11th Infantry Brigade

[nicburch]

This brigade crossed the Aisne 12/9/14 at Venizel..would they have used the bridge (or one similar) that is in place today?

[CROONAERT]

Yes... the current bridge is still in the same place as the one that was there in 1914...

[CROONAERT]

Yes... the current bridge is still in the same place as the one that was there in 1914...

The 1918 aerial shot below shows the bridge as 'down' by then, however...

[CROONAERT]

The post-WW1 replacement bridge (actually, this was the 2nd replacement bridge as a temporary structure appears to have been erected immediately post-war) was also destroyed in the next war. The image below shows the replacement bridge after it was defensively destroyed by the 12e REI on 7th June 1940...

Dave

[CROONAERT]

... a July 1918 trench map image of Venizel...

[Guest]

1st Rifle Brigade:

13th Sep 1914. 1:00 am. Crossed the AISNE by the bridge, of which only the centre girder was intact, the remainder being blown up by the Germans.

13th Sep 1914. After crossing the bridge at VENIZEL (the bridge had been partially destroyed, only one girder remaining sound), Capt H L RILEY was sent forward to Pt 146. On his return about 2:15 am 13th Sep, the Battalion moved across the plain, straight for the point, the outline of which was dimly visible. Having reached the road and railway crossing about ¼ mile West of M of MISSY, the Battalion advanced due North into STE MARGUERITE village. The road into the village had been blocked by the Germans with a transport wagon but the village was not occupied.

1st Bn Hampshire Regt:

12th Sep 1914. 7:00 am. Left PASSY-EN-VALOIS via MARIZY, CHOUY, VILLERS-HELON, VILLEMONTOIRE, ROZIERES-SUR-CRISE to SEPTMONTS which was reached at 6:30 pm. During this march the French on our left were heavily engaged with the Germans. Rain, which had been falling during the afternoon, became heavier on arrival at SEPTMONTS and the Brigade went into scattered billets till 10:00 pm while a reconnaissance of the river was made. This showed that the bridge at VENIZEL had been only partially destroyed by the enemy and again the 11th INF BDE was ordered to cross and take up a position covering the bridge head.

1st Bn Somerset Light Infantry

13th Sep 1914. Reached VENIZEL (7 miles) about 1:00 am and waited for about an hour to get across bridge. Men very tired and hungry. Crossed in single file about 2:00 am and formed up on North bank. Then moved in column of route across plain to BUCY-LE-LONG, arriving there just at day light (about 4:15 am). There was no information about the Germans except that from the appearance of the houses, they must have made a hurried exit owing to our shell fire the previous evening. The Brigade seized the ridges North of the village. RIFLE BDE on right, HAMPSHIRE REGT in centre, 1st Bn SOMERSET LIGHT INF on left, EAST LANCASHIRE REGT in reserve.

1st Bn East Lancashire Regt

13th Sep 1914. Marched through VENIZEL and crossed the bridge, which had been damaged, in single file at 2 paces distance and advanced across the open plain to BUCY-LE-LONG.

The Battalion halted just outside in reserve while the other Battalions seized the heights later in the morning. C and D Coys and machine guns were sent to support 1st Bn SOMERSET LIGHT INF, A and B Coys and Battalion HQ billeted in the MAIRIE.

MG