41
us. Now that contact was likely, it was obvious that the Battalion was better clear of the
wood, and Col. Alexander withdrew the men in small parties southwards some 300-400
yards to the Bouvancourt-Fismes Road, which was lined. Here, with an excellent field
of fire, our men gave the enemy a merry time when sorties were made from the woods
on our right the 9th K.O.YX.I. came into line with the remnants of the Divisional
Pioneers, and a stand was made for some time.
On our left, the enemy flares, indicating his line of advance, could be seen to be near
Pévy, miles to our left rear. Under extreme pressure, the 1st East Yorkshire Regt.
withdrew to an entrenched spur near St. Joseph's Farm, about f mile southwards, about
midday. At 2 p.m. a French mitrailleuse Company came to our assistance, and as our
ammunition was practically exhausted and we were out of touch with our supply service,
they covered our withdrawal. Our strength was about 40 all ranks. Capt. Green of C
Company joined us, wounded, from the French, as the Battalion was moving back
towards Trigny. Here was located Brigade H. Q., who were preparing to move to Muizon,
a small village on the south bank of the River Yesle, 3 or 4 kilometres south of Trigny.
The latter place was in the
utmost confusion. Red
Cross cars evacuating
wounded, civilians hurriedly
departing, troops rushing to
and fro, the village being
shelled heavily all the time
by the Germans. About 100
other ranks' reinforcements
awaited us here, and fresh
supplies of ammunition, etc.,
were to hand. The remnants
of the 9th K.O.YX.I. and
15th D.L.I, were fiercely-
contesting a line on the
heights running west of
Trigny, and the 1st East
Yorkshire Regiment reor
ganised in the valley below.
The fighting died down as
darkness came on and during
the night all the scattered
elements of the 64th Brigade
Imperial War Museum] [Crown Copyright and a section of R E s were
THE FRENCH WERE STIEL HOLDING FAST. withdrawn and they crossed
thé bridge over the River
Vesle in Muizon just as dawn was breaking. These troops were placed under Col.
Alexander.
The situation was getting desperate and as the enemy had crossed the River esle
at Jonchery, four miles to our left, the river line could not long be held. The French
about Rheims were still holding fast, but our left flank was in the air. Muizon was
evacuated of British troops, principally of our own division, and our Battalion H.Q. were
located in a small copse on the Rheims-Fismes Road, about I mile S.W of Muizon, and
about 600 yards south of the River Yesle. Our main line of resistance was the line of
the main road, and posts of observation were established near the river. Our battalion,
a strange admixture of East Yorks, K.O.Y.L.I.s, D.L-I.s, N.F.s, etc., about 250 in all,
each partv grouped together under an officer and used as a platoon, occupied a 400 y-ards
