9 Battalion B Company 26 August 1918
The Battle of the Scarpe. 26th August 1918
B Company, 9th tank Battalion, with 4th Canadian Brigade, 2nd Division, Canadian Corp, 1st Army (OH)
B Company, 9th Battalion had 8 fighting tanks in action on 26th August 1918 (W9a)
B Company
5 section – Capt Macready
3 tanks
6 section – Lt Shackleton H
I26, Lt Isherwood (H9)
I28, Lt Russel AW (H9)
Lt Clifford
8 section – Lt Warren
Provably two of:
I24
I36
I37
Notes
I24, I36 and I37 all in action with 8 section on 23rd August, their inclusion here is speculative.
Orders
Objective; To capture Monchy le Preux (H9)
21st CIF First objective line: Minorca Trench, n11c.3.8. to n16b.25.25. 2nd objective, southern Avenue from n18b.3.9 south to Conjeul River at N24a. (W21can)
5 section on the right with 21st CIF (W9a)
6 section on the left with 20th CIF (W9a)
8 section in support on the right with 18th CIF (W9a) “B” Company (W18can)
Each section had a frontage of approximately 1000 yds (W9a)
The tanks were to support the infantries attack on Chapel hill, the enemies main line of resistance in front of Guenappe and Monchy and then Guenappe village itself. (W9a)
Infantry were to capture the first objective (H9) The tanks were to follow the infantry, only moving ahead of them when summoned to silence MGs, they would then return to the rear of the infantry. (W9a). once the first objective was secured the tanks were to move ahead of the infantry to the second objective (H9)
Starting point was M6b.5.4, Zero hour was 3am. (W9a)
A creeping barrage moving 100yds every 4 minutes was to be placed ahead of the infantry. (W9a)
Account of Operations
Tanks were in position in support of the infantry by Zero. (W9a)
No. 5 section, one tank lost touch in the darkness and joined the reserve section, it later silenced some MGs when asked to do so. The other two tanks met little resistance and both reached the final objective, all three tanks rallied. (W9a) the tanks failed to support the 21st CIF and instead supported the 18th CIF (W21can)
No 6 section: I26 broke down after crossing the enemy front line, it was nursed back to the rally point; the tank commander took two men and a HG and advanced with the infantry (W9) (H9). The 20th CIF were stopped just short of the Green Line by snipers and MG gunners either side of the Cambria Road, it being daylight by this time. A runner ran 200yds back and collected I28 which silenced the opposition to the south of the road but was hit and knocked out whilst crossing to the north of the road. (W20can), at Fosse Farm. (W9) (H9) Lt Shackelton had just boarded I28 and was killed (H9). The third tank as hit and knocked out on the red line. (W9a) Lt Clifford was wounded whilst returning (H9)
No 8 section were in support of no 5 section. One tank’s crew were gassed by CO almost immediately, the tank thus rallied. The second tank silenced an enemy MG nest 300yds in front of Minorca trench. The tank reached the Green line where it caught fire and was evacuated. It was later towed to the rallying point. (W9a)
4th Canadian Brigade had captured the second objective by 7:30am (OH)
Two German field guns were abandoned at o.7.c.4.4. (W20can)
The 18th CIF war diary states the tanks detailed to work with them got lost in the dark and arrived late. (W18can)
Casualties: 1 officer and 3 other ranks killed. 1 officer and 11 other ranks wounded.
Summary
Total Tanks: 8
Failed to Start:
Engaged enemy: 5
Ditched / Broke Down: 3
Hit and Knocked out: 2
Rallied: 3
Note
Broke down includes the tank whose crew were overcome by fumes and the tank that caught fire and burnt out.
Rallied does not include the three tanks which broke down all of which reached the rally point.
The war history states only 5 tanks rallied (H9)
Aftermath
“B” Company were next in action on 2nd September 1918.
Sources
W9a – 9th Tank Battalion War Diary Appendix – Report on Operations “B” Company 9th Tank Battn. - 26/08/18 in PRO WO 95-107
H9 – 9th Tank Battalion’s War History, Transcript from Bovington tank Museum.
W18can – War Diary 18th Canadian Battalion – available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp
W20can – War Diary 20th Canadian Battalion – available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp
W21can – War Diary 21st Canadian Battalion – available online: http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com/warDiaryLac/wdLacP08.asp
OH – Official History. 1918. Volume IV Pg.307