AFV

1ATB in France
Peter Brown continues to relate the structure, equipment, colours and markings of the
tanks of British 1st Army Tank Brigade. (Part 2 continued from MM Vol.44 No.4)

n the 22nd May, Brigade HQ and the

remains of the two Battalions returned to
the Vimy area. German air attacks were
very heavy and the move was not complete until
the evening. Considerable casualties had been
during the action at Arras, 4RTR losing 176 officers
and men killed, wounded or missing with 7RTR
reporting 50 in all. Tank state was:

During the night of the 22nd/23rd, 4RTR were

concealed in trees on Givenchy Ridge west of
the Vimy-Arras road to counter any German
attack from Arras, with 7RTR protecting the
right flank on high ground east of Souchez.
One more Mk.II had rejoined. Around 50
French Somua and Hotchkiss tanks were also
arranged for defence.

4RTR four Light Tanks with

one unfit, 12 Mk.I of which
four were unfit.
7RTR 13 Mk.I and six Mk.II.

The photos accompanying this

article are published courtesy of
Bob Gregory. They were all taken
by German soldiers during or more
likely after the French Campaign.
Caption details come from
Bob, Nick Watts and the author
using what information is on the
back of the prints with locations
which can be made out.

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Military Modelling Vol.44 No.5 2014

AFV

LEFT: Two tanks with no identifying

markings on a train photographed at
an unknown location would at first
sight appear to be of limited value.
However, as neither has the trenchcrossing box at the rear of the tank
or even the white recognition square
seen on all known photos of tanks
with 7RTR in France, it is likely that
they were from Base Ordnance Depot
stocks. It is also possible that they
were among the tanks used by the
Beauman Tank Company and they
may be the two which were loaded at
Caen Station.

7RTRs account for the 23rd says that by 09.30

hrs they had advanced to cover the Noulette
Cemetery Ridge west of Souchez when orders
were received to move to meet an enemy attack
in the Carincy-Albain St Nazaire area. A and B

Companies moved to counter this with D Company

in reserve. Several enemy tanks - described as the
same size as a Mk.II so probably Panzer III or IV
- were knocked out by 2pdr fire and the Germans
withdrew. The two Companies rallied near Souchez
about 14.00 hrs and were joined by D Company,
together they moved to the Noulette Ridge. A
German motorised column
was observed which moved
towards Souchez. The available
tanks, about 14 or 15, were
split into five Sections. Two
were left to hold the Noulette
Ridge, two to form blocks
on the outskirts of Souchez
with the French while one advanced through
Souchez towards Carinel to meet the advance.
They encountered some anti-tank guns and infantry
in Carinel which were engaged by machine gun
fire. With the enemy strength found to be small,
all tanks apart from one section blocking Souchez
withdrew to the Noulette Ridge. Some probing

1939-40

BELOW: Although no markings are

visible from this angle, other photos
of this scene of a Matilda on a German
tank transporter trailer show the serial
number which allows us to identify
the tank as one of those seen on
the train. At the time the series was
taken it appears undamaged, while
another photo offered on Ebay shows
it with several marks from shell hits
so it probably ended its days on a
firing range. Photos of Matildas are
popular which translates as expensive
which makes me very grateful to
Bob Gregory for allowing the many
images which accompany my text to
be published.

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AFV

Several British tanks were recovered

by the Germans and tested, this is
Grays originally T6910 PMV266 now
with a German number WH-0170638.
(Tank Museum photo)

Then the French

commander at
Fournes requested
help against a
German advance...

40

moves by German infantry were engaged with

limited results.
As dusk fell a withdrawal to the Givency Ridge
had begun when the Germans attacked with tanks
and infantry towards the ridge. One Mk.II forward
of the ridge and another on a flank below it engaged
them and fired off all their ammunition, claiming
four or five tanks knocked out. Both Mk.II were
abandoned as they had gearbox and clutch trouble.
The remaining tanks moved to Carnin.
Late on the 23rd orders were issued to an area
northwest of Carnin, this was accomplished with
no interference from the Germans who as usual
did not operate at night. The Brigade was able
to rest on the 24th, on the 25th a composite 4/7
Battalion was formed. AFV strength was four Light
Tanks from each Battalion, the 4th provided 12 Mk.I
and the 7th six Mk.I and two Mk.II, one of them
described as mechanically doubtful, and six Spare
Crew Carriers. It was organised as:
I Tank Company one Mk.II for the Company
Commander, a Light Tank for the Recce Officer and
five Sections each of three Mk.I. One Mk.II and
three Mk.I were held in reserve.
Recce Group one Light Tank for the Section
Commander, two Sub-Sections each with three
Light Tanks.
Transport vehicles came from both Battalions.
The combined Battalion was sent towards Orchies
to support an attack by III Corps and the French. The
remainder of the Brigade, now with little more than
their revolvers, were to move to the west of Lille. On
arrival the following day they were ordered to Dunkirk
to embark for the UK. All vehicles were left behind,
most were damaged before being abandoned but
were not allowed to be burned.
4/7 Battalion arrived in the assembly area in the
Bois de Flines 4-miles southwest of Orchies on
the 26th but were unable to contact the units they

were to work with. The planned attack had been

cancelled without the Battalion being informed.
New orders arrived to move to Seclin, which they
did under heavy bombing. The commander arrived
in the town but was unable to find the III Corps
HQ. A group of five Light Tanks, some Carriers
and lorries arrived but the I Tanks had become
separated. This group was sent on to Dunkirk.
Contact was finally made with III Corps but only two
or three I Tanks could be found which were also
ordered to Dunkirk.
Some more tanks then came in along with orders
to move to support 2nd Division. On the move
from Bois de Flines one Mk.I I Tank had been
overturned by near misses from bombs, a Light
Tank was destroyed and another Mk.I abandoned
with a defective gearbox. Others had become
separated leaving 13 Mk.I and an LAD detachment
which moved to Fournes which was reached about
01.00 hrs on the 27th, avoiding Seclin where there
were many fires and diverted as the bridge at
Wavrin was mined.
Petrol was low but supplies were arranged. The
Battalion was ask to support 25th Infantry Brigade
but was too far away to reach them in time to
attack. Then the French commander at Fournes
requested help against a German advance, but
new orders to work with 25th Infantry Brigade
meant they moved towards Pont du Hem with one
tank left behind with gearbox trouble. The Infantry
Brigade HQ ordered them to Neuve Chappelle to
support the Queens Regiment. On the way two
tanks broke their tracks, the remainder were ready
to support the Queens when their orders were
changed, instead they were to help extricate the
Camerons at La Basse. This they did, moving
down the road in line ahead. Several tanks were
lost to shelling and fire from German tanks in hulldown positions.
Only two tanks, one with damage to the
reduction gear casing, rallied after the attack and
these with the LAD party were ordered back before

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AFV

the last bridges were blown. The CO lost touch

with them and they made their way to Dunkirk.
Another crew missing at Neuve Chappelle also
reached Dunkirk on the 29th. Together with those
dismounted crews who reached the town they
were evacuated.
It was later learned that three Mk.I and the
two remaining Mk.II I Tanks which had become
separated were directed to 5th Division and
operated with them until all broke down. Crews
were ordered to Dunkirk.

No.1 Army Tank Brigade Workshop

Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Brigade Workshops travelled to France on the
HMS Shepperton Ferry on 5th May after being
delayed first by mist and then German minelaying.
Moving to Brevel, by the 8th they had established
their workshop and started work repairing two of
their own lorries. On the 9th they were working
on two Mk.I tanks from 4RTR and the following
day recovered and repaired a Light Tank which had

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Greenock is another tank which was popular with amateur and official photographers, one view was
used as a postcard sold after the campaign was over and the author has two cropped views bought
on Ebay. They show how photos can distort the truth... While several shots were taken at La Panne,
another shows it in a wooded area described as Lens so it was probably taken to the beach by the
Germans for propaganda purposes. Some marks on the print of the rear three-quarter view should not
be taken as markings but that photo does show the striped tactical sign.

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damaged a bogie wheel in a collision with a wall.

May 12th saw them moving to Breteuil. One Mk.I
was repaired by a rearguard party and later returned
to 4RTR but the other was handed over to the RAC
Base Depot. By the 14th they were just north of
Saintes in Belgium, although they had a workshop
in operation in a barn they were unable to recover a
7RTR casualty as they were not given its location.
On the 16th they moved again to Marcq despite
coming under air attack, claiming four aircraft
shot down by rifle and Lewis gunfire though only
one was seen to crash. Another workshop was
prepared and one Mk.I and one Mk.II were brought
in. These had to be abandoned when they moved
again to Tressin, although no orders were received
to destroy the tanks their engine sumps were shot
with pistols, gun breeches were removed and the
power traverse on the Mk.II smashed.
Movement was hampered by refugees, an
attempt to recover more tanks failed due to a blown
bridge. On the 18th they were at a chateau at Ascq
where they began work on one Mk.I and one Mk.II
which had broken down. These were still being
repaired when orders came in the afternoon on the
20th to move to Vermelles, again movement was
difficult due to troops and refugees on the roads.
However, a Mk.I was recovered from Petit Vimy
and returned to its owners.
They assembled in a tree-lined avenue near
Mazingarbe before taking over some farm
buildings. Work on the two tanks brought with
them continued while more Mk.I and Mk.II were

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recovered. On the 22nd the Mk.I had had its engine

changed but still needed a new gear selector
lever. As an attack was expected, a defence was
organised using two Mk.II tanks which was still
being repaired with a running Mk.I in support. A
column of armoured and other vehicles was seen
nearby early on the 23rd, they were thought to
be Germans but moved off without approaching
any closer. Then orders were received to move to
Bauvin, the running Mk.I towing another Mk.I until
it broke down. Two more Mk.I and a Light Tank
were collected on the way, bringing the number on
hand to one Light Mk.VIB, three Mk.I and two Mk.II
Infantry Tanks. Attempts to recover two more Mk.I
and a Mk.II at Mazingarbe were abandoned when
the party sent out was turned back by a British
officer as the road they were travelling on was
thought to be highly unsafe.
With more enemy attacks expected and bridges
being blown which would restrict movements, the
unit moved to Kemmel and continued work on the
tanks leaving a detachment at Ploegsteert working
on a Mk.II. Two men were wounded in a bombing
raid. Work continued while attempts were made to
contact 1st Army Tank Brigade. Orders to move the
tanks towards Bergues were received late on the
morning of the 26th, two Scammells
set off towing a Mk.I tank each with

a Light Tank on a trailer towed by a machinery lorry.

With these at Bergues the Scammell returned and
by the early hours of the 27th three more tanks
had been brought from Kemmel. Even after all the
various moves the unit was intact apart from two
casualties and two other men left behind in hospital
before the move to Belgium. This was thought
to be because of the care taken to disperse and
camouflage vehicles, so an order to move to Dunkirk
and locate in an open field was not welcomed.
The CO travelled to Dunkirk and after being
detained while his identity was checked, he
returned planning to bring his unit in and hand over
any tanks which could be operated to defend the
town. One was handed over, vehicles were brought
in and abandoned. Those fit men who reached
Dunkirk were evacuated although several were
killed on the crossing home.

The subject of Peter Heaths Matilda

Mk.II model (see MM Vol.44 No.4
Military Vehicle Special, Ed.) was
another tank photographed from several
angles. The image in the built-up area
shows the serial and full name Greynam
while the others in the middle of a
field only show part of it which could
easily be misinterpreted. Close-up view
shows damage which is proof of how
well protected the Matilda was. Note
the breech mechanism of the 4 bomb
thrower with the wooden parts missing.

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During the move

one Mk.II caught fire
while trying to tow
another which had
gearbox damage, the
local fire brigade had
to be called to put
out the fire.

44

During the week before they evacuated, they had

recovered and repaired one Mk.I and returned it to
its owners as well as recovering another six Mk.I,
four Mk.II and one Light Tank and some transport
vehicles. Of these, the Light Tank, three Mk.I and
two Mk.II were still with the Workshops when
they reached Dunkirk. Their War Diary stated that if
they had not had to continually move and had had
more vehicles to carry equipment allowing their
few recovery trailers to be used for tanks and not
carrying stores, they might have achieved more.

Beauman Tank Company

One other unit using Matildas was the Divisional
Tank Company of the Beauman Division. This
Division was an improvised force formed from
troops south of the Somme during the Battle
of France, it was named after its commander
Brigadier-General A. B. Beauman. Most of its units
had been serving on Lines of Communication
duties. It held a 55-mile stretch between Pont St
Pierre near the junction of the rivers Andelle and
Seine and the coast at Dieppe, with the survivors of
1st Armoured Division and 51st Highland Division.
On 27th May four junior officers and 19 other
tanks arrived at the HQ of Northern District Lines
of Communication at Rouen to form the nucleus
of this unit. They collected five Mk.II I Tanks from
Rive Gauche Station. These were probably from the
six reported sent to Cherbourg in error in the War
Diary of 1 Base Ordnance Depot and ordered to be
sent forward to No.1 Reserve Section, Armoured
Corps Ordnance Field Park. All five tanks needed
work, engine clutches on all of them were out of
adjustment, two had flat batteries and one had water
in its fuel tank. Four tanks were driven to camp with
another on tow. More troops arrived as did five Mk.I
I tanks and spares, on 3rd June it was recorded
All 10 Tanks in running order and 1 Mk.II I Tank
arrives as C.H.Q. Tank, apparently in good order.
Late on the 5th they moved to Rouvray
Aerodrome as a parachute landing was expected.
During the move one Mk.II caught fire while trying
to tow another which had gearbox damage, the

local fire brigade had to be called to put out the

fire. These two Mk.II together with another Mk.II
with burned-out clutches were moved to Sotteville
Station, two were loaded onto a train but a third was
left behind after its guns had been made useless. A
Mk.I which had also broken down was abandoned.
As the landing did not materialise, on the evening
of the 7th the Company were ordered to move to
a wood north of Gratainville which was reached at
02.00 hrs on the 8th with four Mk.I and three Mk.II
I Tanks. Two small detachments, each of one Mk.I
and one Mk.II, were sent to assist in the defence of
the river at Vascoeuil while the remainder had been
joined by a Cruiser tank and a Scout Car. Their next
move was to cover a withdrawal to Fluery, crossing
the River Seine at Les Andelys. This was not
possible as the bridge was closed, so they travelled
via Courcelles-Sur-Seine despite being slowed
down by refugees. On arriving at Gaillon on the
9th, contact was made with 1st Armoured Division
who promised to send fuel oil and petrol. Moving to
high ground west of Gaillon to meet the resupply,
a Mk.I which had developed gearbox trouble was
abandoned after its engine had been wrecked.
Some fuel oil but no petrol was received.
The unit reported to the French General Maillard
who ordered them to investigate reports of
German tanks. Moving to Fontaine la Verte, one
tank developed steering trouble. Although tanks
were heard across the Seine, none were seen
and they withdrew early on the 10th. Petrol was
supplied by the French enabling them to carry out a
short reconnaissance. New orders from Beauman
Division came to withdraw to Sees but these
were ignored as they were needed by General
Maillard. They moved back to Venables, nearing
there around 13.00 hrs a column consisting of
a Mk.II and two Mk.I came under anti-tank and
machine gun fire. One Mk.I was hit in the track
and abandoned before being destroyed by 2pdr
fire from the Mk.II before it and the remaining
Mk.I withdrew, still under fire. Another Mk.I was
abandoned with its engine seized.
Now a general withdrawal was ordered. A
Mk.II was abandoned with a broken track, it was

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destroyed by 2pdr fire. Reaching Irreville they

refuelled, however a Mk.I was lost when it burst
into flames after its steering clutch had collapsed.
Around 22.00 hrs a Mk.II broke a track and was
harboured in a wood east of St Martin. Attempts
were made to get hold of spare track pins, by 23.00
hrs on the 11th only one Mk.II was still running.
When the main detachment reached La Chappelle
Gauthier, its track was broken and pins sent to the
disabled Mk.II which rejoined despite problems
with its radiator. At attempt to find tanks left behind
by 1st Armoured Division located an A13 tank at
Rouge Perriers which was reported to be repairable
if spares could be found. However, despite some
work it could not be made mobile.
Meanwhile the Company was now back under
command Beauman Division. On the 14th they
were reduced to two working tanks, two armoured
cars were improvised with a staff car and a 15cwt
truck were armoured using fuel cans packed
with earth with spare Vickers and Lewis guns as
armament. Early on the 15th a Mk.II was sent to
cover the bridgehead at Lisieux with orders to
return track pins to enable the other tank to move.
While waiting for this the remainder of the unit
moved back, a despatch rider was sent to find out
what was happened and returned to report that its
engine had been on fire. It was later seen returning
amid clouds of steam. With help from a large lorry
and the other tank, during the following day it made
its way to Caen Station. By 04.00 hrs on the 17th
the two tanks had been loaded onto a train. The
armoured cars were used to provide protection for
the Divisions HQ as it moved to Cherbourg. Here
the personnel embarked to return to Southampton.
From there they moved to Farnborough where they
were disbanded on 2nd July.

Organisation
There were two War Establishments for An Army
Tank Battalion for the early-war period which
differed slightly.
III/1931/33A/2 notified in ACIs on 13th April 1938
specified:

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Battalion Headquarters 2 I tanks for command

and 4 light tanks for liaison plus a pool of 4
Carriers, Tracked, Personnel Carrying for carrying
relief personnel.
Three Companies, each:
Company Headquarters 1 I tank for command, 1
light tank for liaison.
Five Sections each of 3 I tanks.
Total AFV strength was seven Light Tanks and 50
I Tanks, with in addition 21 motorcycles, seven
various cars, four 15cwt trucks with specialist
bodies, seven 30cwt and 11 3-ton lorries.
III/1931/33A/3 notified on 27th March 1940
specified the same number of tanks, though I tank
crews were now given as four men to allow for the
change from Mk.I to Mk.II tanks. There were to be
two tracked carriers in Headquarters plus two each
in each Company giving an overall total of eight.
Supporting vehicles also changed, at full strength
a unit would have 30 solo motorcycles and three
combinations, four cars, five 8cwt, 11 15cwt and
nine 30cwt trucks plus 14 four-wheel and four sixwheel 3-ton lorries.
4RTR had four Carriers when they unloaded in
September 1939 which agrees with the April 1938
Establishment, while the Movement Orders for both
Battalions into Belgium show eight Carriers which
suggests they were using the newer organisation.

Losses
The total number of tanks reported as lost in France
included 126 Infantry Tanks given as 97 Mk.I and
29 Mk.II. Of these, 77 Mk.I and 23 Mk.II would
have been on the strengths of 4RTR and 7RTR
with five Mk.I and six Mk.II with the Beauman unit.
The remaining vehicles were replacement tanks
in depots. A total of 345 Light Tank Mk VIB were
also lost, the majority with the Divisional Cavalry
Regiments formerly with the Infantry Divisions but
later formed into Reconnaissance Brigades with
others serving with 1st Armoured Division.
To be continued.

Translating the text on the distant

photo of Gypsy gives us Light French
and heavy British tank. In the grave
3 Panzerjger. The smaller tank is
an A11 but it interesting to learn is
that the graves are those of anti-tank
gun crews. They probably manned a
3.7cm PaK 35/36 on the outskirts of
Achicourt before falling victim to one
of the tanks in the photo. Whoever
buried them marked the place with a
cross and a helmet and also laid a belt
of ammunition around the boundary.
The identity of the A12 can just be
made out by the serial number, crossreferencing it with the rear views
registration and name confirms these
are two views of the same tank.

...two armoured cars

were improvised
with a staff car and
a 15cwt truck were
armoured using
fuel cans packed
with earth with spare
Vickers and Lewis
guns as armament.

45