14 Division were to be on the right of the XV Corps in their attack in the centre of IVth Army. Four tanks would operate with them.

Map showing Capr Mortimers movements First ever tank in action 2/Lt Blowers’ movements

14 Division had the usual Green, Brown, Blue and Red line objectives, the furthest, Red, being on the far side of Gueudecourt, 5000 yards from the start line.  41st brigade would assault the Green and Brown, 42nd would pass through to attack the Blue and Red. Four tanks would operate with 14 Division and their preliminary objective would be the German strong point between Ginchy and Delville Wood, from which the Germans could direct enfilading fire at the British advances by the Guards and 14th Divisions. The strong point was called Brewery Salient by the British because of the names of the trenches in that area; Hop, Ale, Beer, Lager etc.

It was intended that a tank commanded by Captain Mortimer would attack the strong point from the south-east while another under the command of 2/Lt. Blowers would make its way through Delville Wood and attack from its northern edge.  in the event Blowers made it through the wood, but too slowly to join Mortimer who had to attack alone. Capt. Mortimer started out from a little south of the Longueval - Ginchy road at 5.15 (5 minutes later than planned), he was detailed to cross the British front line trench on the north side of the road, Pilsen Lane, and head for the point where Hop Trench met Delville Wood.

Capt. Mortimer starts at ‘X’, moves to German position at ‘Y’, then across to ‘Z’. After that he moves NW towards James Street.

After getting to ‘Y’ on the map above Mortimer was to support a company of the KOYLI’s in driving out German infantry believed to be at that point. He would then go down Hop to Beer Trench, then go north to meet Blowers.  Although he didn’t know it, Mortimer was to be the first to command a tank in battle.  One of the infantry later described the scene; “The tank waddled on with its guns blazing and we could see Jerry popping up and down, not knowing what to do, whether to stay or to run.  We bombers were sheltering behind the tank, peering round and anxious to let Jerry have our bombs. But we had no need of them. The Jerries waited until our tank was only a few yards away and the fled - or hoped to!  The tank just shot them down and the machine gun post, the gun itself, the dead and the wounded who hadn’t been able to run, just disappeared. The tank went right over them. We would have danced for joy if it had been possible out there.  It seemed so easy!  Hop Trench was kaput and in a very few minutes Ale Alley got the same treatment.  We were elated.”

While moving east on Hop Trench the tank was hit, possibly by friendly fire, and immobilised.

Because of his delay getting through Delville Wood Blowers was late leaving his start point on the northern edge of the Wood, too late to join Mortimer, so he headed north-east, trying to catch up with the infantry who got to the Green Line before he did.

The map showers 2/Lt Blowers’ start point, ‘B’, by Delville Wood and his movement through the Green, Brown & Blue lines.  His return is in green, and after swinging west his tank was immobilised.

Blowers pushed on through the Brown and the Blue lines and in these early days of tank warfare this could well be said to be ‘deep penetration’ of the enemy lines. from his start point to the point where he had his tank immobilised Blowers had covered some 4800 yards.  He was on his own when he went through the Blue line, the infantry had not been able to stay with him and Blowers realised that he had to go back.  Turning round, and getting about a third of the way back his tank received a direct hit. he received a Militar Cross for his action.