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Royal Tank Corps

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==Armoured Motor Batteries and Armoured Motor Brigades MGC 1915-1921==
In the operation from Shabkadar (North West Frontier) on 8 October 1915 "armoured cars were used for the first time in action in India and proved of great value".<ref>[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/29652/supplementssupplement/6699 ''London Gazette Supplement'' 4 July 1916, page 6699]</ref>
"Armoured Motor Units began to form in Spring of 1915 utilising vehicles donated by rich Indians and Europeans. This was overseen by Colonel Lord Montagu (Inspector of Motor Vehicles, India and later Brigadier General, Advisor on Mechanical Transport Services, India). Only No 1 AMU had reliable vehicles - three Rolls Royces which, like the other cars were armour-plated by Indian Railway Workshops, and this unit acted as a Brigade HQ for Nos 1, 2 & 3 AMUs. Most of the other vehicles were unsuitable and it was not until 1918 that improved cars were made available.
****Headquarters:Dera Ismail Khan (later in Tank) Machine Gun Corps: Nos. 6 and 7 Armoured Motor Batteries.
**[http://armoredcars-ww-one.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/standard-armoured-car-10-amb-10th.html Standard Armoured Car 'Indian Pattern', 10 AMB (10th Armoured Motor Battery) Ferozepore, Punjab, India 1915]
**[http://armoredcars-ww-one.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/napier-armoured-car-10-amb-10th.html. Napier Armoured Car 'Indian Pattern', 10 AMB (10th Armoured Motor Battery) Ferozepore, Punjab, India 1915].
**[http://armoredcars-ww-one.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/straker-squire-armored-cars-11-amb.html Straker-Squire Armoured Cars 'Indian Pattern', 11th AMB. 1915, Ambala, India]. Note the photograph is elsewhere (see below) identified as Number 3 Armoured Motor Unit stationed at Peshawar.
**[http://armoredcars-ww-one.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/cadillac-armoured-car-indian-pattern.html Cadillac Armoured Car 'Indian Pattern', Calcutta, India, 1916] 15th Armoured Motor Battery (15 AMB) formed by three Cadillac Armoured Cars (type closed roof) Calcutta 1915 Rebuilt in 1916 by the East Indian Railway Workshops at Lilooah, near Calcutta. Was called Noah’s Ark by the special form of the roof (closed and high), designed for street fighting.
*A member of the 1st Armoured Car Company gained the India General Service Medal with clasp North West Frontier 1930-31 [https://web.archive.org/web/20131114045826/http://charliesmedals.co.uk/item.php?i=219 Pte P J Goodard R Tank C] charliesmedals.co.uk
*C 1933, the 1st Armoured Car Co. was at Cawnpore and Calcutta. <ref name=RTC >[http://asmrb.pbworks.com/w/page/41987406/Royal%20Tank%20Corps Royal Tank Corps] by Michael, asmrb.pbworks.com Date not stated, but probably with details c 1933 ([https://web.archive.org/web/20131114063541/http://asmrb.pbworks.com/w/page/41987406/Royal%2520Tank%2520Corps archive.org link]) </ref>.
*The 1st Light Tank Co took part in operations in Waziristan during 1937.<ref name=Wazi>"Report on Operations in Waziristan 25th November 1936 to 15th December 1937" ''London Gazette Supplement''s [httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34449/supplementssupplement/6811 "1st Phase"], [httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34484/supplementssupplement/1057 "Second Phase"], [httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34520/supplementssupplement/3819 "Final Phase"]</ref>
*Although redesignated "Light Tank Company", the 1st remained equipped with armoured cars. <ref name=Regi />
*"Brought to notice for distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Waziristan, North West Frontier of India, 25th November, 1936, to 16th January, 1937":— le Maistre, Capt. R. G., 1st Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Corps. <ref name=LG1073>
[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34485/pagespage/1073 ''London Gazette'' 18 February 1938 page 1073]</ref>*The 1st Light Tank Company took part in operations in Waziristan in 1938.<ref name=Waz8>[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34655/supplementssupplement/5667 "Report on Operations in Waziristan, 16th December, 1937 to the 31st December, 1938"] ''London Gazette Supplement'' 18 August, 1939</ref>
*Grave at Rawalpindi - "No. 7887086 L.E.W. Scammell. 1st Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Regiment. Died Rawalpindi 19 May 1939. Aged 23 yrs."<ref>Stephen Lewis' [http://www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/memindz1.htm Soldiers Memorials] , [http://www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/menS1.htm Graves in India, letter S]</ref>
*Disbanded at Peshawar c September 1939, handing over armoured cars to Indian cavalry<ref name=Regi />
*C 1933, the 2nd Light Tank Co. was at [[Peshawar]].<ref name=RTC />
*[http://www.gettyimages.com.au/detail/news-photo/an-officer-of-the-2nd-light-tank-company-on-patrol-near-the-news-photo/3141295 Photograph 7th May 1934: An officer of the 2nd Light Tank Company on patrol near the Khyber Pass] in Afridi tribal territory. In the background is the Safed Koh range of mountains with the entrance to the pass itself. Getty Images
*No.7882203 Private William Chatterton, and No.7879367 Lance-Serjeant Harold Ernest Whittington, both of the 2nd Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Corps were awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field during the Mohmand Operations, North West Frontier of India, 15th/16th August to 15th/16th October,1935 <ref>[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34282/pagespage/2979 ''London Gazette'' 8 May 1936 page 2979]</ref>
*Page 6 of this [http://www.scribd.com/doc/43931008/Light-Tanks-Mark-I-VI-From-www-jgokey-com link] has a photograph captioned: Light Tank Mk IIB Indian Pattern of the 2nd Light Tank Company RTC, crossing the Nahakki Pass by mule track, Mohmand Operations, North West Frontier, September 1935 <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/43931008/Light-Tanks-Mark-I-VI-From-www-jgokey-com Light Tanks Mark I-VI] by Major General N W Duncan www.scribd.com</ref>
*Grave at Quetta - "In memory of No. 7883491 Private W.B. Ingram. 2nd Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Corps, who died Quetta 20 Jan. 1937. Aged 22 yrs. Erected by his sorrowing father and comrades."<ref> Stephen Lewis' [http://www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/memindz1.htm Soldiers Memorials], [http://www.angelfire.com/mp/memorials/menI1.htm Graves in India, Letter I]</ref>
*'''1937''' - "Brought to notice for distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Waziristan, North West Frontier of India, 25th November, 1936, to 16th January, 1937":—Heyland, Maj. H. M., D.S.O., 6th Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Corps. <ref name=LG1073 /> Awards to members of the 6th Light Tank Company for gallant and distinguished service in action in connection with the operations on the North-West Frontier of India, 1937: —
**The Military Cross. Lieutenant Harry Osborn Stibbard.
**The Military Medal for bravery in the Field. No. 7883052 Private Phillip Henry Carroll<ref>[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34409/pagespage/3924 ''The London Gazette'', 18 June, 1937, page 3924]</ref>
*'''1939''' - Disbanded at Delhi, handing over armoured cars/[tanks] to Indian cavalry<ref name=Regi />
*Awards to soldiers of the 8th Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Corps for "gallant and distinguished service in action in connection with the operations on the North West Frontier of India, 1937"
**The Distinguished Conduct Medal. No. 1069998 Lance-Corporal Albert Williams.
**The Military Medal. No. 7879515 Corporal Thomas Morton.<ref>[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34426/pagespage/5177 ''London Gazette'' 13 August 1937, page 5177]</ref> Corporal Morton commanded Armoured Car "Crecy"<ref> Great War Forum [http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=158112&#entry1527643 post]</ref>
:[http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/41820443 Newspaper item] ''Cairns Post'' Friday 8 October 1937 trove.nla.gov.au
*The Company does not appear on a listing for 1937 indicating it had been disbanded and/or absorbed after its action in Waziristan <ref name=RTR /> However another reference advises disbanded March 1938, handing over tanks to Indian cavalry<ref name=Regi />
*"Brought to notice for distinguished services rendered in connection with the operations in Waziristan, North West Frontier of India, 25th November, 1936, to 16th January, 1937":—Pike, No. 7870476, C/Sjt. (C.Q.M.S.) A., 11 th Light Tank Company, Royal Tank Corps. <ref name=LG1073 /> He is mentioned in this [https://web.archive.org/web/20131119030702/http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?department=Medals&lot_id=33606 dnw.co.uk link]. "Colour-Sergeant Pike served as C.Q.M.S. with the 11th Armoured Car (later Light Tank) Company between 1936 and 1938. The unit was stationed at Peshawar and took part in the operations along the North West Frontier against tribesmen led by the Fakir of Ipi. Pike later transferred to the 4th Royal Tank Regiment"
*The 11th Light Tank Co. took part in operations in Waziristan in 1938.<ref name=Waz8/>
**The Military Medal was awarded for distinguished services rendered in the field in connection with the operations in Waziristan, during the period 16th December, 1937, to 31st December, 1938 to No. 7877605 Sergeant William Vincent, Royal Tank Regiment. <ref>[httphttps://www.london-gazettethegazette.co.uk/issuesLondon/issue/34712/supplementssupplement/7019 ''London Gazette Supplement'' 17 October 1939, page 7019]</ref> He is also mentioned in this [https://web.archive.org/web/20131119030702/http://www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/lot.php?department=Medals&lot_id=33606 link] dnw.co.uk
*The 11th Light Tank Co. was part of the Razmak Brigade in Waziristan in 1939<ref>[http://storyofwar.com/2009/01/10/waziristan-campaign-order-of-battle/ Waziristan Campaign Order of Battle 1939] from [http://storyofwar.com/about A Story of War]</ref>
*Disbanded at Mir Ali c September 1939, handing over tanks to Indian cavalry<ref name=Regi />
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