#Tank100

[Gareth Davies]

Flers-Courcelette D-6.

D Coy loaded their tanks and began their rail move to the Somme. By 8pm they were all on their way. The OC, Maj Summers went by car (a Sunbeam), arriving at the Somme railhead at 10pm.

#Tank100 #FearNaught

[Gareth Davies]

Flers-Courcelette D-5.  

 

The train carrying the first tranche of D Coy's tanks arrived on the Somme.

 

4th Army held a conference on 10 September, attended by the Corps commanders who explained their attack plan.  It was also attended by Lt Col R W Bradley who had commanded the MMGS Depot at Bisley and was now responsible for the coordination of the two tank companies but he was unable to make any contribution.  Also there was Maj Hugh Elles, from the General HQ representing the CinC Gen Douglas Haig.  Elles was the only one to object when the III Corps Commander, Lt Gen Pultney, directed that the four tanks supporting 47 Divisions should drive through High wood.  His objections were over-ruled.

[Gunner Bailey]

On 06/09/2016 at 07:48, Gareth Davies said:

Flers-Courcelette D-9. 

D Coy's final 2 sections of tanks arrived at Conteville. #Tank100 #FearNaught #Flers100

 

Gareth

 

It might help if it was stated that Yrench does not had a railway station. Conteville is the nearest railway station to Yvrench. Reading through your posts it might confuse people.

 

John

[Gareth Davies]

It might.

 

But they were almost all at the Loop by now so it is all onwards and upwards (with a couple of side-steps along the way) from now on.

[Gunner Bailey]

I should have said Conteville WAS the nearest station to Yvrench. The lines were taken away some time ago.

 

John

[delta]

Tilly Mortimore talks about her father who commanded the first tank to see action. https://www.youtube.com/embed/iOFf5_a1QOg

[Gareth Davies]

Flers-Courcelette D-4.  

At 6 am on 11 September 1916 the 2nd train carrying D Coy's tanks arrived on the Somme and was unloaded at once.  At 3 pm Lt Wakley arrived with a train containing 8 spare tanks.  During the day the sponsons were fitted and the crews began equipping their tanks for action. 

#Tank100 #FearNaught

[Gareth Davies]

Flers-Courcelette D-3.

Tank Company and Section Commanders were introduced to the Divisions that they would be working with in 3 days' time.

#Tank100 #FearNaught

[Gareth Davies]

Flers-Courcelette D-2.

C Coy tanks left their Coy park at 5.30 pm to travel to their points of assembly.  D Coy tanks did the same, reaching Green Dump at midnight.  One D Coy tank broke a track during the move.  

#Tank100 #FearNaught

[Gareth Davies]

Flers-Courcelette D-1.

The final preparations for tomorrow's historic attack were being made.  The bombardment grew more intense and the RFC flew missions to mask the noise. At 8.30pm D Coy tanks moved off to the start line.

#Tank100 #FearNaught

[Gareth Davies]

The tanks and men of C & D Companies of the Heavy Section Machine Gun Corps went into action on 15 September 1916.  They were making history; this was the first ever use of tanks in combat.

[horrocks]

The view from the German OG lines towards Courcelette, and the path of C5 'Creme de Menthe', commanded by Capt.Arthur Inglis, on this day 100 years ago.

[MelPack]

Photos of tanks in Trafalgar Square to mark the occasion:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37370764

[Don Regiano]

1 hour ago, MelPack said:

Photos of tanks in Trafalgar Square to mark the occasion:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-37370764

Mark IV first used at Flers-Courcelette?

[horrocks]

Good to see the BBC conflating July 1st (casualties) and 15th September.

[horrocks]

‘We in the ranks had never heard of tanks. We were told that there was some sort of secret weapon, and then we saw this thing go up the right-hand corner of Delville Wood. I saw this strange and cumbersome machine emerge from the shattered shrubbery and proceed slowly down the slope towards Flers.’

 

Lance Corporal Arnold Ridley, 6^th Bn. Somerset Light Infantry

 

I assume Ridley had witnessed Harold Mortimore's D1 'Daredevil', which attacked Hop Alley and Ale Alley before blundering into the British barrage and being put out of action.

[timsanders]

The mayor of Nottingham stood atop a Tank during commemoration in Market Square 1917

[Gareth Davies]

6 hours ago, Don Regiano said:

Mark IV first used at Flers-Courcelette?

 

No, but we don't have a working Mk I.

[Andrew Upton]

7 hours ago, horrocks said:

Good to see the BBC conflating July 1st (casualties) and 15th September.

 

To be fair, they don't actually say that, though they don't make it clear that they are effectively two events separated by several months:

 

"The Mark IV tank, on which the replica is modelled, was first used in warfare in the Battle of the Somme on 15 September 1916.

With 57,000 casualties on the first day it is regarded as the bloodiest day in British military history."

 

Saying MkIV when they mean MKI however...

 

Edited 15 September , 2016 by Andrew Upton

[horrocks]

I don't wish to be pedantic Andrew, but that is clear conflation, as well as poor English.

 

Anyone who didn't know better would be led to believe that the 15th September 1916 saw 57,000 casualties, as well as being the first day of the Battle of The Somme.

Edited 15 September , 2016 by horrocks

[Andrew Upton]

1 hour ago, horrocks said:

I don't wish to be pedantic Andrew, but that is clear conflation, as well as poor English.

 

Anyone who didn't know better would be led to believe that the 15th September 1916 saw 57,000 casualties, as well as being the first day of the Battle of The Somme.

 

Taken individually they are both factually correct. The tank "was first used in warfare in the Battle of the Somme on 15 September 1916."  And in the Battle of the Somme there were indeed "57,000 casualties on the first day (and) it is regarded as the bloodiest day in British military history." It is only the poor juxtaposition that gives the implication they were one and the same.

[Gareth Davies]

It's very poor reporting. 

[rogerb40uk]

Hello, all

I had to shelve my plans for commemorating, yesterday, the centenary of the exploits of my father (in  D5 Dolphin) and the others .... my pet dog  (appropriately, maybe, a German Shepherd X Belgian Shepherd) is ill and I've had to stay with her. 

But, of course, I have been thinking of them and of all those who are,remembering.

Thanks, especially to Stephen and Gareth.for keeping the memories alive.

[delta]

Roger -you're most welcome

 

The commemorations on the  Somme went well with over 70 relatives, former members of 4 RTR and serving soldiers in attendance.

There were also a large number of local French residents, as well as British and Canadian tank enthusiasts including Gerald Moore at Flers for the two afternoon events. Sadly it was a little moist but it did not dampen the spirit of commemoration and celebration below

    

On 15/09/2016 at 13:21, horrocks said:

I assume Ridley had witnessed Harold Mortimore's D1 'Daredevil', which attacked Hop Alley and Ale Alley before blundering into the British barrage and being put out of action.

 

i think it was more likely to be Roger's father in Dolphin (but I could be wrong).

Mortimore did not blunder into the British barrage; he had completed his preliminary task of clearing the Brewery Salient s and was on his way north to support 14th Division in their attack upon Gueudecourt. The barrage  was later reported as weak with many shells falling short.     

Edited 20 September , 2016 by delta
Details info provided on Mortimore's role

[Hereford Horseman]

The Daily Telegraph reprints a section from its coverage of 100 years ago in every Saturday edition, last weekend's featured an article about the impact of the new 'ironclads' or 'armoured cars' only later referring to them as 'tanks':
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213134/Daily-Telegraph-September-16-1916.html

Go to page 9

 

HH