TRENCH OF THIRST
Of all the tragedies of the First World War in the Meuse, the epic of the Thirst Trench is the perfect illustration of sacrifice. For the 172nd R.I. Battalion, Ailly Wood would become the expression of the nightmare in just a few days. Composed of Franc-Comtois, Lyonnais and Vosgiens, this regiment arrived from Belfort to reinforce the 8th Corps, which had been very tried and tested in the defence of the Salient. Convinced by his superiors that this hernia of Saint-Mihiel must be reduced, General Dubail launched snacking operations in the spring of 1915. The German system was pushed and the French reached the fifth line. In euphoria they did not realize that they had dangerously distanced themselves from the men of the 5th Company. The Germans reacted immediately and surrounded them, the French had to retreat. The fight continues for 3 full days and the high temperatures in May empty the company's cans. Surrounded on all sides, they found themselves in streams, ammunition and fighters. The French could no longer stop yet another German counter-attack on May 22nd and eventually gave up their position. These soldiers will never forget the "trench of thirst".
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