I've just been reading a very detailed account of the action at V-B. It seems that the 14 A7Vs were taken by rail from Charleroi to the front, then unloaded and taken "a short distance" to the village of Wiencourt-l'Équipée, about 4km from the front line. What interests me is: where exactly were they unloaded? One assumes the rail network behind the German lines was relatively intact, and that many of today's railway lines were there in 1918. A rail line runs through the village today, but it seems to go south-east, whereas Charleroi is north-east. I can't find a way on Google maps, except by going a very long way round. Does anyone happen to know where the line ran/runs?
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They were unloaded at Guillaucourt. The rail line runs to the southeast, past Nesle and Ham, to Jussy, where it connects to the line coming down from Charleroi through St.Quentin. - In fact, repairing and commissioning the line Ham - Nesle - Guillaucourt was essential for preparing the attack on Villers-Bretonneux.
Many thanks. That's marvelous. I remember my great-uncle said he was billeted at Ham.
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
