On 24 Aug 1346 the Battle of Blanchetaque was fought between the English and French. The English had become trapped in an area denuded of supplies and needed to cross the River Somme to access food. The French army had destroyed all the bridges across the River Somme. At the 1800m wide ford at Blanchetaque, ten miles inland from the sea, Edward III's (age 33) army crossed the river despite resistance from the French. Hugh Despencer 1st Baron Despencer (age 38) led a force of English longbowmen across the ford to engage the French crossbowmen. Following the archery battle a force of English mounted men-at-arms, probably led by William Bohun 1st Earl of Northampton (age 36), engaged with the French. Following the battle the whole English army crossed the river then marched to Crécy to prepare for the next battle.