Help with Tank Corps man

[Psmith24]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone help me with finding out a bit more about Tank Corps man Edward Percy Prior who died on 30th July 1918.

Information on his medal index card says he was Private 306223, Tank Corps

His CWGC record adds that he was in A Company, 8th Battalion, Tank Corps (which I believe was formerly H Battalion, Tank Corps)

His SDGW record adds that he enlisted at Falmouth and was formerly No. 512609 Cornwall (F) Royal Engineers

He is buried at Longueau British Cemetery

An unusual family story is attached to this man. They received a chaplain’s letter soon after his death stating that “Gunner Prior” had been unwell at the time, but had been forced by a sergeant to take part in a swimming exercise in a “famous river” and drowned.

Going by the date and his first burial spot (according to CWGC), I would guess this puts him in the area of Blangy-Tonville near Amiens at the time of his death. The Somme flows nearby, so that it is the “famous” river referred to.

I would imagine his battalion were either resting up after the attack on 4th July at Le Hamel, gathering for the Amiens attack on 8th August, or both. But all this is pure conjecture on my part.

I wonder if anyone could add any detail about this man - date of his enlistment in the Tank Corps, when he may have arrived in France, whether the 8th Battalion took part in the Cambrai attack, and where the battalion was at the time of Edward’s death. In fact anything.

Regards to all.

[GraemeClarke]

Hi

The War Diary is at the NA but not downloadable

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=C4553265

Regards,

Graeme

[delta]

8th Battalion had just taken part in the battle of Hamel - the attack was a success. The unit was working in suuport of the Australians, as as 13th battalion. 60 tanks were deployed of which 56 reached the objective.

More details are at http://www.awm.gov.a...ttles/hamel.asp

H Battalion had taken part in the battle of Cambrai

[Psmith24]

Hi Delta,

Do you mean 8th Battalion was part of 13th Battalion? As I understand it the attack was carried out by the new Mark V tank?

regards

Peter

[delta]

Both 8th (three companies) and 13th Battalion (two companies) were in action in Mark V tanks

[17tankman]

The medal rolls state accidently drowned 30/7/1918 A Coy 8th Tank Corps

17tankman

[Psmith24]

Firstly, thanks to Graeme Clarke, Delta and 17tankman for extremely helpful responses.

I am just trying to assemble what I know about 8th Battalion, Tank Corps

Am I right in thinking...

It was formed in the UK in early 1917

Arrived in France August 1917 as H Battalion, 5th Brigade, Tank Corps

Fought at Cambrai Nov 1917 with Mark IV tank

Fought at Le Hamel 4th July 1918, as part of 13th Battalion, with new Mark V Tank

Fought at Amiens 8th August 1918 with new Mark V Tank

Can I ask two supplementary questions:

Reading through an earlier Tank Corps thread it seems some deductions can be made about enlistment dates from a man’s Service Number. In my man’s case - Edward Prior - his number is 306223 (SDGW says he had a different number when he was in the RE) . I understand his Tank Corps number is an early one which would mean he transferred to tanks around mid-1916. Have I understood this correctly?

My second question is can anyone recommend a good general information book about the Tank Corps. I have Bryn Hammond’s Cambrai book and have ordered Tank Warfare, by F. Mitchell.

Thanks for everyone’s help

[johntaylor]

Hi, this is a pretty good starting point - the official history written by Clough Williams-Ellis and his wife, and available online at http://archive.org/d...corps00willgoog

[Sidearm]

8th Battalion and 13th Battalion both fought at Hamel, but they were different units; one was not part of the other.

Gwyn

[17tankman]

No the early tankers were 200,000 series and then somehow went back to 40,000 numbers. I would reckon he joined in late 1917 early 1918. There are lots of books on tank corps do you want to start from the beginning if so Tanks at Fler.

17tankman