A primer for Cambrai Day:  The enduring legacy of the tank – or is it?

“Special Order No. 6

1. Tomorrow the Tank Corps will have the chance for which it has been waiting for many months, to operate on good going in the van of the battle.
2. All that hard work and ingenuity can achieve has been done in the way of preparation.
3. It remains for unit Commanders and for Tank crews to complete the work by judgement and pluck in the battle itself.
4. In the light of past experience, I leave the good name of the Corps with great confidence in their hands.
5. I propose leading the attack of the centre division

H J Elles, Commander Tank Corps
19th November 1917”

0630hrs, 20 Nov 1917.   “A predicted bombardment by 1,003 guns on German defences, followed by smoke and a creeping barrage.   The attacking force of six infantry divisions, was supported by nine battalions of the Tank Corps with about 437 tanks.”

The first day was one of considerable success, the Hindenburg Line was penetrated and territory gained. The concept of using tanks en masse, rather than in penny packets, had paid dividends.  On the second day, however, mechanical reliability meant that only about half of the tanks were operational and progress stalled.  Nevertheless, the future for the tank would, henceforth, be bright indeed.

A parade was held on the 53rd Anniversary of the Battle (1970), at Nui Dat, South Vietnam.  All available Centurion Mk 5/1 tanks from A Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) from B Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment, took part. 

On the 106th Anniversary (2023), the CO, Royal Tank Regiment stated: “This is an annual reminder to all ‘Tankies’ of the importance of teamwork. This applies equally to the tight knit crews which remain critical to how we operate our tanks, as it does to working alongside the other parts of the Army to overcome adversity in battle.” [How well put is this?]

What will the 108th Anniversary mean for the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) … now that 1 Armd Regt has been stripped of its tanks and made a non-combatant?

The role of the RAAC is to: “locate, identify, capture and destroy the enemy, by day or night, in combination with other arms, using fire and manoeuvre.”  There is obviously no place for 1 Armd Regt, as a non-combatant, within the RAAC.  Given that, surprisingly, there’s been no change to the RAAC’s role … what’s this mean for 1 Armd Regt?  Maybe it’s the HOC’s belief that the unit’s future is in the hands of the next Chief of Army.  

It has previously been argued that the real reason for stripping the tanks from the unit, was to save operating costs at a time of budgetary constraint; one brought about by the need to find savings to pay for the AUKUS subs.  The removal of a tank squadron, a cavalry squadron and a battlegroup headquarters, from the ORBAT of 3 Brigade … contributes significantly to this end.  While the consequence is dire in terms of Defence readiness at a time of strategic uncertainty, it appears that finding savings is imperative. 

As Australia’s only tank regiment for 71 years, i.e. until the four-year Armoured Cavalry Regiment (ACR) trial, the Cambrai Day tradition has always been linked with 1 Armd Regt.  As a non-combatant, however, the Combat Experimentation Group (CXG) is certainly not the rightful unit to commemorate the enduring legacy of the tank. Presumably this honour should go to the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.  Here, at least, a mounted parade with tanks could be conducted. 

Of course, 2 Cav Regt has emerged from the 1 Armd Regt debacle, unscathed.  Indeed, not only unscathed, but actually enhanced … now having four sabre squadrons, rather than three.  

When the chips were being cashed in, one has to wonder who was holding the cards in the 1 Armd Regt/2 Cav Regt decider.  

Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Cameron, MC, RAAC (Ret’d)

.

.

FILE PHOTO: Veterans of the 1st Armoured Regiment during the Cambrai Parade at Edinburgh Defence Precinct. Photo by Corporal Adam Quinn.

.

.


.


.