I am seeking any information regarding the British tank C49 "Cleopatra". In particular, photos would be magnificent.
I have a German journal that references it during the German Spring Offensive of March 1918. That reference has it abandoneed near Maricourt and Montauban-Picardie.
What I know: 1. Number 2503
2. Commanded by Lt. Charles De Bois Murray of 10 Section 9 Coy C Battalion during the Cambrai battle of November 1917.
I have left a post on this on the thread on the GWF. As I put it there, something is wrong somewhere. According to my records, 2503 was not C49 "Cleopatra" in March 1918. It was during the Cambrai battle in November 1917, but the following month was returned to Central Workshops and was re-issued to A Battalion in time for it to be destroyed in March 1918. Since an A Battalion tank would not carry the name "Cleopatra" we have a little problem!
So either my records are wrong (possible!), or another tank replaced 2503 as C49 "Cleopatra" and it's that one that's described in the account you have. There are probably other possible explanations too.
A good starting point would be to visit C Battalion records for March 1918 (i.e. the War Diary and History) at The National Archives. Unfortunately I am rather distant from there.
According to the transcript of C Battalions war diary I've purchased from Bovington 3rd Tank Battalion (As C Battalion was renamed in 1918) transferred all their remaining MkIVs to several other battalions in February 1918. A and B Companies were equipped with Whippets by March 23rd (15 each); C Company was formed into a Lewis gun company.
When reffered to the whippets are only given production numbers in March and April 1918. However: The battalion list for August 8th 1918 gives the following info: No 10 Section C49 "Cleopatra" [Whippet production number] 264 Capt Gross (Page 30 of the transcript). this tank is not reffered to again and may have been lost sometime in August, the location given matches with the Battle of Albert launched by 3rd Army on 21st August 1918.
3rd Battalion's war diary states A264 (Capt WS Gates MC) was in action with C Company, 10 Section, on March 25th 1918 just to the north of Colincamps. this was the Whippets baptism of fire and all of the 14 vehicles engaged returned safely.
