The British War Medal awarded to 2nd Lieutenant H. H. Sherratt, 'C' Company, 12th Battalion, Ta...

The British War Medal awarded to 2nd Lieutenant H. H. Sherratt, 'C' Company, 12th Battalion, Tank Corps, who won a superb M.C. on 8 October 1918 in a superb tank-on-tank action in which the gallant Sherratt, in command of 'L49', took out a pair of enemy tanks with a comrade, despite coming under fire from two 77mm field guns and an array of enemy infantry

British War Medal 1914-20 (2. Lieut. H. H. Sherratt.), good very fine

[M.C.] London Gazette 14 February 1919. The citation followed on 30 July 1919:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the operations on October 8th, 1918, east of the La Targette-Esnes Road. When the enemy delivered a counter-attack with two tanks, assisted by two 77-mm filed guns, he moved his tank into position behind the road and, with the assistance of another tank, bombarded the two enemy tanks at a distance of about 300 yards, completely disabling the latter. His fine action saved a difficult situation.'

Harold Howe Sherratt, a native of Weymouth, Dorset was born in 1893 and first saw action during the Great War serving in France in the ranks of the London Regiment from 4 November 1914 (1914 Star) and thence as a Corporal in the Machine Gun Corps. Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Tank Corps on 28 August 1917, it was for his gallant actions on 8 October 1918 he earned the Military Cross, whilst assisting the attack of the 2nd Rifles (2nd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade). Their War Diary confirmed how the two enemy tanks were in fact captured British tanks captured by the enemy, which had been re-painted and sent into action. As the artillery had sadly failed to knock them out, the attack of the Rifles was slowed, their men being mowed down and only being able to get within 150 yards. Sherratt in command of L49 and 2nd Lieutenant Clark in L45 set upon them with their 6-pounders. The War Diary of the 2nd Rifles stated:

'Two of our own male tank released from the mopping up of Seranvillers came upon the scene, behind the line of trees on the road, and laid out both of the Bosche tanks in quick succession and saved an awkward situation.'

As the survivors of the crews bailed out, the Lewis gunners turned upon them. The action remains a rare occasion of a tank-on-tank action.

Having been married in 1919, Sherratt worked as a buyer going between the United Kingdom and Canada. He was living at Beckenham in 1935 a tragically drowned at Bournemouth in August 1935. Taking to the water from a hut near Middle Chine, together with his nephew and a friend, Sherratt remained in the water after his companions returned to shore. As recalled in the Bournemouth Graphic:

'They then watched what appeared to be Mr Sherratt's head bobbing about in the water some distance out. It proved, however, to be a bird.'

Aged just 42, the gallant Sherratt had been dragged to his death by a strong tide.

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