Return to the car and take the road already followed (G.C. 164) back to the fork (300 yards north of the village), then the road to Soyécourt (G.C. 79), on the left. At the entrance to Soyécourt the ruins of a château—of which only the base of one tower remains—will be seen on the left.
SOYÉCOURT CHURCH IN 1916.
For nearly two years the French first lines ran close to the western outskirts of this village, which lies at the bottom of a ravine. On several occasions the communiqués mentioned sharp fighting around here, which was, however, merely of local importance.
It was only on September 4, 1916, that decisive fighting took place here, when the French, after a long and terrific bombardment, carried the village in a single rush, and progressed beyond it in the direction of Deniécourt.
Leaving Soyécourt, keep along G.C. 79 to Vermandovillers (2 km.).
On September 4, 1916, the village was attacked from the east and north. Progress was slow, and marked by fierce fighting from house to house. Vermandovillers was only captured in its entirety on September 17.
At the fork in the village, take the left-hand road (G.C. 143) to Chaulnes.
VERMANDOVILLERS.