On the left, the plateau of which G. C. 18 follows the edge, is dotted throughout with graves, the fighting being particularly desperate here on the 6th and 7th. Engagements also took place on the plateau on the opposite bank. The 91st line Regiment, coming up from Lenharrée, particularly distinguished itself during a night attack on the guards. [Illustration: OLD TRENCH NEAR THE SOMME AT ÉCURY] _We arrive at =Normée= (59 km.)_, which suffered much from bombardment (_see p. 193_). Shells fell so thickly that the village was evacuated on the 6th, the troops retiring to the railway line and to the woods around. _In order to visit this portion of the battlefield, turn to the left immediately after leaving Normée, into_ G. C. 5, _which goes towards Fère-Champenoise. 2 km. further on is the level-crossing (view p. 193)_ which became famous after the events of September 6-8. _Leaving the car at the gate, cross the line on foot._ In a clearing on the left (view below) may be seen the old French trenches and the graves which were afterwards made near by. Other trenches are to be seen in the pine woods which line the road. The Colonel commanding the 42nd Brigade was killed whilst defending this level-crossing. The German attacks, violent enough on the 7th, redoubled in fury on the 8th; the line of defence was pierced and the 35th Brigade, stationed in the woods adjoining the plateau of Rochelle, previously visited (_see p. 187_), had to fight under difficult conditions. Certain sections were surrounded, and only fought their way out with heavy loss, all the officers being killed. It was under these circumstances that the fine defence of the standard of the 32nd line Regiment, related on p. 188, took place. _Return to_ G. C. 18 _and turn to the left in it towards =Écury-le-Repos=. 200 yards before arriving at the village_, in a field on the right of the road overlooking the Somme, is an old trench which has been used as a grave (view above). [Illustration: TRENCHES AND GRAVES NEAR THE LEVEL-CROSSING AT NORMÉE] [Illustration: HOUSES BEING REBUILT AT MORAINS] _In Écury (67 km.) turn to the left beyond the church, then take the first street on the right towards Morains-le-Petit._ A few trenches are to be seen here and there, and graves are still numerous. =Morains-le-Petit= (70 km.) is rising from its ruins, as the photograph above shows. _Turn to the right in the village, then to the left on leaving it, into_ G. C. 9 _in the direction of Bergères-lès-Vertus._ We are now in the theatre of operations of the 17th Division and of the 52nd (reserve) Division. The task of the troops forming the right wing of the Ninth Corps was to prevent the marshes from being outflanked on the east. They held on bravely, but were obliged to retire to Mont-Août on September 8, their right having been left exposed by the withdrawal of the Eleventh Corps.