Possible Clues:

• Company lacking trade at the outset in recession
• Band of Boy Scouts
• Fighting unit of soldiers retreating into cover?
• Soldiers having miserable time in retreat
• Run into very quiet group of soldiers
• Men replaced in best part of a squadron
• Monkeys in time upset penniless people
• Bad time to bring back group of soldiers
• Soldiers or monkeys?
• Unit also crossing river, heading for Paris