Very interesting Francois! The handwritten caption on the back of my photo says, "Near Manancourt, France". I sure wish I knew what unit they were assigned to. I suspect these tanks are part of the 302nd Heavy Tank Bn., but haven't been able to confirm that yet.
9695 was another tank supplied by Britain to France at the end of the war, as Francois says. Britain supplied exactly 100 Mark V* to France. I still don't know the circumstances through which the US got hold of some of them though.
During last month of the war, the British Mark V, bought by French Army, was gathered in Bourron (near Fontainebleau). In this French tank's camp, created in March 18 to supply Champlieu, was settled an American mechanic unit, working with the French Artillerie Spéciale. These American soldiers repaired Renault FT with French mechanics. If the number 9695 was furnished to the French Army, it's, perhaps, there that this photo was done.
Michel: By chance, do you know what particular American unit was assigned to work on the tanks? The reason I ask is I recently found a citation that an Aviation section spent 8-1/2 months working on French tanks. I am wondering if it could be the same unit.
The American unit in Bourron's tank camp was the 2nd Battalion, 2° Motor Mechanic Regiment. This Battalion were commanded by Major Lathrop. This unit of 420 men, leaved Bourron in December 28th, 1918.
Three British tank Groupements was created in Bourron. Groupement I Mark V (based in Grez sur Loing) Groupe AS 10 (12 Mark V) Groupe 11 (6 Mark V female and 6 Mark V male)
Groupement II Mark V (based in Recloses) Groupe AS 3 (12 Mark V male) Groupe AS 8 (12 Mark V male) Groupe AS 12 (12 Mark V male)
Groupement III Mark V (based in Villiers sous Grez) Groupe AS 1 (12 Mark V) Groupe As 6 (12 Mark V) Groupe As 15 (12 Mark V)
The Groupement II and the Groupe AS 11 received their tanks on December 28th. The Groupement III had received its Mark V at the end of October (45 tanks).
These Groups was the "old" dismantled Schneider 's Group. Each Mark's Groupe keep a Schneider for pilot's training.
Here is some other informations about american mechanics in the French Army during WW1. About 3000 men in 22 Coy from 1° and 2° Motor Mechanics Regiment, was employed : 10 with french "Service Aéronautique" 7 with french " service Automobile" 8 with french "Artillerie d'assaut"
With the Service Aéronautique : 1° - 2° - 3° - 4° - 5° - 6° - 10° - 17° 18° - 19° Coy from 1° Motor Mechanics Regiment
Informations refering to note n° 5364/GQG/1° Bureau du 4 Novembre 1918 (origin SHD Vincennes)
Tanker - thanks for this great info. But are you sure they were Mk V tanks? I know the French operated Mk V* tanks, but I've never seen any evidence that Britain exported Mk Vs to France (except for their own use, of course!).
Also, I don't suppose you know which tanks served in which French Army unit, do you?
Of course it's only Mark V*. I have only forgotten to put the star . . .
When the French Army known that the tank of the "Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerrannée" will not be ready for 1919, it was deciced to buy 300 hundred british Mark. It was in 1917 . . . .
The British Government was agree to give Mark IV or V. The général Estienne refused this model. The Mark IV and V, like the French FMC tank protype, was not enough powerfull. For this reason, the French Army waited for the Mark V* and fot the future allied model, never built in the Chatellerault tank's factory. The Mark V* is coming to late in the French Army (without machineguns and shells . . . . ).
Michel, Thank you SO much for the information! This unit is the same one for which I found a citation. The French Army granted the entire unit the right to wear the French Tank insignia on their tunic (helmet over crossed guns). The citation reads, "For 8-1/2 months service..." repairing tanks.
Exactly as with n° 9941, I also have an original shot (post card size) of this photograph, with the same caption at the back :
" Souvenir de l'AS, janvier 1919 " (AS = artillerie d'assaut, French Tank Corps, January 1919).
I guess the tanks depicted are two of the 100 or so Mk V Star delivered to France at the end of the war.
May be the shot was taken in Bourron, where a large French tank depot was organized.
François
François and all,
Currently, there is another copy of this photo listed by a German seller on ebay. There is a dated inscription on the back written in French. Alas, I don't have the skill to understand what is written on the back, but perhaps it can lend some more information about the tanks. I believe I can see that it is dated from Villiers.
