This was only achieved by around 4.30pm when it was found that the confusion of the units was so great that the attack had to be called off. At the eastern end of the BEF line I Corps suffered artillery bombardments and small local infantry attacks which were all beaten off. The German attack was subjected to enfilade fire by the 5th Brigade and was driven back by 2nd Welch Regiment and 1st South Wales Borderers of 3rd Brigade, which in turn established themselves on the spur between Beaulne and Chivy by 1pm. This turned out to be a substantial underestimate of German strength along the ridges to the north of the Aisne River. French dragoons with a machine gun during the Battle of the Aisne, 10th to 13th September 1914 in the First World War. This saw both sides attempt to find an open flank which would allow them to outflank the enemy. On 11 September, having been defeated in the First Battle of the Marne (3-9 September), Hermuth von Moltke, the Chief of the German General Staff, issued orders to retreat to the line of the Aisne and to fortify the high ground north of the river. British pontoon bridge built by the Royal Engineers at Pont Arcy during the Battle of the Aisne, 10th to 13th September 1914 in the First World War. The Germans failed to drive the BEF and the French back across the Aisne River, but the BEF and the French failed to take the Chemin des Dames plateau. During the night of 12th September Brigadier-General Hunter-Weston took his 11th Brigade (4th Division of II Corps), after an approach march of around 30 miles largely in pouring rain, across the damaged bridge at Venizel, the men crossing in single file. The 5th Division found the bridge at Missy to be broken and was unable to cross the river. Moving casualties out required stretcher bearers to carry them to the south bank before they could be loaded onto ambulances. Although several of the 4th Division’s artillery batteries crossed to the north side of the Aisne, there was such difficulty in finding fire positions that the GOC of the division expressed extreme reservations on any advance unless it was in co-ordination with similar advances to his left by General Manoury’s French 6th Army and the 5th Division to his right. These troops were finding the fighting extremely difficult. The best chance for the allies came on the right of their line, where the French Fifth Army found a gap between the two German armies, and reached Berry-au-Bac, on the northern side of the river, but the gap was closed by the arrival of the German Seventh Army under General Josias von Heeringen. The 12th Brigade got no further forward that night. The German battalions were badly mauled and the brigade commander mortally wounded. The situation was critical, particularly due to the wide gap between I and II Corps. The massive surprise attack (named Blücher-Yorck after two Prussian generals of the Napoleonic Wars) lasted from 27 May until 4 June 1918 and was the first full-scale German offensive following the Lys Offensive in Flanders in April. The 9th Brigade, after repelling a German counter-attack, advanced to drive back the German guns positioned in the valleys leading south and firing on the pontoon bridges across the Aisne. By the end of the 13th September the German formations facing the BEF were; part of II Cavalry Corps (the Guard and 2nd Cavalry Divisions), VII Reserve Corps, III Corps and 34th Brigade (from IX Corps). First Battle of the Aisne Battle. • The Royal Engineers built a number of pontoon bridges over the Aisne and repaired others. Communications from Sir John French to General Joffre acknowledged that the Germans were no longer retreating, and that it would be necessary to carry out a set piece attack on the German positions along the north bank of the Aisne River to reach the Chemin des Dames ridge. The Germans counter-attacked along the brigade line, driving the 1st Berks and 1st King’s back to the ground north of Moussy. A new German counter-attack now developed along the line of the 2nd Brigade and 1st (Guards) Brigade. It became apparent that the capture of the Chivres spur was beyond the capability of the small number of British troops available, coupled with the difficulty of deploying in the narrow area the British occupied on the north bank of the Aisne. The British units inflicted heavy casualties on the Germans and managed to secure the position, leaving 2nd Division with a line stretching from the area of Beaulne to la Cour de Soupir and on to Chavonne. Photographs. This was considered to be the most successful part of the battle for the BEF and was attributed to General Hunter-Weston’s enterprise. Captain Wright Royal Engineers received the VC for his conduct at the Battle of Mons and in ensuring the crossing of the Aisne by the 5th Cavalry Brigade at Pont Arcy on 14th September 1914, during which he was killed. 14th September 1914: General von Moltke was relieved of his duties as Chief of Staff of the German Army (effectively the Commander-in-Chief, although that position was formally held by Kaiser Wilhelm II), and replaced by Lieutenant General von Falkenhayn, the Minister of War. For the BEF the 15th September was a day largely of German, rather than British, attacks. No infantry reserves were available. Generaloberst von Kluck commanded the German First Army. It was a follow up offensive after the first battle of the Marne. Related content. Both divisions of I Corps were firmly established, not as far as the Chemin des Dames ridge, the planned objective, but still well forward, with the artillery of the two divisions in position and firing on the Germans moving across the ridge. By mid-September the French 10th Army, under the leadership of that psychopathic tiger GEN Charles Mangin, was pushing towards the occupied city of Laon behind the Aisne. In the operations between 13th and 15th September 1914 BEF’s I Corps suffered casualties of around 3,500 men killed wounded and missing. The divisional commander ordered the 7th Brigade, still on the south bank of the Aisne, to support the 8th Brigade. On the right of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Queen’s also crossed the Chemin des Dames ridge and penetrated the German line, firing on German units in the valley of the Ailette River. The brigade moved to the damaged railway bridge to find that it was being crossed from north to south by troops from 9th Brigade, forced to retire by the heavy German attack. The first battle of Aisne took place from September 13 to September 28. Contestants at the Battle of the Aisne: The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the French Army against the German Western Army. On the brigade’s left flank, 1st KRRC was supported by 2nd Worcestershire and 2nd HLI, with gunfire from 46th and 113th Batteries RFA, and drove the Germans back after desperate fighting, inflicting heavy losses on the German infantry. General Franchet D’Espèrey commanded the French 5th Army. This was in spite of considerable progress being made by 1st Bedfordshire and 1st DCLI, which fought into the German positions before being forced to withdraw when the attack was abandoned. Additionally the KRRC was subject to enfilade machine gun fire. The only reserves in Vailly were the Royal Scots Greys and the 12th Lancers of the 5th Cavalry Brigade and these regiments were under heavy artillery fire. When a German attack seemed to be developing a single company of 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers went forward and dispersed the attack with heavy accurate rifle fire. German infantry in positions along the canal held the cavalry in check, until infantry support from the 1st Division of the BEF’s I Corps came up. 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades with 7th Brigade around Braisne. The 6th Brigade and the remaining units of the 5th Brigade were able to achieve little, other than to hang onto the positions they were in. Apparently its replacement still bears that name. history of World War I In World War I: The First Battle of the Marne The First Battle of the Aisne marked the real beginning of trench warfare on the Western Front. Where in the World is it? Victoria Crosses were awarded for conduct during the Battle of the Aisne to Private William Fuller of 2nd Welch Regiment, Captain William Johnston Royal Engineers for his work in ferrying 15th Brigade across the Aisne at Moulin des Roches with Lieutenant Flint Royal Engineers, who was awarded the DSO, Private George Wilson of 2nd HLI and Private Ross Tollerton of 1st Cameron Highlanders. References for the Battle of the Aisne: Help - F.A.Q. Hear the men and women whose lives were shaped by the First World War tell their stories of the conflict in our podcast series, Voices of the First World War. The other two battalions of 13th Brigade remained south of the river. The attack was not co-ordinated, due to the difficult conditions and the heavy German fire, the 1st Berks outstripping the other two battalions. 1st Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders marching past King George V in June 1914 at Aldershot before the Great War: Battle of the Aisne, 10th to 13th September 1914 in the First World War. The attacking German infantry re-took the sugar factory and drove the British line sufficiently far back to threaten the flank of the 1st Cameron Highlanders, which suffered from enfilading machine gun fire. On 14th September 9th Brigade lost 650 men and 7th and 8th Brigades lost 150 men each. The arrangement was made that the British Expeditionary Force would pull out of the Aisne Front and transfer to Flanders. Related content. Two German batteries were abandoned by their gun crews, leaving the guns unattended in the middle of the struggle. The British artillery was carefully positioned and conducted a continuing duel with the German guns. General Allenby’s Cavalry Division began an attack on the BEF’s right against the German positions along the Aisne in the area of Villers and Bourg, but found that all the bridges across the Aisne, as opposed to the canal, were destroyed. German heavy howitzer during the Battle of the Aisne, 10th to 13th September 1914 in the First World War. It was also the beginning of trench warfare. There is no doubt that the Battle of the Marne and the Aisne, although not having as decisive a result as General Joffre and Sir John French hoped for, were nevertheless a serious reverse for the Germans. This was his last act as Chief of the General Staff – on 14 September he was replaced by Erich von Falkenhayn. Background: See this section in the ‘Battle of Mons’. A wooden girder bridge was built in Soissons and handed to the French. Geiger of 2nd Royal Welch Fusiliers described in ‘The War the Infantry Knew’ seeing Major-General Hunter-Weston, the officer who took his 11th Brigade across the Aisne on 13th September, during the Battle of the Marne: ‘I have a vivid recollection of this distinguished officer early in the day’s proceedings careering past me on the flapper’s perch of a motor bicycle, and of thinking how such a means of transport was possible only for a British General; it would, even in the last days of the War, have been inconceivable for a Frenchman, or for a German- even in defeat, to get about in such an unseemly manner’. Similarly the French extended northwards. Field Marshal Sir John French determined to continue the attack begun the previous day. The BEF’s I Corps was to cross the Aisne at Bourg, Pont Arcy and Chavonne; II Corps and the 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades at Vailly, Condé and Missy; III Corps at Venizel and Soissons. The allied crossings in Venizel and Soissons were subjected to fire from German artillery of the heaviest calibres so far encountered in the War; howitzers of 8 inch and 5.9 inch, firing from 3 batteries positioned on the Chivres ridge to the north-east of Missy. During the afternoon 1st Wiltshire and 2nd Royal Irish Rifles crossed the Aisne by the railway bridge and came up in support of 9th Brigade, partly filling the gap. Other units were released by the capture of the French fortress of Mauberge, near the Belgian border, on 8th September 1914. The BEF formations deployed in the Battle of the Aisne are as set out in BEF-Order of Battle. An enveloping attack was planned, with 13th Brigade attacking straight onto the Chivres spur from Sainte Marguerite, with the 15th Brigade mounting an assault on the spur from the south-east, once 14th Brigade had taken Missy. British pontoon bridge built by the Royal Engineers over the Aisne at Bourg, next to the demolished permanent structure. Its valley varies from 1 to 2 miles in width, edged by sharp steep wooded inclines with spurs and re-entrants; good country for defence, difficult to attack. There was then a 5 mile gap to the 8th and 9th Brigades at Vauxelles. A new line was set up behind the River Aisne, and this was the new first line of the Hindenburg Line. By the time the Race to the Sea and the first battle of Ypres came to an end, the Western Front had taken shape – a 475 mile long line of fortifications running from the North Sea to the Swiss border. Field Marshal Sir John French commanded the BEF. British infantry assembling a machine gun for action during the Battle of the Aisne, 10th to 13th September 1914 in the First World War. THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE AISNE, SEPTEMBER 1914. This attack was met by an artillery barrage from 46th and 113th Batteries RFA, able to fire by the fog lifting, from positions around Moussy to the south-west of Vendresse. The First Battle of the Aisne (13-28 September 1914) marked the end of mobile warfare on the Western Front and the start of the period of static trench warfare that would last until 1918 (First World War). 1st Berks reached the lower part of the Chemin des Dames beyond Braye, but were halted there by the German fire. 2nd Division’s attack began with the advance of the 6th Brigade. French dragoons passing a British field battery during the advance to the Aisne: Battle of the Aisne, 10th to 13th September 1914 in the First World War. When the Germans turned to face the pursuing Allies on September 13, they held one of the most formidable... Trench warfare begins. It soon became clear that neither side could budge the other and since neither chose to retreat,... Race to the Sea. The British units operating to the east of Missy therefore faced two waterways to cross, before they could get at the German positions to the north of the Aisne. The Chemin des Dames ridge remained the immediate goal for the Allied attack along the Aisne. The day continued with units crossing the Aisne to join their comrades in piecemeal attacks on well-entrenched German infantry, supported by artillery carefully posted in the hilly wooded back areas. The division’s 9th Brigade crossed the single plank during the night, while the Royal Engineers built a pontoon bridge, the Germans continuing their artillery bombardment of the bridge area. The First Battle of the Aisne (13-28 September 1914) marked the end of mobile warfare on the Western Front and the start of the period of static trench warfare that would last until 1918 ( First World War ). In an acknowledgement of the difficulty created for the British by the preponderance of heavy German artillery and the care with which it was positioned, French directed that the 60 pounders, the heaviest guns widely available to the BEF and significantly smaller than the Germans’ heavy howitzers, should seek out the German batteries in turn with their gunfire. In spite of the German artillery fire the 12th Brigade crossed the Aisne, less 2nd Inniskilling Fusiliers, and advanced to the foot of the heights, followed by the 68th Battery RFA. The sugar factory near Troyon remained in German hands. Short of Braye the 1st Berkshires were halted by heavy German shelling from beyond Braye. 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division with two batteries was ordered to take these positions, to enable the rest of the division to pass through the area and capture Chamouille, some three miles to the north in the next river valley, of the Ailette. Read a brief overview of the First Battle of the Aisne and the part it played in the establishment of the entrenched front lines on the Western Front. Any allied attack would have to cross the River Aisne and then attack up a 500 foot high ridge. This leads to attempts at outflanking each other northwards in a so-called ‘Race to the Sea’. In the early afternoon the 3rd Division renewed its attempt to cross the Aisne at Vailly. At around 9pm the 14th Brigade marched to the 60 man raft at Moulin des Roches and spent the night crossing to the north bank of the Aisne. Low cloud and mist severely hindered aerial reconnaissance during 10th to 12th September 1914. This step was delayed by the crisis on the Aisne and the consequent diversion of troops ear-marked for the Seventh Army. It was fought on the Western Front Significance: Ramifications on the Future? The First Battle of Picardy (22–26 September 1914) took place during the Race to the Sea (17 September – 19 October) and the First Battle of the Aisne (13 September – 28 September). The 1st RWK and 2nd KOSB of 13th Brigade crossed the Aisne during the night of the 13th September near the ruined bridge in Missy, using boats and rafts. English: The First Battle of the Aisne, September 1914 Troops of the 1st Battalion, The King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment), 12th Brigade, 4th Division, in the front trench at St. Marguerite, 22nd September 1914. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Date of the Battle of the Aisne: 13th to 15th September 1914, Place of the Battle of the Aisne: On the Aisne River to the east of Soissons in Eastern France. This move took place during the first three weeks of October 1914. 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