Current Information:

Born-Balham

Montreuil-aux-Lions British Cemetery, Aisne, France

The Great Retreat of the British Amy finally came to an end on 5th 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, 15 Brigade of 5th Division, crossed the Marne at Saacy and in the afternoon were in action at Hill 189, near Bezu. 15 Brigade moved round to the east to attack the position from the flank and at 3pm, the 1st Norfolk and 1st Dorset battalions came up on this flank from the western edge of Bois des Essertis. They were immediately stopped by heavy machine gun and rifle fire and a fierce, short-range fight followed which resulted in the deaths of ten 1st Dorset men and over thirty wounded. At dusk they withdrew to bivouacs near Bezu. One of those killed was George Shadbolt.