Current Information:

Born-Kilburn

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 the 1st Cornwall Light Infantry battalion of14 Brigade, 5th Division advanced to Montreuil along the Chateau Thierry- La Ferté-sous-Jouarre road. At La Limon, 1 mile north of Saacy, they met heavy shell fire. Leaving the road they continued their advance through some woods a half   mile to the east, but the dense trees made progress very slow. When they emerged from the trees they were fired on by German infantry and artillery, well entrenched on Hill 189 to the south of Montreuil. 1st Cornwall were forced to pull back and 14 Brigade’s advance came to a halt. The death of John  Beak was recorded as killed in action on10th September but as 1st Cornwall were not in action on that day, it was probably entered in error and he was actually killed in the fighting on 9th September.