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The Sambre-Oise Canal

 

The Ors Canal

This view of the Sambre-Oise canal was taken from the canal bridge looking in the direction of ***Landrecies, a village about a mile beyond the bend in the canal. It was in the middle distance that the 2nd Manchesters (including Wilfred Owen) with the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers on their left flank attacked across the canal from the towpath on the left hand side of the picture, in order to reach the enemy held canal bank seen on the right hand side of the photograph.

 

2nd Lt. James Kirk's grave

It was here that 2nd Lt. James Kirk won a posthumous Victoria Cross when attempts were being made to bridge the canal. Like Wilfred Owen he is buried in Ors Communal Cemetery. His citation reads:-

"……….. Second Lieutenant Kirk took a Lewis gun and under intense machine-gun fire paddled across the canal and opened fire. Further ammunition was paddled across to him and he continued to cover the bridging party until he was killed. His courage and self-sacrifice enabled two platoons to cross the bridge and prevented many casualties."

 

Lt. Colonel J.N. Marshall's grave

Lt.Colonel J.N. Marshall, the Commanding Officer of the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers was also awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his leadership in the attempted bridging of the canal. The citation reads:-

"………..The first party were soon killed or wounded, but the colonel's personal example was such that more volunteers were instantly forthcoming. Under intense fire and with complete disregard for his own safety he stood on the bank encouraging his men and helping in the work. When the bridge was repaired he attempted to lead his men across, but was killed while so doing."

Before taking command of the 16th Lancashire Fusiliers, Marshall had recently been second in command of the 2nd Manchesters. Wilfred Owen described him as "…….…..bold, robust, dashing, unscrupulous, cruel, jovial, immoral, vast-chested, handsome-headed, of free coarse speech……" (28th Sept. 1918 - Letter No. 661). Like Owen and Kirk, Col. Marshall also lies in Ors Communal Cemetery.

*** Landrecies: During the retreat from Mons, General Sir Douglas Haig in command of I Corps reached here on 25th August 1914 where the 3rd Coldstream Guards fought a rearguard action. It seems General Haig never forgot Landrecies- among other, perhaps more serious events, he apparently left his watch with a local watchmaker for repair, returning in 1918 to claim it (without success)!

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