Reading through this most interesting forum I'm hoping someone might have the 'answers'... 1. My Great Uncle L/Cpl James Brown was KIA ~10am 10 August 1918 by a german machine gun bullit to the head... 2. The Battalion diary page attached mentions the arrival of the tank "Mudsplasher" (Lt. Hall). 3. A web/google search of WW1 tanks has provided me with 2 images. First is AWM pic saying "Lt. Hall & Lt. Payne routing out an enemy machine gun post with tank from 13th Tank Battalion". Dates of the 10th correlate, so am sure this is the same tank "Mudsplasher" as the Bat. diary page describes. Second image is a closer up pic of the AWM pic taken at about the same time. 4. I'd sure like to obtain much more information & history on this tank Mudsplasher, Lt Hall, Lt. Payne and the 13th Tank Bat. 4. I've also included a 10th August trench map on a google earth pic. I'm very sure my Great Uncle Jim is still buried in his blanket just outside the trench ~ 1 mile from Rosieres on the left hand side 150-200yds near the railway line...refer red box on map. I'm sure these 2 tank pics are very close to the same place. Jim currently has a plaque on a wall at Villers Bretonneux, no grave... Dave
This may not be the same tank but the AWM also has a photo of a Mk V tank named "Mudslosher". The image number is E02879 and I've attached a copy below. The names sound too close to be different tanks and it is likely that the name is actually "Mudsplasher" as in the diary.
P.S.: After posting this, I noticed that the background has similar telegraph poles. It may even have been taken at or near the place and time of the other photos.
P.P.S.: Welcome to the forum!
-- Edited by Mark Hansen on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:01:38 AM
-- Edited by Mark Hansen on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:03:05 AM
Most interesting... it maybe that the diary entry is wrong and tank is named the "Mudslosher"!! I'm guessing the diary notes were typed from handwritten notes maybe?? So could be easy to confuse these close to Tank names...
The text attached to this AWM pic says "A tank helping another out of an awkward position, during the attack on Lihons. The soldiers are unidentified. Note the name of the tank on the left is Mudslosher.
The action of the 10th August 1918 was part of the attack on Lihons, so this pic must be 'close-by' ...maybe a few days after (actual AWM text for this pic says 10th August 1918, so same day). Telegraph poles = railway line as well.
Any idea or info on the 13th Tank Battalion?
PS thanks for the welcome!
-- Edited by Bullitt68 on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:22:12 AM
-- Edited by Bullitt68 on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:28:35 AM
-- Edited by Bullitt68 on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:41:37 AM
Thanks for starting this interesting thread and welcome to the forum!
I wouldn't rule out the possibility that there are two different tanks - Mudslosher and Mudsplasher. I'll have a look and see what I have on 13th Bn, but will be away for a while so my response may not be prompt I'm afraid.
I'd be interested to know from which unit's War Diary the extract in the first post comes, please?
Gwyn: This Great Uncle with the 6BTN AIF; Gallipoli April 1915 to France August 1918. Refer to attached for the source of the 10 August diary page. Look forward to 13 Bn info you might have... Dave
Thanks for that Dave. The only reference I have to a tank "Mudslosher" is the AWM photo posted above. There is a reference to "Mudsplasher" in action on 10 August 1918 at Crepey Wood on page 233 of McWilliams, J. & James Steel, R. (2007) "Amiens 1918", but I don't know what their source was - it might come back to the War Diary you've already found.
I know I have some other 13th Battalion tank names. I can post these over the weekend if you're interested.
Gwyn
-- Edited by Gwyn Evans on Friday 24th of April 2009 10:49:49 PM
Gwyn thanks for the reply. Those other tank names might be handy in searching out this particular tank. I'll also check through the diary days after the 10th for more tank references.
I've just purchased that book, I'm waiting for delivery so will check page 233, thanks for that!
Can you recommend other 13th battalion Tank references/sources that I can track down? Dave
No accident. M is the 13th letter of the English alphabet, and tanks of 13th Battalion therefore had names beginning with that letter. This system was followed by all Battalions from A Battalion (later 1st Battalion) to 15th Battalion. I have never seen a name on a 16th Battalion tank. 17th (Armoured Car) Battalion definitely didn't use this system - I think that Q was too much of a challenge and I've seen no evidence that 18th to 24th Battalion tanks used names. The system was adopted in late June or July 1917, so tanks that fought at Flers, Bullecourt and Messines did not have names that followed this system.
Gwyn
-- Edited by Gwyn Evans on Saturday 2nd of May 2009 02:28:09 PM
Gwyn: thanks for the reply & 13th bn tank names. I'll go in search & see what else I can find and report back. I'd say no problems with chaotic work... better that than none! Dave
