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
_A foot-path nearly opposite the church leads to_ =Hill 77=. From there
a fine panoramic view may be had of the battlefield on both sides
of the Amiens-Compiègne road, as far as the Aronde, particularly to
the south-west, where the view takes in Antheuil, Loges Farm (an old
dependency of Ourscamps Abbey), and Porte Farm, formerly belonging to
Élincourt-St.-Marguerite Priory. This region was the scene of desperate
fighting during the German offensive of June 9-11, 1918.
[Illustration: THE BATTLEFIELD TO THE SOUTH-WEST OF HILL 77.]
On the night of the 10th, the Germans captured Antheuil and the
two farms, advancing as far as the Aronde. They were already
shouting victory, in the belief they were outflanking Compiègne from
the north-west and would soon reach Estrées-St.-Denis, when the
counter-attack of June 11 drove them back. Antheuil was retaken and
held; the two farms were likewise recaptured, but the French were
unable to hold them.
On the 14th, although the enemy failed in front of Antheuil, they
resumed their advance towards Les Loges and Porte Farm.
During the rest of the month this sector remained agitated. On several
occasions the Germans attempted to retake Antheuil, but were each time
repulsed.
A surprise attack by the French on July 9 resulted in the capture of
the two farms in the early morning, with 500 prisoners. On the 13th,
they improved their positions and advanced 500 yards to the north of
Porte Farm. On August 10, the whole district was cleared by the advance
of Humbert's Army.
_Return to the car and after turning it round, take the first road on
the left to_ =Margny-sur-Matz=. (_See map, p. 124._)
[Illustration: MARGNY-SUR-MATZ.--INTERIOR OF THE CHURCH.
_Note the "Glory Beam"._]
The door and choir of the church are Norman. Some of the capitals in
the choir (those behind the altar) attest to the primitive Norman
style. A stone _Pieta_ and a small ovoid stoup dating from 1603 have
disappeared. A "glory beam" depicts Jesus-Christ, the Virgin and St.
John.
_Continue along the road. On leaving Margny, there is a bad
level-crossing over a narrow-gauge railway. Take the first road on the
left to_ =Élincourt-St.-Marguerite=.
[Illustration: ELINCOURT-ST.-MARGUERITE. THE CHURCH.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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