49, was in charge of "Britannia" 2868; - “Bridget” was tank 2034, B51, Lt Palmer (S37).
2034 cannot be Bridget as 2034 was still with the Battalion at Cambrai whereas "Bridget" was lost on 31st July (W73). It therefore seems likely "Following the Tanks" is wrong and Bridget was "2561"; "Beaver" is presumably "2034"
2034 had been with the battalion at Messines, and thus its identification as "Beaver" seems likely.
2668 didn't fight at Cambrai as it was was lying derelict near Hooge until after the war (numerous photographs). 2868 is too high a serial number for July 31st and was "Blunderbuss II" at Cambrai S78
A photograph of the Knocked out 2668 may show the remains of the tops of letters on the front Glacis, they are presumably the top end "NNIA". (Britain at War (2009) Press Association, p.56).
Supply tank crew numbers may be swapped.