The Somme, Volume 2. The Second Battle of the Somme (1918): (Amiens, Montdidier, Compiègne)
History
The Somme, Volume 2. The Second Battle of the Somme (1918): (Amiens, Montdidier, Compiègne)
Somme, 2nd Battle of the, France, 1918; World War, 1914-1918 -- Battlefields -- Guidebooks
_Return to the entrance to the village. By G.C. 27, on the left,
tourists may proceed to_ =Roye-sur-Matz=, whose church (_Hist. Mon._)
was partly 12th century. It was rebuilt in the 16th-17th centuries,
except the doorway, nave, northern transept and tower which were in a
remarkably good state of preservation. Previous to the offensives of
1918, the church had been for three years in the firing line, and was
seriously damaged between 1914 and 1917. Its ruin was completed in
1918. A few fragments of walls belonging to the chevet are all that
remain.
[Illustration: ROYE-SUR-MATZ.--THE CHURCH.]
_From Roye-sur-Matz return to Conchy-les-Pots, where take the
left-hand (paved) N. 17 to_ =Orvillers-Sorel=. _On the left, between
Conchy-les-Pots and Orvillers-Sorel, is_ the village of BIERMONT, which
was desperately defended by the French 62nd Division on March 30, 1918.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ORVILLERS-SOREL CHURCH IN RUINS.]
This district suffered severely from the fierce fighting of
March-August 1918. On March 30 two German divisions, including one
of the Guard, attacked Orvillers-Sorel, defended by a portion of
the French 38th Div., the 4th Regt. of Zouaves and the 8th Regt. of
Tirailleurs, the heroes of Douaumont, Hurtebise and La Malmaison.
These two regiments, overwhelmed by numbers, were forced to fall back,
but only after desperate fighting. Units of the 4th Regt. of Zouaves,
greatly outnumbered and cut off, fought to the last man. Others
managed to cut their way through, falling back only to reform and
counter-attack, sometimes without an officer. As far as the northern
outskirts of Orvillers, the ground was defended, inch by inch, and
the enemy were unable to enter the village. During the night, the 4th
Regt. of Zouaves reformed in the ruins, and on the following day (31st)
counter-attacked between 1.30 and 2.30 p.m., reconquering Epinette
Wood and taking a number of prisoners. Until May 3, when they were
relieved, they maintained their positions. On April 12 and May 11, the
French delivered two local attacks and progressed to the north-west of
Orvillers. On May 12 and 14, a German attack against the new positions
failed with heavy losses. On August 10, the 34th Corps of Humbert's
Army cleared Orvillers-Sorel, and captured the "Gothenstellung", which
formed the third main fighting line of the German defences.
[Illustration: ORVILLERS-SOREL. VIEW OF THE VILLAGE.]
_Beyond the village, a small chapel is passed, on the right, the
tourist coming out opposite_ =Sorel Château= (late 17th century),
_which stands_ in a closed park. The Château was seriously damaged
during the attacks.
[Illustration: SOREL CHATEAU.]
_Take the avenue facing the Château_, which was bordered with trenches,
_then N. 17 on the left, to_ =Cuvilly=.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account