Moreuil.
Moreuil, next reached, was fortified in the Middle-Ages, but to-day nothing remains of the former ramparts. The Château alone is still existent, and is reached by taking the third turning on the left (See sketch-map below).
The Avre at Moreuil.
The Château, comprising the ruins of four bastions with very thick walls, was rebuilt in the 14th or 15th century on the site of a previous castle which probably stood near the church. In 1434, it was besieged and captured by the Anglo-Burgundians. In 1588, it was occupied by the Leaguers. In 1636, during the disastrous "Corbie year", it was taken by the Spaniards, from whom the French wrested it shortly afterwards. In 1791, it was pillaged by the people, like the Château of Mailly-Raineval. Ancient cannon from the Château are now in the Museum of Picardy at Amiens. The modern portion, which served as a living apartment, stood between the two western towers, and was built under Louis XVIII. It is now in ruins (photo p. 28). A large stone cross, which formerly stood before the doorway of the parish church, was removed and erected near the chapel of the Château. This 14th century monument comprised a pedestal of three superimposed stories, and a columnar shaft and cross, slightly more modern than the pedestal. The cross has disappeared, and only part of the pedestal remains.
Moreuil.—The Church before the War.
Turn back and follow the street straight to the church.
Moreuil.—The Church in 1919.
Formerly the old abbey church of a Benedictine Monastery which stood within the castle walls, it was rebuilt in modern times in 15th century style—except the façade which dates from the latter part of the 16th century—when the place belonged to the Créqui family. The façade (Hist. Mon.) bears a great likeness to that of St. Peter's Church at Montdidier. It comprises two large porches, above which rose the square tower of the belfry and the gable of the nave.
Moreuil Church.
The left-hand doorway comprises six pointed arches, the third one from the inside being the most richly ornamented. This arch comprises a series of ten carved subjects, each under a canopy.
The right-hand doorway is a replica on a larger scale of the left-hand one.
A Flamboyant gallery runs above the doors. At the base of the belfry, on the northern front, is a beautiful pointed window with rich 16th century ornamentation.
The church was severely damaged during the battles of 1918. The tower was destroyed and the porches were badly mutilated.
The interior collapsed; the pillars alone remain standing.
Turn left into the road which descends to the Avre. The bridge was destroyed in 1918, and replaced by two wooden ones.
Building a Bridge across the Avre, near Moreuil.
Morisel is next reached, which pass through. (See sketch-map, p. 71.)
From Moreuil to Montdidier,
via Mailly-Raineval, Grivesnes and Cantigny.
Mailly-Raineval and Hill 103
On leaving Morisel, there is a large German cemetery, from which a very fine view of Moreuil and the valley of the Avre may be had. Take the G.C. 14, on the left, as far as Mailly-Raineval, entering the village by the road on the left. (See sketch-map, p. 77.)
Mailly-Raineval, seen from the Road to Hill 103.
Mailly-Raineval.—Ruins of the Chateau.
This village, first known as Raineval, took the name of Mailly-Raineval in 1744, when it became the property of the illustrious house of Mailly. The Château, in ruins since 1879, was mostly built in the 16th century, on the site of the former castle, destroyed at the time of the Jacquerie. The ruins of the Château include a broken tower dating from the end of the 14th century, and substructures still measuring 250 feet in length. The latter, which were severely damaged by the bombardments, used to support the three stories of the imposing Château (photo above). The village is now a complete ruin.
Mailly-Raineval, seen from the West side of Hill 103.
On the right: The Church and Chateau;
in the background: Arrière-Cour Wood.
200 yards further on, the road leads to the foot of Hill 103 which can be ascended on foot.
From this hill, there is a fine view of Moreuil Village and Wood, Sauvillers (to the south-east) and Arrière-Cour Wood. (See map, p. 77.)
On March 26, 1918, the French 133rd Division, brought up in lorries, and the 4th Cavalry Division, had orders to protect the approaches to Moreuil and the Avre, and to join hands with the British, but were forced to give way under the pressure of the enemy's overwhelming numbers. On the 29th, the French 163rd Division had scarcely detrained when it received orders to defend Moreuil, under the direction of the General commanding the 36th Corps, forming the left of Debeney's Army. The attack, led by two German divisions, began on the night of the 29th. Moreuil, as the nearest point to Amiens, was particularly aimed at by the enemy, but the Canadians and French repulsed all assaults. Finally, after changing hands several times, the village was occupied by the Germans who were, however, unable to debouch, although they lost half of their effective strength in their attempts to do so. On April 1st the British, supported by the French, counter-attacked in the woods north of Moreuil.
Mailly-Raineval in Flames.
On April 4th, a violent German effort on the left bank of the Avre, against the 36th Corps, was twice checked, but the enemy finally succeeded, at very heavy cost, in capturing Mailly-Raineval, Arrière-Cour Wood, Morisel and Castel. On April 5, under the command of General Robillot, the French counter-attacked: the 127th, 166th and 59th divisions towards Mailly-Raineval, and the 17th division in the direction of Moreuil. After driving the enemy from Arrière-Cour Wood, they returned to the outskirts of Mailly-Raineval. In front of Sauvillers, where the tanks did good work, they advanced along the plateau. To the west of Castel, in Sénecat Wood, a furious engagement took place, in the course of which the enemy were driven back with a loss of 100 prisoners. On April 17, the French attacked from Mailly to Castel, captured the greater part of Sénecat Wood, gained a footing in Gros Hêtre Wood, reached the outskirts of Castel—bristling with machine-guns—and on the south attained the heights which dominate the Avre, after taking over 650 prisoners, including 20 officers. The same day, a single French battalion thrown against the village of Castel—held by five companies of infantry and two companies of machine-gunners, of the German 389th regiment of shock troops—advanced 1,400 yards, capturing several redoubts, 254 prisoners (including 10 officers), and 31 machine-guns. On this day also, the tanks played a great part in the capture of Sénecat Wood. The commanding officer of a company of tanks personally took over one of the machines, the crew of which had been put out of action. Making straight for Castel, he swept the streets of the village with his machine-gun, then returned safely to the French lines. Another tank, in hot pursuit of a retreating German battery of 77's, penetrated over 600 yards into the enemy's lines, where it broke down. The gallant crew thereupon got out their machine guns and held off the enemy until their ammunition ran out. On April 24, an enemy attack on Sénecat Wood failed. On May 11, during a violent attack, the Germans temporarily gained a footing in the woods to the south-west of Mailly, but counter-attacks drove them out. On July 12, the French attacked near Castel and to the south-east of Rouvrel, capturing Castel and 500 prisoners. On the 23rd they took Mailly, Sauvillers, and Aubvillers, capturing 1,800 men, 54 officers, four 77's, 45 minenwerfer, and 300 machine-guns. On August 8, Debeney's offensive cleared Morisel, and the 66th Division captured Moreuil.
Return to and keep along the road.
Trenches, saps and battery positions are met with. After crossing the Louvrechy-Thory road, the Ailly-sur-Noye-Montdidier road is reached. At the crossing, and before taking G.C. 26, on the left, to Grivesnes, tourists interested in archæology should take it on the right to visit the church of Ailly-sur-Noye (5½ kms.) Otherwise, keep straight on to Folleville (4½ kms.)
(See sketch-map, p. 79.)