Place Name
Commemorating the Battle of Marne fought between September 6 – 9, 1914 during the First World War. The engagement marked the end of the so-called Great Retreat of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the French Army which had been taken unawares by the German forces. Halting the German advance the allied troops were able claim their first decisive victory in the war. The Germans were forced to retreat 56 miles losing 15,000 men who were captured, 30 field guns and 100 machine-guns before reaching the Aisne. This success effectively ended German hopes of a quick victory on the Continent. It is one of a small cluster of streets on the Goresbrook Village Estate which is named after First World War battles that involved the Essex Regiment, which later became the Royal Anglians, now the official regiment of Barking and Dagenham. Nearby is Ypres Place, Kemmel Road, Gallipoli Place, and Krithia Road, a sixth road is named after a Second World War hero. Council leader Liam Smith, who announced the road names in 2013, said at the time: “We must never forget the sacrifice that others have made for their country and also the huge contributions and sacrifices made by Commonwealth and former British Empire troops. These street names will remain as a reminder to generations to come.” The Goresbrook Village scheme is part of the Barking & Dagenham’s estate renewal project, which also saw the Gascoigne, Leys and Althorne Way estates demolished and rebuilt. A total of 149 homes are built on the site, which was completed in 2015.
