56 Division Instruction re Tanks 2 April 1917

 

SECRET                                                                                            56^TH Divn. No G.A. 125

56 DIVISION INSTRUCTIONS

TANKS.

1. Sixteen Tanks of “D” Battalion, 1^st Brigade, Heavy Branch M.G. Corps will work with VII Corps. Headquarters “D” Battalion will be in ARRAS about G.21.a. (CONVENT de NOTRE DAME).
2. Headquarters 1^st Brigade, Heavy Branch M.G. Corps will be at MONTENESCOURT.
3. 1 Section (4 Tanks) will be allotted to the 56^th Division.
4. Each half Section (2 Tanks) will be accompanied by 1 Section of Infantry to assist them in their advance where required. These Sections will be furnished by 169^th Infantry Brigade.
5. These two Sections of Infantry will no longer be required once the BLUE LINE has been reached.
6. The 2 Section Commanders will meet Lieut. BELL (O.C. Section of Tanks working with the Division) at Divisional Headquarters at 10.45 a.m. on April 4^th.
7. The two Infantry Sections will undergo a preliminary training with the Heavy Branch Machine Gun Company.
8. Details re attachment will be notified later.
9. The C.R.E. will detail an Officer to meet Lieut. BELL at 11 a.m. on 4^th April at Divisional Headquarters, and will be prepared to attach this Officer and 3 R.E. N.C.O.s to “D” Battalion, should their services be required.
10. A Map is attached shewing approximately the Tank objectives and direction of routes to them.Dotted GREEN lines show lines of advance to 2^nd objective.
11. Continuous GREEN Lines show lines of advance to 1^st objective.
12. After the capture of the BLUE LINE the Tanks will act in accordance with the orders issued to them direct by VII Corps.
13. If Zero is at dawn, Tanks will be able to move up during Z – 1/Z night to points as close up to our Front Line as is consistent with the safety of the Infantry.
14. Tanks will move on to the BLUE LINE following up the leading infantry and will not proceed any great distance in front of them, otherwise the Infantry will not be in a position to take advantage of the opportunities that the Tanks may create.
15. ACKNOWLEDGE.

1. Pakenham

Lieut-Colonel, General Staff.

Head Qrs. 56^th Divn. 2^nd April 1917.    P.T.O.

 

Copies to –

167^th Infantry  Brigade.                                                       56^th Div Train

168^th Infantry Brigade.                                                        Div. M.G. Officer.

169^th Infantry Brigade.                                                        Div. Gas Officer

VII Corps                                                                                D.A.D.O.S.

“   ”    Artillery.                                                                     4^th Aust. Div. Supply Column.

“   ”   Heavy Artillery                                                          No. 2 Ammn. Sub Park.

“   ”   M.G. Officer                                                              G.O.C.

14^th Division                                                                          A.D.C.

30^th Division.                                                                         A.D.M.S.

C.R.A.                                                                                                “Q”

C.R.E.                                                                                                War Diary.

1/5^th Cheshire Regt.                                                                        File

A.P.M.

193^rd Div. M.G. Coy.

56^th Div. Signals.

1^st Bde. H.B. M.G. Corps.

“D” Battalion

Lieut. BELL c/o “D” Battalion.