Somme (river) invasion fleet of William the Conqueror assembled in the Bay of the Somme, at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. The river also featured in the 1346 withdrawal of Edward III of England's army, which forded the river at the Battle of Blanchetaque during the campaign, which culminated in the Battle of Crécy. Crossing the river also featured prominently in the campaign which led to the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. In 1636, a Spanish army led by Thomas Francis, prince of Carignan, crossed the Somme defeating a French army during the Thirty Years War threatening Paris. Most famously, the Battle of the Somme, during
HMS Agincourt (1913) visibility the division lost sight of the Grand Fleet during the night, passing the badly damaged battlecruiser without opening fire. Dawn found them with only the detritus from the previous day's battle in sight and the division arrived back at Scapa Flow on 2 June. "Agincourt" fired 144 twelve-inch shells and 111 six-inch shells during the battle, although she is not known to have hit anything. Although the Grand Fleet made several sorties over the next few years it is not known if "Agincourt" participated in them. On 23 April 1918, "Agincourt" and "Hercules" were stationed at Scapa Flow to