8th Battalion A and C Companys 24th March 1918

H4, 8083, 2lt Lyness had been with crew H5 on 21st March

2Lt Batstone had given H3, 8021 to 2Lt Folkard on 24th as it was broken down.^(W8bh)

C Company

9 section (?)

???, 2579, , Harrison Bill

???, 8086, "Henry VIII", 2Lt Couper, James

???, 8105, 2Lt de Courcy, JG

10 Section

H44, 8022, m, "Hummingbird", 2Lt Jennison RC

H45, 2695, f, 2Lt Bond G

H46, 4563, 2Lt MacDonald J

11 section (?)

H47, 2856, 2Lt Jefferies ROG

H48, 2569, 2Lt Eddon JF (not included in War Diary)

H49, 2875, "Hengist"

12 section (?)

H50, 2645, 2Lt Jackson FH

H51, 2893, “Hiawatha” (??), Lt Heath (not in WD)

H52, 2075, 2Lt Hora

Notes

H6 still carried the crew number I46 ^(BHS)

H49 not mentioned on BHS, number form summary,see OB for other notes.

Background

23^rd March

Before daylight the Battalion withdrew to valley S of Brancourt Lebucquiere and was placed under the orders of 2^nd Infantry Division.

24^th March

The battalion fought two actions this day, one in the vicinity of Haplincourt the other in the vicinity of Bus

Orders

H1 was To proceed to rallying point, Guedecourt, owing to tank being mechanically unfit. ^(BHS)

H3 was to take tank back to Gueudecourt and from there to Acheux. ^(BHS)

H4 was to cover retreat of infantry to position behind Barastre by demonstrating in front of village. ^(BHS)

H22 and H23 were to Proceed to Baraste and create a demonstration while infantry consolidated. ^(BHS)

Account of operations

The tanks moved to Villers-Au-Floos and from there attacked.

A Company

H1 broke down 700 yds SE of les Boeufs, between les Boeufs and Guedecourt whilst withdrawing. The tank came under heavy fire whilst broadside on to the enemy, the crew withdrew then reoccupied the tank and fired all remaining 6 pdr ammunition into les Boeufs. The infantry meanwhile had rallied 600 - 900 yds in the rear so the crew abandoned the tank after smashing all working parts, then withdrew and handed 4000 SAA rounds and the LG to the infantry ^(BHS).

H3 was abandoned as unfit by its OIC 2Lt Batstone RR. 2Lt Folkhard took charge of the vehicle and his driver managed to repair it and take it to Acheux via Guedecourt. It was eventually handed in at Beauval ^(BHS). 2Lt Bastone and crew H12 took tank 2824 into action (see A and B Composite Company).

H4 approached Barastre village from the SW, passed it about 800 yds from the SE side. Soon after passing the village the enemy were engaged with 6pdr and LG fire, no friendly infantry were in sight so the tank withdrew to the crucifix at O15d.45.15, passing tow KO tanks en route. On reaching the Crucifix H4 was itself hit and set afire. All crew wounded. ^(BHS) Note: In action near Bus on Summary.

H6 was taken over by 2Lt Fyffe DR on the night of the 23^rd, it broke down on the 24^th but eventually made it back to Beuval where it was handed over to central workshops ^(BHS) .

H22 started late due to autovac trouble, on nearing Baraste it stopped to help "Havoc" which was ditched, H22 was then hit and KO, 1 crewman killed and four wounded. The OIC stayed close to the tank until he was forced to retire by the advancing Germans, the tank was on fire when he left. ^(BHS)

H23 moved towards the objective but was hit, KO and set afire before reaching it. It had fired at enemy field gun flashes suffered the OIC and 2 crewmen wounded, 1 crewman killed, and one crewman missing ^(SUM)

C Company

2875 and (presumably) 2579 were both unfit for action and were thus withdrawn and destroyed (see below).

2 Sections of C company (5 tanks) proceeded to Barestre village (2 tanks), and patrolled the gap between Haplincourt Wood and the village (3 tanks) ^(W8).

The other five C Company tanks moved towards Haplicourt village and Wood ^(W8).

Battle History Sheets:

8086 and 8105 both attacked towards Barastre, 8086 was hit three times and knocked out. 8105 broke down whilst approaching the village and fired into it at long range whilst stationary, the tank was eventually abandoned and destroyed. (both accounts from Summary only).

H44, H45 and H46 were ordered to cover the retirement of the 6th Brigade, 2nd Division to the Red line. All three tanks patrolled between Haplincourt and Baraste, all three were hit and destroyed. H45 and H46 whilst coming out of action; H45 at Villers au Flos and H46 on the red line.

(H44's account based on Summary only)

H47 was ordered to the West of Haplincourt Village where it successfully covered infantries withdrawal it was hit three times and destroyed whilst engaging Haplincourt Wood.

H48 went into action N of Haplincourt Wood (N9a.8.9), it fired past retireing British troops into two waves of advancing enemy troops, who turned and fled from the tanks fire. Several Flamethrowers were destroyed. One group of enemy got to the right of the tank and fired on it with AP ammo, wounding both right hand gunners and disabling both Lewis guns. Tank then turned but two more Lewis guns were disabled so the tank withdrew, eventually to Courcellete. it was finally handed over at Beauval.

H50, H51 and H52 were attached to the 61st Division. The tanks started at 1.45pm a then patrolled between Haplincourt Wood and Barastre covering the Infantries withdrawal H52 was hit five times and KO at 3pm, H50 and H51 withdrew, eventually to Courcellete ^(w8BH). H50 2645 was burnt at Destremont farm^(w8) .

Hickey is presumably referring to this action when he states Vivesh was in "Hong Kong" (2612) when it was knocked out ^(S61.p172). Vivesh was actually in 4580 according to the tank's 24^th March BHS. ^(BHS)

Summary

Total Tanks: 18

Failed to Start: 4

Engaged enemy: 14

Ditched / Broke Down: 3

Hit and Knocked out: 9

Rallied: 2

In total 6 C Company tanks were Knocked out by hostile artillery: 2075, 2695, 2856, 4563, 8022 and 8086 (war Diary.