The Battle of Cantigny

In 1918, the 1st Division ('The Big Red One') was the most experienced of the five US Army divisions of the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) then in France. On 28 May 1918, the 28th Infantry Regiment of the division, together with two companies of the 18th Infantry Regiment, three machine-gun companies and a company of engineers (totalling 3,564 men) attacked a German-held French village called Cantigny some seventy miles north of Paris. This was the first major offensive operation undertaken by the Americans during the Great War and it would become known as the Battle of Cantigny. A small battle by the standards of the Great War, it was a major success for the US Army, and for General John Pershing, the commander of the AEF.

In this presentation, Will Bryant will look at the background to the battle, the personnel involved and its importance to both the US Army and the French. 
These events will be examined in detail and the aftermath of the battle will also be shown.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts. Admission is free but, if possible, we would appreciate a small donation of €5.00 to help cover branch costs.