13th September 1914

[2lewis's]

2nd Bat Lans Fus in action again

All records through PRO WO 95/ 1507 subject to usual conditions

12th Marched to Septmount, assisted to pull heavy gun up to the hills got to bivouac about 11pm no ration.

13th Crossed the R Aisne under fire lost one man killed one wounded. In afternoon proceeded to St Margaute + proceeded to attack Chivies, met with heavy fire frontal and flank; held on to pn +pushed forward through wood, cld not progress further but held on till dark when relieved by the Manchester Regiment.

Killed Lt Stuart + 6 men

W Major Griffin, Lt Fulton, 2Lt Evatt, 2Lt Paulson (since died) 46 men

M 2 lt Page (rejoined) 119 (men)

14th Battle continued round St Margaute the Bn were in reserve + employed in digging trenches.

15th Battle continued two wounded died during night Ptes Bultes + Reid. “C” Coy moved ( word?) lines held by the Essex Regt. + dug in. No casualties. Col Butler, Capts Higgin Birkitt + Lucas Tooth + 2Lt Mercer joined Bn.

16th Heavy shelling of position continued all day, seven men wounded with exception of Pte Murphy (abdomen) wound were not dangerous. The men were not in their trenches at the time, but either carrying water or on fatigues. No one in deep trenches hit so far.

[2lewis's]

Hand written account

All records through PRO WO 95/ 1507 subject to usual conditions

The Crossing of the Aisne

Early in the morning of the 13th Sept 1914 the Brigade left SEPTMONTS to clear the enemy from adjacent heights and try and effect the crossing of the River AISNE.

The Brigade reached the village of VENIZEL and the banks of the river without opposition and halted for information from the 10th Brigade who were A.G.

While halted the enemy began to search the village with their big guns, one shell landing in the midst of a Company of the King’s Own about 20 yards from ourselves the other of the road, causing about 6 casualties. Other shells began to get unpleasantly close so the Battalion and the Essex Regiment were at once moved forward.

The bridge had been partially destroyed and had to be crossed in single file, The Lancashire Fusiliers, forming a succession of skirmishing lines on the left and right of the road to BUCY-LE-LONG, the Essex Regiment on our right.

The Lines moved forward across the plain under a heavy cross shell fire from the direction of SOISSONS and FORT CONDE’ and the heights above CHIVRES village. These shell burst too high or scattered too much and our casualties were only 1 Killed, 2 wounded.

After halting at BURY-LE- LONG and reforming the Battalion, we were ordered to form A.G to the Brigade as far as ST. MARGUERITE where further orders would be issued.

Reaching there without incident, we were ordered to attack the enemy who had been located at CHIVRES and on the high ground N.W of that village.

Major Griffin pushed forward under cover through ST. MARGUERITE towards MISSY and turning N.W by a less direct route through a wood, advanced as far as possible towards CHIVRES village.

The ground was very swampy, making progress slow, and the thick undergrowth in the wood combined with the scanty information available with regard to the direction and extent of the enemy’s position made it practically impossible to ascertain from which direction the bullets were coming when once firing began, and whether they were being fired by our own troops or the enemy.

On nearing CHIVRES the Companies came under heavy fire from entrenched positions S of the village and also from the western slopes of the CHIVRES HILL. “A” Company under Captain Woodman pushed forwards towards the village and was joined by “D” Company. “B” Company under 2nd Lient. Evatt opened fire on the trenches on the hill and drove the enemy out of advanced trenches or silenced their fire.

The Essex Regiment supported the attack as far as possible from the hill above ST MARGUERITE with rifle and M.G fire but the position was far too strong for one Regiment to assault. The Battalion held their ground until dark suffering heavy losses, and at night were relived by the Manchester Regiment; it is consoling to think that 3 weeks later, no troops had got so far forward as the Regiment did that evening.

Our casualties were:-

Killed:- Lient C E Stuart, 2nd Lient J S Panlson and 14 other ranks.

Wounded:- Major C.J Griffin, Lient J S Fulton 2nd Lient J.W Evatt and 44 other ranks

Missing:-83 other ranks

Many under the heading of missing got to within 100 yards of the enemy and whether Killed or wounded, with the exception of 5 or 6 of the latter, who were brought in after dark, could not be recovered, and can only be hoped that we shall meet the majority restored to health on entering BERLIN.

[Malcolm]

In Memory of the Divisions who fought on the Aisne.

Among whom was the local laird.

Aye

Malcolm

Sir ARCHIBALD CHARLES GIBSON-CRAIG

Lieutenant 4th Bart.

2nd Bn., Highland Light Infantry who died on Monday, 14th September 1914. Age 31.

Additional information: Son of the late Sir James Henry Gibson-Craig, 3rd Bart., and of Lady Gibson Craig, of Riccarton, Currie, Midlothian.

Commemorative Information

Memorial: LA FERTE-SOUS-JOUARRE MEMORIAL, Seine-et-Marne, France

Location: La Ferte-sous-Jouarre is a small town 66 kilometres to

the east of Paris, and the Memorial is situated in a small park on the south bank of the River Marne, just off the main road to Paris. The Memorial Register is kept at the Town Hall. The La Ferte-sous-Jouarre

Memorial commemorates nearly 4,000 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force who died in August, September and the early part of October 1914 and who have no known grave. The monument consists of a rectangular block of stone, 62 feet by 30 feet and 24 feet high, with the names of the dead engraved on stone panels on all sides of the monument.

Local memorial: Currie Church panels

Unit information:

2nd Highland Light Infantry

4/8/1914 Maida Barracks, Aldershot: 5th Bde, 2nd Division.

14/8/1914 landed Boulogne. 11/11/1918 5th Bde, 2nd Div, Villers Pol, France.

The village of Ferte-sous-Jouarre was captured in a night fight on the 10th September which was a hand-to-hand fight among burning buildings. The advance was continued on the 12th – 13th but was brought to a halt when they ran into artillery and machine-gun fire north of the village. Lt Gibson-Craig volunteered to deal with a concealed machine-gun which was firing from the wooded hills to the west. He was given a small company and their attack was entirely successful but Lt Gibson-Craig and two of his men were killed, at the cost of 50 of the enemy. Their bodies were brought two miles back and buried near the village. Wooden Crosses were made to mark the spot but the positions were subsequently lost later in the war through shellfire. Officers Died gives the date as between 12th – 17th September 1914.

[Michelle Young]

Remembering all those who crossed the Aisne. Having visited the area several times, I have been thinking of the peaceful villages and the beautiful cemeteries.

Rest in Peace

[GrandsonMichael]

Remembering all those who crossed the Aisne.

I'll second that.

My Grandfather (see Avatar) fought along side the 2nd Bn Lans. Fus. in the 2nd Bn Essex Reg. and luckily survived the War after being wounded at least twice.

So let's remember the less fortunate, every day.....

Michael

[Staffsyeoman]

Agreed; partner's grandfather was there with 2/KRRC. His diary brought home the horror of attacking up a defended bank in the dark, in the pouring rain. I was astounded that when Richard Holmes did the Aisne, he did this tranquil little area where the river was placid, and the banks were about three feet high, not a river valley where 2/KRRC attacked..

His CO tried to get him an MC (as an acting CSM) for that action.. he tried for a year. (He'd been awarded a DCM for Gheluveld by the end of the year)

Yes, the Aisne is all too readily forgotten. It should not be so.