Current Information:

7, De Beauvoir Road, Kingsland

Raperie British Cemetery, Villemontoire, France

After the German offensive on the Aisne, which began on 27th May, 1918, had run its course, there was a large salient, many miles wide and deep in the French line, stretching down to the River Marne and threatening Paris. With their eyes on that glittering prize the Germans were keen to continue their attacks here and did so on 15th July. This time however things did not work out so well for them. The French now understood the German tactics and were ready for them. Most of the troops were withdrawn from the front line to avoid the carnage of the enemy artillery bombardment and placed in positions where they could counter attack. A few miles of territory were gained by the Germans but after three days their attack had petered out. Now it was the French turn to attack and on 18th July, the momentous Second Battle of the Marne began. British assistance had been requested and given in the shape the newly constituted XXII Corps consisting of the 15th, 34th, 51st and 62nd Divisions.

34th Division were sent to the western edge of the salient, a few miles to the south of Soissons and on 22nd July, the 4th Royal Sussex battalion of 101 Brigade, found themselves just behind the front line in bivouacs in a wood near Parcy-le-Tigny. On the next day, 23rd July, three companies of the battalion were sent forward to support an attack by the 2nd Loyal North Lancashire battalion but in the end were not called on. Those left behind in the bivouacs were not so lucky, During the day they were heavily shelled and as a result suffered over sixty casualties, fifteen of whom were killed. One of these was Alfred Francis.