“... Tank ‘Caithness’ came under sniper and machine-gun fire near Beck House. No bullets penetrated armour-plating. Proceeded in company with Tank ‘Carstairs,’ which silenced enemy M.G. fire. Cameron Highlanders then advanced, and Tank followed, bellied near Zonnebeke Stream. Mud was up to floor level and door of sponson was pushed off its hinges. Enemy aeroplane circled overhead, and fired on them whilst attempting to unditch. Eventually Tank ‘Carstairs’ came to the rescue, and Tank was got clear.
“... Tank ‘Culloden’ had her unditching gear carried away by barbed wire near Hill Cottage. Unditching beam was recovered, but again broke lose, until secured with rope. Just west of Frost House shell burst under front of Tank. Whilst crossing light railway half-way between Frost House and Square Farm, a second shell hit roof door and killed one gunner. Tank stopped, and it was found petrol pressure pipe was cut. Time 9.15 a.m. A third shell struck behind right sponson. Crew were withdrawn from Tank, and took up a position in shell-holes near Square Farm. Tank was still being shelled, undoubtedly by an anti-Tank gun, about ten shells being fired at it in five minutes, six of which hit the Tank.
“Tank ‘Cyprus’ was then seen to be hit by the same anti-Tank gun. At 10.15 a.m. survivors of Tanks ‘Culloden’ and ‘Cyprus,’ together with undamaged Lewis guns, withdrew to Battalion Rallying Point, after pigeon messages had been despatched reporting the situation.
“... Tank ‘Carstairs’ arrived at Black Line near Beck House, but infantry had not then arrived.
“Tank soon bellied in boggy ground, but was unditched successfully. Just west of Borry Farm Tank ‘Caithness’ was found badly bellied, and with unditching gear lost.
“Having been informed by 6th Cameron Highlanders that the second objective had been captured, Tank ‘Carstairs’ hitched on to Tank ‘Caithness’ and towed it out. Enemy shell-fire was extremely heavy, and an aeroplane flew over, firing at crew with machine-guns during the operation.
“Instructions were then received to return to Battalion Rallying Point.”
Another very gallant action was fought by a Tank crew also belonging to this Battalion.
They started the battle in a Tank named “Ca’ Canny” under command of Lieutenant H. P. M. Jones, who was killed near Wilde Wood. The crew carried on under command of Corporal Jenkins until about 11 p.m., when the Tank “bellied” hopelessly. Corporal Jenkins withdrew his Lewis guns and crew, and, placing some of them on the top of the Tank and some on the ground, kept up an effective fire on the enemy, who were then attempting a small counter-attack.
He then transferred his men to another Tank, “Clyde,” whose crew had all been wounded. They fought this Tank for a further two hours, but at about three o’clock “Clyde,” too, stuck in the mud and proved inextricable. He and his crew then returned on foot to their Battalion Rallying Point.