By The Tank Museum
The Tank Museum
The Battle of Amiens began on the 8th August 1918 and lasted
until the 11th. It was a stunning success for the Allies and marked the
beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive that drove the Germans back and
resulted in an Allied victory in the First World War.
Harold Whittenbury The Tank Museum’s Mark V tank, NUMBER 9199, fought at the pivotal Battle of Amiens on 8 August, 1918, under the command of Second Lieutenant Harold Augustus Whittenbury.
For his actions that day Harold was awarded the Military Cross. His MC citation explains some of what he did that morning:
“During the battle on 8th August 1918, east of Amiens, he displayed great coolness and resource throughout. In addition to destroying many dumps of ammunition he rendered valuable assistance to the infantry who were held up by machine guns in an isolated building. At first, failing to subdue the fire from this building, he three times rammed it with his Tank, which had the desired effect. He fought his Tank with great skill and judgement, keeping up such hot fire on machine-gun nests that the infantry were able to continue the advance.”
Whittenbury used his tank as a weapon to ram the building, allowing the infantry to advance - a heroic act that earned him the Military Cross. What is further significant about this story is that the Mark V tank survives, an unusual occurrence with First World War tanks, and can be seen today in The Tank Museum's collection.
Unfortunately the whereabouts of Harold's Military Cross is currently unknown.
Clement Arnold - Prisoner of War
Clement Arnold was one of four brothers from a Llandudno family who volunteered to fight on the outbreak of war. Three of those brothers served in the Tank Corps; all were commissioned, decorated and survived the First World War. Arnold’s most notable action of the First World War came during the Battle of Amiens. On the first day of the battle, 8th August 1918, Arnold was in command of his Whippet tank ‘Musical Box’. As the other tanks in their troop were knocked out, Musical Box became the lead tank.
Arnold ordered his crew to drive across the German lines whilst engaging the German battery with machine gun fire. Inevitably the tank attracted fire which hit the spare fuel cans on the roof. Two shells then hit the tank, causing the petrol to ignite inside the tank. After the war Arnold recalled:
‘Petrol was running down the inside of the back door. Fumes and heat combined were very bad. I was shouting to driver Carney to turn about when the cab burst into flames. I managed to get the door open and drag out the other two men.
'The fresh air revived us and we all got up and made a short rush to get away from the burning petrol. We were all on fire. We rolled over and over to try and extinguish the flames.’
On escaping from the burning tank, Arnold and his crew were met by a group of German soldiers, seeking revenge for the death of their comrades. Arnold’s driver was shot and killed and he and his gunner were savagely attacked: '...There were dozens all round me, and anyone who could reach me did so and I was well kicked.’
A German officer, Ritter Ernst von Maravic, intervened to stop the attack and saved the life of Arnold and his gunner, who were taken prisoner. Arnold showed his gratitude by gifting von Maravic his watch, given to him by his father for his 21st birthday.
The two made contact again in 1931, and formed a close, unlikely friendship. During one of their visits von Maravic returned the watch to Arnold.
Arnold was awarded the Distinguished Service Order medal for his actions in Musical Box that day. His family later donated Arnold's remarkable watch to the Museum and it is now on display in The Tank Museum's First World War Exhibition, Tank Men: The First Tank Crews.
Print of Sewell's action (1918)The Tank Museum
'This officer displayed the greatest gallantry'
On August 29th 1918, while in command of a section of Whippet tanks, Lieutenant Cecil Sewell saw one of the tanks fall into a shell hole and catch fire. He immediately left the safety of his own Whippet to assist the trapped tank crew. In full view of the German guns, Sewell dug away soil from the tank’s door so that the men could get out, so saving their lives.
'I would like to emphasize the gallant way in which Lt Sewell came to our assistance, although enemy machine gunners swept the ground. Had it not been for his assistance I, and my crew, would have been unable to get out.' - Lt Rees-Williams.
While Sewell was helping the trapped crew, his own driver Gunner Knox was wounded. Once again Sewell rushed across the open ground to help and was shot several times. Whilst administered first aid to Knox, Sewell was shot again, this time fatally. He was 23 years-old.
Another officer wrote: 'We found him with his arms round Knox'. They were buried side by side where they fell, but were reburied at Vaulx Hill Cemetery in 1920.
For his actions that day, Sewell was awarded the Victoria Cross. The medal was collected by his parents in December 1918 in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
The 29th August 1918 was not the only tragedy for the Sewell family: two of Cecil's brothers were also killed during the war. Leonard Sewell, one of the surviving brothers, went on to have five children and has visited the museum a number of times.
'Thank you for keeping the memories of those brave men alive.' -Jocelyn Williamson, Cecil Sewell’s niece.
Cecil Sewell’s Whippet tank, in which he was serving on 29th August 1918 can be seen at The Tank Museum, in The Tank Story Hall.
The Tank Museum
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