The first attack occurred on September 24, 1914, it was partially blocked by the 75th Infantry Regiment at Etoilé woods near to Herleville.

The spearhead attack of September 4, 1916 at edge of Vermandovillers' Etoilé woods, was assigned to the 132nd Division(10th Army), against heavily concreted machine guns bunkers, organized by the Germans for nearly 2 years (Report No.

The 158th, the 366th Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion Chasseurs showed exemplary conduct and suffered heavy losses.

These figures explain the fact that in a 5 kilometres (3 mi)radius around Vermandovillers, there are, buried in military cemeteries, including 1,261 French soldiers.

The British are not counted because although killed in the fighting, they are buried mainly at the Villers–Bretonneux Australian National Memorial.