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Remembered Today:

16th Tank Battalion - 'P' Battalion


Bryn_Hammond

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Hi
Wondered if anyone could tell me when 16th Tank Battalion actually embarked from the UK for France?
Also, if possible, where they were in the months of July, August and September 1918.
Thanks
Bryn

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Bryn

According to the Liddell Hart history of the Regiment the 16th appears to have crossed to France in August and was certainly involved in Fourth Army's storming of the Hindenburg Line at the end of September. Its next action seems to have been across the River Selle near Le Cateau in mid-October.

Charles M

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Bryn

According to the Liddell Hart history of the Regiment the 16th appears to have crossed to France in August and was certainly involved in Fourth Army's storming of the Hindenburg Line at the end of September. Its next action seems to have been across the River Selle near Le Cateau in mid-October.

Charles M

Thanks, Charles

Do you have a date in August for this? Before or after Amiens i.e. before 12th or after the 8th?

Really appreciate the help. The perils of my book collection being in store all over everywhere!

Hope you are well.

Best wishes

Bryn

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Bryn

16th Bn did not take part on 8 August, but I cannot, alas, give you a date of arrival. Perhaps David Fletcher or Stuart Wheeler at the Tank Museum - there is certainly a copy of the Battalion history there.

All the best

Charles

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  • 2 months later...

I have the war diary and unit history at home, but memory serves that they crossed over in early September. Their first action was on Sept29th and the final action was on October 17th.

I will add the exact details tonight.

John

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From the 16th battalion tank corps war diary:

5.9.18-6.9.18 Battalion left Bovington Camp for Southampton docks.

7 - 8th Arrived at rest camp awaiting embarkation.

8.9.18 Battalion embarked on SS Nirvana & SS Archangel

10.9.18 Both ships landed and unloaded, does not say where in France, but arrived at No.2 rest camp.

13.9.18 At Humieres.

14th - 21st Drew tanks, practiced driving, courses, lectures, working on tanks.

21st - 27th Moved to Tincourt, readied for action.

28th Moved up to Templeux - Ronsay to be attached to 3rd Australian Div.

29th In action N & E of Prospect Hill and east of Beaurevoir.

30th 1 tank in action with the 13th battalion

1.10.18 B coy in action with 14th Aust Inf Bde near Nauroy & W of Estrees.

3.10.18 1 section of A coy in action with the 8th battalion, attached to 8th Aust Inf Bde S of Prospect Hill.

5.10.18 A composite Coy consisting of a section from each Coy was attached to the 6th Aust Inf Bde for the battle of Montbrehain.

6th - 16th Salvage, refitting and training

17.10.18 B Coy attached to the 9th corps. In action between Bohain & Wassigny. Final action of the war.

Demob, training and moving around from Jan to late April 1919. The battalion was part of the German occupation force during May, the war diary ends on May 31st 1919.

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