With this second attack on Bullecourt ended, as far as the Tanks were concerned, the Battle of Arras. There were not many 1st Brigade Tanks to withdraw to Wailly nor many unwounded men to man them. It was, however, with feelings very different from those of the “veterans” of the Somme that officers and men left the battle.
The careful training at Bermicourt with its well-planned courses, its boxing, and its games was justified. Men and officers could not have displayed a finer fighting spirit. The value of their work was recognised by all the units with whom they fought.
Major-General Williams, commanding the 37th division, wrote of “C” Battalion’s work in the attack on Monchy:
“It was a great achievement, and in itself more than justifies the existence of the Tanks. Officers and men concerned deserve the highest credit.”
Lieut.-General Aylmer Haldane, commanding the 6th Corps, wrote to Colonel Baker-Carr, commanding the 1st Brigade, on April 13:
“... I am really most grateful for all the Tanks and their commanders have done, and the great success of this Corps is only attributable to the help you have given us. This has been my first experience of the co-operation of Tanks, and I certainly never again want to be without them, when so well commanded and led.”
Not only had the personnel done extraordinarily well, their conduct being “a triumph of moral over technical difficulties,” but on the whole the general work of the Tanks had been a success.
These were briefly the technical lessons of the battle:
Tanks should be used in masses.
They should be concentrated.