_On entering_ =Grivesnes=, _take the first road on the left to_ the CHATEAU--a 17th century pile, comprising a central main building and two wings--in the yard of which are a large shelter and several graves. The church _is a little farther on_. Both buildings were severely damaged. _Return to the road, and proceed towards_ CANTIGNY, past the ruins of a mill which was blown up by the Germans, and the CHAPELLE DE ST. AIGNAN, near which is a large Franco-German cemetery. (_See map p. 84._) [Illustration: GRIVESNES CHURCH.] The chapel is now a heap of ruins. The village, château and park of Grivesnes now come into view. The latter lies to the north-east of the village. [Illustration: FRANCO-GERMAN CEMETERY ON THE GRIVESNES-CANTIGNY ROAD.] On March 28, 1918, the first units of the French 166th Division, on detraining, took up positions along the Coullemelle-Thory line, while their artillery was posted on the Grivesnes-Coullemelle line. On the 29th, the 4th and 5th battalions of the 350th Regiment, which had already been fighting the two previous days, occupied Grivesnes, one of them having lost two-thirds of its effective strength. Reinforced by a few units of Chasseurs and a company of Engineers, this handful of men repulsed five successive assaults next day (March 30), after the fall of Malpart. [Illustration] On the 31st (Easter Sunday), the enemy attacked with the 1st Division of the famous Prussian Guards. At 7 a.m., French observers saw the storm-waves assembling in the shell-holes to the east and north-east of the park. From 10.30 to 11.30 a.m., the German artillery pounded the French lines with _rafale_ fire from 6 in. guns. The German foot-grenadiers advanced by companies, in aligned platoon columns. The first French line was decimated, and broke under the repeated onslaughts. The Germans turned the park from the north and east, and contenting themselves for the time being with surrounding the castle--from which a murderous fire was poured on them--entered the village. The commanding officer, who had shut himself up in the castle, was using a rifle with his men. At noon, he despatched a cyclist with a report on the situation, to the officer in command of the Divisional Infantry at Plessier. The report ended with the words: _I am in the castle, and shall hold on till death_. The cyclist managed to get through the German lines, crossed Grivesnes--already occupied by the Germans--and delivered the report. All available units were immediately got together and despatched to Grivesnes.