There some of them remained stuck fast, not having seen the main body of the enemy at all, so immediate had been his retreat.
His artillery was, however, active enough, and as the Tanks floundered or stuck utterly in the mud, his guns and his low-flying aeroplanes took steady toll.
All morning we pressed on, the enemy Command patiently conserving the power of its armies.
The doings of a group of Tanks belonging to the 3rd Brigade give an extraordinarily good idea of this part of the action. They were fighting on the 19th Corps front.
[35]“At 11.30 a.m. message was received that a Battalion of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were held up on the right. Tank ‘Canada’ moved in this direction and silenced enemy machine-guns in the Railway Embankment, assisted by the Tank ‘Cuidich’n Rich.’ When patrolling in front of the infantry whilst they were consolidating, Tank bellied.
“At the same time enemy barrage came down, and both Tank ‘Canada’ and Tank ‘Cuidich’n Rich’ received direct hits. Five of the crew remained with the infantry, and assisted in repelling a counter-attack, two of the men being wounded.
“... Tank ‘Cape Colony’ arrived at Low Farm and proceeded in front of the infantry. Came under heavy shell-fire and bellied. Whilst unditching, Tanks ‘Cyprus’ and ‘Culloden’ were observed under heavy fire from anti-Tank guns, which were in position on the high ground beyond. Both ‘Cyprus’ and ‘Culloden’ were seen to be hit.
“‘Cape Colony’ then came under heavy M.G. fire from both flanks. On request of infantry ‘Cape Colony’ proceeded to a wood on right flank, where they were held up.
“Although not fired upon from the Tank, several enemy machine-gunners surrendered to the infantry, on seeing the Tank approach. ‘Cape Colony’ now turned N.E. towards Beck House, where a good view of anti-Tank guns, which had been shelling ‘Cyprus’ and ‘Culloden,’ was obtained. Whilst manœuvring to take these guns in flank or rear, the Tank sank in a swamp, water rising to the engine cover. Boche aeroplanes circled low overhead whilst unsuccessful attempts were made to unditch. Enemy shelling then became very heavy, so Lewis guns were taken out and Tank locked up.
“... Flag Tank ‘Cumbrae’ was delayed half an hour by bellying in a trench near Bill Cottage, went in front of the infantry towards second objective. Opened fire on enemy who were disappearing in direction of Delva Farm. Ground was quite water-logged, and Tank bellied in a borrow pit. Whilst digging out was fired at by a sniper, and by an aeroplane flying low overhead. Time was then zero plus 9 hours (i.e., 12.50 p.m.).