A report on Battle of Mons
The first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War.
- Battle of Mons45 related topics with Alpha
British Expeditionary Force (World War I)
8 linksThe six-divisions the British Army sent to the Western Front during the First World War.
The six-divisions the British Army sent to the Western Front during the First World War.
By the end of 1914—after the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Aisne and Ypres—the existent BEF had been almost exhausted, although it helped stop the German advance.
5th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
10 linksRegular army infantry division of the British Army.
Regular army infantry division of the British Army.
The 5th Division, as a Regular Army formation (one of the Old Contemptibles) fought in many of the major battles of the Western Front from the Battle of Mons in 1914, the later stages of the Somme offensive, including the first battle using tanks, up to the Battle of the Selle in 1918.
John French, 1st Earl of Ypres
8 linksSenior British Army officer.
Senior British Army officer.
After the British suffered heavy casualties at the battles of Mons and Le Cateau (where Smith-Dorrien made a stand contrary to French's wishes), French wanted to withdraw the BEF from the Allied line to refit and only agreed to take part in the First Battle of the Marne after a private meeting with the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, against whom he bore a grudge thereafter.
II Corps (United Kingdom)
7 linksArmy corps of the British Army formed in both the First World War and the Second World War.
Army corps of the British Army formed in both the First World War and the Second World War.
II Corps was first engaged two days later at the Battle of Mons and forced into the Great Retreat with the rest of the BEF.
Great Retreat
5 linksThe long withdrawal to the River Marne in August and September 1914 by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the French Fifth Army.
The long withdrawal to the River Marne in August and September 1914 by the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) and the French Fifth Army.
The Franco-British forces on the Western Front in the First World War had been defeated by the armies of the German Empire at the Battle of Charleroi (21 August) and the Battle of Mons (23 August).
Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig
7 linksSenior officer of the British Army.
Senior officer of the British Army.
Although II Corps fought off the German attack at Mons on 23 August (the first British encounter with the Germans) the BEF was forced to withdraw after Lanzerac ordered a retreat exposing their right flank as well.
Horace Smith-Dorrien
5 linksBritish Army General.
British Army General.
He commanded II Corps at the Battle of Mons, the first major action fought by the BEF, and the Battle of Le Cateau, where he fought a vigorous and successful defensive action contrary to the wishes of the Commander-in-Chief Sir John French, with whom he had had a personality clash dating back some years.
I Corps (United Kingdom)
6 linksArmy corps in existence as an active formation in the British Army for most of the 80 years from its creation in the First World War until the end of the Cold War, longer than any other corps.
Army corps in existence as an active formation in the British Army for most of the 80 years from its creation in the First World War until the end of the Cold War, longer than any other corps.
It had a peripheral part at the Battle of Mons, then saw hard fighting at the Battle of the Aisne and First Battle of Ypres in 1914, at the Battle of Aubers Ridge in the Spring of 1915 and alongside the Canadian Corps at the Battle of Hill 70, as well in many other large battles of the First World War.
2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
6 linksInfantry division of the British Army that was formed and disestablished numerous times between 1809 and 2012.
Infantry division of the British Army that was formed and disestablished numerous times between 1809 and 2012.
While II Corps saw the brunt of the fighting during the Battle of Mons, the division entrenched around 5 mi south of the city and contended with shellfire and false reports of German movements.
First Battle of the Marne
5 linksBattle of the First World War fought from 5 to 12 September 1914.
Battle of the First World War fought from 5 to 12 September 1914.
At the Battle of Mons (23 August), the BEF attempted to hold the line of the Mons–Condé Canal against the advancing German 1st Army.