3 Battalion 25 August 1918
The Battle of Albert. 25th August 1918
3rd Battalion, with 2nd Brigade, 2nd NZ Division, IV Corp, 3rd Army (W3) (OH)
3rd Battalion had 15 tanks in action on 25th August 1918 (w3)
OIC Maj. Bell W
Notes
Orders
New Zealand, 37th and 63rd Divisions were all to continue the attack. (W3)
Eight Mk V tanks from 10th Battalion (H3) to capture line Avesnes to Monument Wood. (W3)
The whippets were to exploit the success and envelope Bapaume from the North and east. The final objective was a line Riencourt – Baucourt – Beugnatre. (W3)
Assembly point: G24d.5.9.
Account of Operations
At first Whippets supported 1st Canterbury battalion on attack on Bapaume – Arras Road around Monument Commeritiff in H15c and Monument Wood in H21a where the advance of the 1st Canterbury’s had been held up. (W3)
Two whippets were hit and knocked out. The remainder advanced at 8am towards the main road which was under heavy Mg and shell fire. The whippets advance stopped in the face of the heavy fire, which became more intense at 10am. The whippets were unable to advance so turned to rally, one tank was hit and one broke down, both were brought in later, the others rallied at g15d.1.3. (W3)
Summary
Total Tanks: 15
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy:
Ditched / Broke Down: 1
Hit and Knocked out: 3
Rallied: 11
Notes
Aftermath
The ditched tank and one of the hit tanks were brought in later.
Sources
W3 – 3rd Battalion War Diary - transcript from Bovington tank museum.
H3 – 3rd Battalion War History. PRO WO 95-104
OH – Official History, 1918, Vol. 4, pg.272