The Victoria Cross Tankers

[David]

The Victoria Cross Tankers

The following is an excerpt from the 1919 "The Tank Corps Book of Honour" which contains all the honours and awards that were given to men of the Tank Corps during The Great War. The ones below are the most conspicous, as they were awarded the highest decoration possible for valour, the Victoria Cross. You cannot read these without being awed - all these men were killed. It also tells you a lot of the conditions under which the WW1 Tankers fought.

Capt. ROBERTSON, CLEMENT, 1st Battn. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the Third Battle of Ypres. From September 30 to October 4 this officer worked without a break under heavy fire preparing a route for his tanks to go into action against Pveutel. He finished late on the night of October 3, and at once led his tanks up to the starting point for the attack. He brought them safely up by 3 A.M. on October 4, and at 6 A.M. led them into action. The ground was very bad and heavily broken by shell fire and the road demolished for 500 yards. Captain Robertson, knowing the risk of the tanks missing the way, continued to lead them on foot. In addition to the heavy shell fire, an intense machine-gun and rifle fire was directed at the tanks. Although knowing that his action would almost inevitably cost him his life, Captain Robertson deliberately continued to lead the tanks when well ahead of our own infantry, guiding them carefully and patiently towards their objective. Just as they reached the road he was killed by a bullet through the head; but his objective had been reached, and the tanks in consequence were enabled to fight a very successful action. By his very gallant devotion Captain Robertson deliberately sacrificed his life to make certain the success of his tanks. T. Lieut. (A./Capt.) WAIN, RICHARD WILLIAM LESLIE. 1st Battn. For most conspicuous gallantry in action near Marcoing on November 20, 1917, while in command of a section of tanks. During the attack, the tank in which he was became disabled by a direct hit near a German strong point in the Hindenburg Support Line, and at L.34.a.3.6, which was holding up the attack, Captain Wain and one man were the only survivors, and they were both seriously wounded. While the infantry were held up there, this officer, in spite of his wounds, rushed from behind the tank in front of the enemy strong point with a Lewis gun and captured the strong point, taking about half the garrison prisoners. Al­though his wounds were very serious, Captain Wain picked up a rifle and continued to fire at the retiring enemy until he received a fatal wound in the head. Though bleeding profusely from wounds, this gallant officer refused attention of stretcher-bearers in order to carry on clearing the enemy out of the strong point. It was due to this most gallant act by this officer that the infantry were able to advance. Lieut. SEWELL, CECIL HAROLD. 3rd Battn. When in command of a section of whippet (light) tanks in action in front of Fremicourt on the afternoon of August 29, 1918, this officer displayed the greatest gallantry and initiative in getting out of his own tank and crossing open ground under heavy shell and machine-gun fire to rescue the crew of another whippet of his section, which had side-slipped into a large shell-hole, overturned, and taken fire. The door of the tank having become jammed against the side of the shell-hole, Lieut. Sewell, by his own unaided efforts, dug away the entrance to the door and re­leased the crew. In doing so he undoubtedly saved the lives of the officers and men inside the tank, as they could not have got out without his assistance, After having extricated this crew, seeing one of his own crew lying wounded behind his tank, he again dashed across the open ground to his assistance. He was hit while doing so, but succeeded in reaching the tank, when a few minutes later he was again hit fatally, in the act of dressing his wounded driver. During the whole of this period he was in full view and short range of enemy machine-guns and rifle pits, and throughout, by his prompt and heroic action, showed an utter disregard for his own personal safety. Capt. (A/Lieut-col.) WEST, RICHARD ANNESLEY. 6th Battn. For most conspicuous bravery and brilliant leader­ship on August 21 at Courcelles, and again for amazing self­-sacrifice near Vaulx-Vraucourt on September a, 1918. On August 21, during the attack on Courcelles, the in­fantry having lost their bearings in the dense fog, this officer at once took charge of any men he could find. He reorgan­ised them and led them on horseback through the village on to their objective in face of heavy machine-gun fire. He had two horses shot from under him during the morning. Throughout the whole action he displayed the most utter disregard of danger, and the capture of the village was in a great part due to his initiative and gallantry. On September 2 it was intended that a battalion of light tanks under the command of this officer should exploit the initial infantry and heavy tank attack. He there­fore rode forward on horseback to our front infantry line in order to keep in touch with the progress of the battle and to be in a position to launch his tanks at the right moment. He arrived at the front line when the enemy were in process of delivering a local counter-attack. The infantry battalion had suffered heavy officer casualties, and its flanks were exposed. Realising that there was a danger of the battalion giving way, he at once rode out in front of them under extremely heavy machine-gun and rifle fire and rallied the men. In spite of the fact that the enemy were close upon him, he took charge of the situation and detailed N.C.O.'s to replace officer casualties. He then rode up and down in front of them in face of certain death, encouraging the men and calling to them, ‘Stick it, men: show them fight, and for God's sake put up a good fight.’ He fell riddled by machine-gun bullets. The magnificent bravery of this very gallant officer at the critical moment inspired the infantry to redoubled efforts, and undoubtedly saved the situation. The hostile attack was defeated.