Current Information:

Age-21

Born-Hanwell

Enlisted-London

The Great Retreat  of the British Amy finally came to an end on 5^th September after thirteen days of continuous falling back whilst fighting rearguard actions from Mons in Belgium to the River Marne. Over the next four days the decisive Battle of the Marne took place and as a result the French army, assisted by the much smaller British Army forced the Germans back to the River Aisne.

On 9th  September, 1914, 14 Brigade led 5th Division’s advance to Montreuil along the Chateau Thierry- La Ferté-sous-Jouarre road. At La Limon, one mile north of Saacy, they met heavy shell fire. Leaving the road they continued their advance through some woods half a mile to the east but the dense trees made progress very slow and when they emerged from the woods they were fired on by German infantry and artillery, well entrenched on Hill 189 to the south of Montreuil.  The2nd Manchester battalion suffered a number of casualties in this action, one of whom was Albert Barlow who was killed.