Orders, Decorations and Medals

A fine Great War M.M. awarded to Private E. J. Pinnock, 2nd Battalion, Tank Corps

Military Medal, G.V.R. (76996 Pte.-L.Cpl. E. J. Pinnock, 2/Tank Corps) edge bruise, otherwise nearly extremely fine £150-200

The following citation is taken from The Tank Corps Book of Honour: Pte. E. J. Pinnock, 2nd Battn., and Pte. J. F. Smith, 2nd Battn., awarded M.M. ‘On August 9 these men were gunners in the tank commanded by Sergeant Smith (see citation following) in the action near Rosieres. In the course of the action the tank received seven direct hits. Throughout the operation they displayed dauntless courage, keeping their machine-guns in action all the while and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy under the most trying conditions. Their devotion to duty and contempt of danger were magnificent.’

Sergt. W. E. Smith, 2nd Battn., awarded D.C.M. ‘On August 8 and 9, when in action, this N.C.O. showed the most extraordinary courage and initiative as tank commander, under the most nerve-trying and exhausting conditions. On August 8, in action east of Villers-Bretonneaux, Sergt. Smith was unable, owing to the heavy mist, to locate enemy machine-guns and trench mortars. He arranged with the infantry that they should indicate the direction from which the sound of firing was coming. He then overcame the resistance and waited until the infantry arrived. In this way he destroyed five machine-guns and two trench mortars. Of these, four machine-guns and one trench mortar were destroyed by the tank being driven over them. Near Harbonnieres he found two trains, one on fire, the other, which carried a 6-in. gun, moving away. This train he fired upon and stopped.

After having been fighting, trekking, or working on the tank for thirty-six hours consecutively, Sergt. Smith again went into action on August 9, east of Harbonnieres. When nearing Rosieres the tank received a direct hit on the left sponson. This N.C.O. and one gunner was wounded and one gun disabled. The wounded men having been evacuated, Sergt. Smith was moving forward when he noticed a whippet tank ditched some distance west of Rosieres Station. As the infantry were then advancing without any difficulty he helped to unditch it. He then heard machine-gun fire coming from the station yard. He silenced the gun, and while clearing the station of the enemy he observed a gun of large calibre (believed 9.2 in.) on a ramp in the station, with some of the enemy around it. He made for the gun and the enemy fled.

Seeing no tanks on his left, and presuming that they were all out of action, he began to patrol the whole brigade front. As he was nearing an abandoned German hospital the tank received four more direct hits, one of which disabled the left epicyclic gear, making it impossible to turn to the left, also the tank would not run straight but kept working off to the right. The tank, nevertheless, continued in action, searching the ground for enemy machine-guns, getting forward by describing a wide curve and a circle to the right. After some time the infantry passed the tank, and, as he could not keep up with them he started to come back to the rallying point. Just after turning, the right track was hit, and the shoe and one of the links blown off. The track, however, still held together. A few moments later, another shell hit the left rear horn nearing the driving sprocket without materially damaging the transmission. The tank reached the rallying point, having received seven direct hits.

The conduct of the tank commander in thus continuing in action after receiving several direct hits, and the determination he displayed in bringing his tank back in its crippled condition, are beyond all praise.’