Reims 2024 - Battle of the Aisne

 

The Battle of the Aisne took place between the 13th to 18th September 1914 following the German withdrawal from the River Marne.

The Battle of the Marne brought an end to the German Schlieffen Plan that intended to defeat France before Russia mobilised.  The battle had created a gap between the German First and Second Armies which resulted in the German armies in the west withdrawing to the River Aisne.

German Cavalry withdrawing to the River Aisne

 The French and British Armies advanced in pursuit. The Germans began to prepare defences on the high ground north of the River Aisne.

German defences on the River Aisne

 They formed a new army, the seventh to fill the gap between the First and Second Armies.

Battle of the Aisne Strategic Situation

The French and British forces reached the River Aisne by the 12th of September. Their intent was to force passage across the River Aisne in order to secure the high ground on the north bank on which the German Army had began to entrench. 

The British Expeditionary Force Operation Order no 23 issued on 12th September defined the intent; The Army will continue pursuit at 7 am 13th September and reach a line Terny—Chavignon-Lierval. 

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) were located along the River Aisne between  Soissons and Bourg. The ground along the valley was flat agricultural land with no natural cover between steep valley sides. The northern plateau commanded good fields of fire. 

River Aisne Valley

In the BEF’s area were a number of bridges across the River Aisne and the Canal Lateral which ran parallel to the river. The German engineers made attempts to destroy the bridges. The British Expeditionary Force were five Divisions strong and bridges were allocated to the Divisions for passage across the River Aisne.

River Aisne Battlefield

The bridge at  Venizel was allocated to the 4th Division, part of III Corps.

River Marne Pont de Venizel

One of the four charges placed on the bridge by the Germans had failed. Whilst the bridge was damaged, the Royal Engineers deemed it could be used with care.  On the night of the 12th / 13th September men of the 11th Brigade began to pass over the bridge in single file. The contents of ammunition carts were unloaded and passed by hand over the damaged bridge. 

By 03:00 the Brigade of 4,000 men had crossed in the dark in single file and were in position to launch an attack at first light securing the high ground above the bridge. The following morning 12th Brigade crossed and the Royal Engineers began strengthening the bridge. The 10th Brigade remained on the south bank to secure the bridge.

River Marne Pont de Venizel IJ

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) through III Corps efforts had established their first bridgehead on the North bank of the Aisne. The remainder of the BEF, I and II Corps waited till daybreak before attempting to cross their allocated bridges.

The bridge at Missy allocated to the 5th Division of II Corps was found to have had two of it’s three spans had been destroyed. The Royal Engineers were tasked to build a raft capable of    carrying 60 men as a means of crossing the river.  The 14th Brigade supported by 121 Battery Royal Field Artillery would protect the crossing point.

River Marne Missy

18 pounder guns River Aisne

The Sappers completed the raft by 12:00 and began to ferry 14 Brigade across the Aisne. Heavy fighting took place during the afternoon and the evening. The action succeeded and 14 Brigade established them selves on the north bank. The 15th Brigade began moving across the river at 21:00. The Royal Engineers built some smaller rafts and obtained a boat aiding the passage. The 15th Brigade and part of the 13th Brigade were complete on the north bank at first light. 

It was the Missy crossing point where Captain William Johnston of the Royal Engineers was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on  14 September 1914.

His citation read:

At Missy, on 14th Sept., under a heavy fire all day until 7 p.m., worked with his own hand two rafts bringing back wounded and returning with ammunition; thus enabling advanced Brigade to maintain its position across the river.

— The London Gazette, No. 28985, 25 November 1914 

Capt Johnston Royal Engineers VC action

The other bridge allocated to the 5th Division was at Conde where the bridge had been left intact. A tributary flowing into  the river Aisne created an open meadow area.

 It was assessed the crossing would be heavily defended and possibly a trap to entice the British into the open ground. It was decided not to attempt to use the Bridge at Conde.

The 3rd Division of II Corps were allocated the bridge at Vailly. There the bridge had been broken in the middle, however a single plank over the gap in the bridge had been left in place by the Germans. It was over the single plank that the 8th Brigade began to cross the river at 13:00. Under fire they crossed to the north bank taking till nightfall to complete their passage over the river.  During the night of 13 / 14 September the 9th Brigade used the plank to cross to the north bank.

8th Brigade cross the Bridge at Vailly 1914

 

 NVAA cross the Bridge at Vailly 2014

In the I Corps area two bridges were allocated to 2nd Division. The bridge at Chavonne had been destroyed, but a temporary trestle bridge was still in place. The 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards were able to cross the temporary bridge. However, out of artillery range for support they were forced to withdraw. The Division’s main effort would be the bridge a Pont D’Arcy. 

Bridge at Pont D’Arcy

That  bridge had only been partially damaged.  Although the roadway was impassable, it was possible to cross on the girders that supported the road. The bridge was also weakly defended so the 5th Brigade were able to cross with little opposition and secured the north bank. 

5th Brigade crossing Pont D'Arcy

The final crossing point allocated to the British was at Bourg where the 1st Division were tasked with crossing the Aisne. Here the river bridge had been destroyed. However, a road bridge over the Canal Lateral was still intact, and an aqueduct carrying the canal over the River Aisne was only partially damaged.  

Bourg bridge over the Canal Lateral

Bourg Aqueduct over the River Aisne

The aqueduct allowed the passage of the 1st Division over the Aisne and they were able to secure the heights overlooking the crossing. By 18:00 on 13th September all the infantry of the division, around 10,000 men were across the river. Assisted by the success of the French Fifth Army on their right flank the 1st Division were able to take high ground above Bourg.

At Cerny, 7 kilometers north of Bourg,  on the high ground above the River Aisne valley is a memorial to the 1st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. This monument marks the extent to which the British Army advanced during the battle. 

1st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Memorial Cerny

1st Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
Memorial Cerny

By the night of the 14th September the British Expeditionary Force, together with their French Allies had established bridgeheads on the north banks of the River Marne.  The  long marches of advance and withdrawal, together with the fighting, had left the  combatants exhausted. Movement  came to a halt and the line stabilised. 

The British Expeditionary Force Operation Order 26 of 15th September 1914 outlined the Commander’s intent; 

The  Commander in Chief wishes the line now held by the Army is strongly entrenched, and it is his intention to  assume a general offensive at the first opportunity.

British troops entrenching in the River Aisne valley