The Ypres Times.
221
F"1 The story of this action is simplicity itselfa bare outline of the facts must suffice»
the details being left fo the imagination of the reader. Anyone who has experienced
the Salient can provide a suitable background for the picture. Seven tanks passed through
the battered remains of St. Julien, for the remaining two were left half buried in the sticky
conglomeration at the crossing of the Steenbeek. Keeping strictly to the greasy pavé
of the Poelcappelle road, they proceeded at irregular intervals each to its particular objec
tive. Aided by the effective screen of the artillery smoke barrage, the tanks laboriously
made their way up the road, and then arrival at their objectives must have been as delight
ful a surprise to their drivers as it was an unpleasant one to the enemy. The Cockroft
tank, after leaving the road, approached to within fifty yards of its objective and stuck
but, in spite of the fact that it was a female machine, i.e., armed only with machine-guns,
the moral effect of its proximity was such that the large garrison evacuated and fled after
a very brief resistance. In due course, the infantry detailed to take over the post were
brought up, and they successfully occupied it with but a few fight casualties. Unable
to extricate his machine, the tank commander formed Lewis gun teams of his crew, and
remained with the infantry until late in the afternoon.
The Maison du Hibou was attacked by the only 6-pounder tank which took part in
the action. The distance of this two-storeyed concrete fort from the road compelled the
tank commander to plunge his machine into the morass which surrounded his objective,
and he was able to paddle his way to the rear before he became immovably bogged.
Fortunately the position of the tank enabled one gun to be trained on the entrance of the
Maison du Hibou, and some forty rounds of shell fired into it proved too much for the
remaining garrison, who speedily evacuated and were either shot down or captured. The
fort was then immediately taken over by the infantry who were in close support.
A strong resistance was met at Triangle Farm, which was only captured after our
infantry, supported by their tank, had penetrated the fort and bayonetted or captured
the garrison. This tank then attempted»to assist the attack on the Maison du Hibou, but,
skidding off the pavé, it became ditched. Its machine-guns, however, accounted for
many of the enemy during their flight from this fort.
At the remaining posts the appearance of the tanks put the garrisons to precipitate
flight, and the whole operation was carried out with complete success and at a cost to the
infantry engaged of fifteen men wounded. Such a total of casualties as against the estimated
figures of 600 to 1,000 naturally provoked intense astonishment throughout the high
command, and the revulsion of feeling which followed the performance of the tanks,
though it may be said to have given origin to the Tank Battle of Cambrai (November 20,
1917), resulted disastrously for these machines in the Salient, for it was immediately taken
for granted that what could be done once, could be indefinitely repeated. The attempts
were repeated, but the success was not.
The following is an account of the action fought by Tank Fray Bentos on August 22
in the neighbourhood of Gallipoli* Proceeded from point of development five minutes
before zero. At zero the enemy put down a heavy barrage, which was successfully passed
through. Tank received two hits by fragments, which passed through the right outer
track adjuster. Whilst approaching Somme Farm came under heavy machine-gun
fire, and opened fire with left 6-pounder in that direction, and silenced it. At 5.30 a.m.
tank F. 43 was seen on the right, also a C Battalion tank was seen on the right. At
5.45 a.m. came under heavy machine-gun fire from Gallipoli, and whilst engaging this
target the tank crew commander was wounded in the neck by a fragment of a bullet.
Whilst the section commander was taking the crew commander's place the tank became
ditched. Two separate attempts were made to put on the unditching gear, under heavy
fire, and one of the crew was killed whilst outside the tank. The machine-guns, firing
from Gallipoli, were engaged by 6-pounder and silenced. Our infantry at this time (about
History of the 6th Tank Battalion.
