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Born-Bow

Enlisted-London

The Battle of the Aisne 13th September -28 September, 1914

After the Germans were defeated on the Marne they fell back to the River Aisne, closely pursued by both the British and the French. The new German line was a very formidable defensive position. To attack it meant having to cross the Aisne and then climb up a 500 foot high ridge on top of which was the Chemin des Dames, a road that gave the Germans an easy way to move troops along the top of the hills. On 13th September the Aisne was crossed by both British and French troops but after that progress became slower, until there was no progress at all. Both sides dug in and the fighting settled down into trench warfare. The fighting on the Aisne continued for two weeks at the end of which both sides realised that frontal attacks on entrenched positions were both costly and non-productive, not that this deterred them from continuing with this tactic throughout the war.

On 14^th September, 5th Division were on the left of the British line and  had to take the Chivres spur before any progress could be made. 14 Brigade and 13 Brigade made the first attack from the direction of Ste Marguerite, but at dawn, they were hit by German artillery in the valley near Missy. Later 15  Brigade also moved out from Ste Marguerite and at 2.30pm they too reached Missy and at 4.30pm both 14 and 15 Brigades attacked to try to secure the crest of the spur.  Moving north up the hill, the 1st Norfolk, 1st Bedfordshire and 1st East Surrey battalions, found the Germans in an organised system of trenches protected by wire netting and fencing. Progress came to a halt and eventually all units were ordered to withdraw. 15 Brigade reformed south of Missy. Charles Cobley was one of 1st Norfolk’s casualties on this day.