Headstone of Private C.W.K. Hicks, New Zealand Entrenching Battalion, died August 21, 1918, age 29, buried in Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. © 2013 by John M. Shea
63160 PrivateC.W.K. HicksN. Z. Entrenching Battn.21st August 1918 age 29New Zealand
"About eleven o'clock the greater number of Mark V. Tanks and Whippets had reached the line of the railway. A few leading Tanks had even crossed it, when all in a moment the mist lifted with the suddenness of a withdrawn curtain. A blazing sun appeared, and each advancing Tank stood out clearly under its bright light. The German artillery, which was covering the railway, immediately directed a deadly fire on the Tanks, and each individual machine became the centre of a zone of bullets and bursting shells. The infantry as they advanced had to avoid these little whirlwinds of fire. It was at this time that most of the thirty-seven Tanks which were hit by shells during the day were accounted for."
The Battle of Bapaume began on August 21, 1918 in a heavy mist that blinded both attackers and the defending Germans, but favored the former, shielding the British Mark V heavy tanks and faster, lighter Whippet tanks. Despite the losses, our author concludes, 'We had reached the general line of the railway practically along the whole front of the attack. We had captured Achiet-le-Petit and Logeast Wood, Courcelles and Moyenneville. Most important of all, the position we needed for the launching of our principal attack had been successfully gained, and we had taken over 2000 prisoners.' (page 227)
The Tank Corps by Clough Williams-Ellis & A. Williams-Ellis, page 226, publisher: The Offices of "Country Life," Ltd. and George Newnes, Ltd., publication date: 1919
1918-08-21, 1918, August, Battle of Bapaume, Bapaume, tank, Mark V, Whippet, C.W.K. Hicks
