3rd Battalion 26th March 1918
The Tanks at Colincamps. 26th March 1918
3rd Battalion, with New Zealand and 51st Division, IV Corp, 3rd Army (OH)
This was the Whippets combat debut
C Company, 3rd Battalion had 13 Whippet tanks in action on 26th March1918 (95-93)
C Company – Capt Price
9 Section - Capt Henderson AM
253, "Conqueror III", Capt Henderson
290, "Cherubim II", 2Lt Sewell
259, "Caesar II", 2Lt Parry
10 Section - Capt Gates WS MC
264, "Cleopatra", Capt Gates
265, "Conviviality", 2Lt Archibald
271, "Chaperon II", 2Lt Wilson
11 Section - Capt Weber
229, "Coquette III", Capt Weber
211, "Challenger", 2Lt Laing
241, "Carnoustie", Lt Dean
234, "Chanticleer", Lt Norman
12 Section - Capt Purdy EL MC
240, "Cayenne", Lt Hope
266, 2Lt Elsbury
281, "Comet III", 2Lt Thomas
Note:
The report of operations (95-93) and the Official History both state 12 tanks were in action, 13 are listed the summary of Battle History Sheets (95-93b) The war history states "C" Company had 15 tanks on this date (H3)
Tank names correct for 5th August, may not be correct for March (W3)
The map of the action in the Report of Operations (95-93) implies Capt Purdy was also in a tank (unidentified), only the 13 tanks above are listed in the summary of Battle History Sheets (95-93b)
Whippets were photographed moving forward, possibly in march as there are no recognition stripes: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nlscotland/4700610414/
Background
3rd Tank Battalion had 48 Whippets on strength on 24th March 1918 (W23). A composite light tank battalion was formed on 26th March 1918 consisting of "A and "C" companies 3rd Tank battalion (15 tanks each) and "C" company 9th tank battalion (16 tanks). On the same date seven Whippets: 215, 225, 246, 252, 258, 267, 270 were sent to watch the Montauban - Mametz line in case of a breakthrough. They did not come into action, all rallied (95-93) On 5th August these seven tanks were with 3 and 4 sections (W3)
Orders
To move from the neighbourhood of Bray North towards Colincamps (95-93)
The tanks reached Colincamps, via the Mailey Mallet Road at noon.
Verbal orders were issued for the tanks to turn to the right and proceed down the main street in J30d and K36c and then leave the village by turning left in k25c. The tanks were then to form up left to right in the order: 11, 10, 12 and 9 sections. The left two sections to repel any attack form the direction of Hebuterne and the right sections any attack from the direction of Beaumont Hamel. (95-93a)
Account of Operations (95-93b)
“C” Company led the Battalion into Colincamps entering just in time to capture a strong German patrol which included two officers. Then the tanks moved towards Serre and dispersed 3 separate Battalion sized groups (500 men strong) of enemy troops. (95-93)
9 and 12 sections left the road at k25d and turned right around the wood and met 300 enemy who were advancing on the village from the east. The enemy fled upon seeing the tanks. 9 section successfully got behind one groups of the enemy who surrendered. 12 section pursued the enemy to the outskirts of Auchonvillers inflicting many casualties and capturing 4 MGs. Both sections patrolled for about an hour, until 3pm then returned to the village. (95-93a)
9 section’s three tanks were in action for 2 hours dispersing small bodies of the enemy in front of Colincamps, each drove 4 miles and fired 200 MG rounds. (95-93b)
12 Section’s three tanks were in action for only an hour and drove but 2 miles, nevertheless 240 fired 400 Mg rounds, and the other two tanks 200 each. 240 and 281 dispersed about 200 of the enemy near Auchonvillers, who fled after a putting up a brief resistance leaving equipment, including rifle and MGs. Meanwhile 266 ran over an MG and, despite suffering a number of stoppages with Hotchkiss, dispersed about 50 enemy who left behind 5 MGs. (95-93b)
The other two sections patrolled along the British held line towards Hebuterne and Serre; 10 section remaining in front of Hebuterne all afternoon. The sections dealt with some snipers and stayed out for 3 hours, withdrawing back to the village by 3:30pm when the situation was stabilised. (95-93a) All the tanks fired their guns but no tank fired more than 60 rounds. 10 section drove 8 miles, 11 Section 4 miles (95-93b)
All 13 tanks rallied. This operation apparently prevented a hostile enveloping movement towards Hebuterne. (95-93)
Summary
Total Tanks: 13
Failed to Start: 0
Engaged enemy: 13
Ditched / Broke Down: 0
Hit and Knocked out: 0
Rallied: 13
Aftermath
All tanks except 266 were with the Battalion on 5th August and thus were presumably in action at Amiens.
Sources
W3 – 3rd Battalion’s War Diary. Transcription from Bovington Tank Museum
W3a –
W23 - 3rd Tank Brigade War Dairy Appendices in PRO 95 / 105
95-93 – Preliminary Report of Operations of the Tank Corps march 21st to 27th 1918 - in PRO WO 95 / 93
95-93a – Light tank Battalion Narrative of operations from march 22nd 1918 - in PRO WO 95 / 93
95-93b – Summary of Battle History Sheets - in PRO WO 95 / 93
H3 - War History of 3rd tank Battalion in PRO 95 / 104
OH – Official History 1918 Vol I, pg 526ff