WW1 Research Group

Battle of Mons

BEF (British Expeditionary Force)

What is an order of battle? An Order of Battle (often shortened to ORBAT) is the identification, strength, command structure and disposition of the personnel, units and equipment of any military force. It is an organisational view of the army. Army Corps Division Brigade Battalion Company Platoon Section Soldier 200,000 to 300,000 men 2-3 Divisions 50,000 men 3 to 4 Brigades 16,000 to 18,000 men 3 to 4 Battalions 3,000 to 4,000 men 4 to 5 Companies 800 to 1000 men 4 Platoons 200 men 50 men 10 to 14 men General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Lieutenant Colonel Captain Lieutenant Lance Corporal

Commander in Chief of BEF Field Marshal Sir John French

Born 28 September 1852

Last active command had been a cavalry division in the Second Boer War

Commander British I Corps Lieutenant-General Douglas Haig

Born in Edinburgh on 19 June 1861 Middle class background Studied at Oxford Sandhurst Military College Studied Napoleonic Warfare in old-fashioned curriculum Commissioned as a lieutenant into the 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars on 7 February 1885 Sudan War 1898 Becomes Major Boer War 1899-1902 Serves under John French Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 1905 1909 War Office 1909 - Chief of Staff India 1910 Lieutenant General

Commander British II Corps Lieutenant-General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien

Born 26 May 1858 Sandhurst Military College Joins 95th Regiment of Foot (Sherwood Foresters) Zulu War One of fifty survivors of Battle of Isandlwana. Nominated for Victoria Cross for helping soldiers escape. 30 December 1885, witnessed the Battle of Gennis (Sudan), where the British Army fought in red coats for the last time. Boer War Argues with Lord Kitchener against attacking entrenched troops over open ground.
August 1914 replaces Lieutenant General James Grierson who dies from a heart attack on-board a train soon after arriving in France.

Order of Battle BEF

The Cavalry Division 1st Cavalry Brigade 2nd Dragoon Guards 5th Dragoon Guards 11th Hussars 2nd Cavalry Brigade 4th Dragoon Guards 9th Lancers 19th Hussars 3rd Cavalry Brigade 4th Hussars 5th Lancers 16th Lancers 4th Cavalry Brigade 6th Dragoon Guards 3rd Hussars Household Cavalry Composite Regiment 5th Cavalry Brigade 2nd Dragoons 12th Lancers 20th Hussars Artillery III Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery D Battery, RHA E Battery, RHA VII Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery I Battery, RHA L Battery, RHA

I Corps (Haig) 1st Division (Lomax) 1st Guards Brigade 1st Coldstream Guards 1st Scots Guards 1st Black Watch 2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers 2nd Infantry Brigade 2nd Royal Sussex 1st Loyal North Lancashire 1st Northamptonshire 2nd The Kings Royal Rifle Corps 3rd Infantry Brigade 1st Royal West Surrey 1st South Wales Borderers 1st Gloucestershire 2nd Welsh XXV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 113th Battery 114th Battery 115th Battery XXVI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 116th Battery 117th Battery 118th Battery XXXIX Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 46th Battery 51st Battery 54th Battery XLIII (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 30th (H) Battery 40th (H) Battery 57th (H) Battery 26th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

2nd Division (Monro) 4th Guards Brigade 2nd Grenadier Guards 2nd Coldstream Guards 3rd Coldstream Guards 1st Irish Guards 5th Infantry Brigade 2nd Worcestershire 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry 2nd Highland Light Infantry 2nd Connaught Rangers 6th Infantry Brigade 1st Liverpool 2nd South Staffordshire 1st Royal Berkshire 1st Kings Royal Rifle Corps XXXIV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 22nd Battery 50th Battery 70th Battery XXXVI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 15th Battery 48th Battery 71st Battery XLI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 9th Battery 16th Battery 17th Battery XLIV (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 47th (H) Battery 56th (H) Battery 60th (H) Battery 35th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

II Corps (Smith-Dorrien) 3rd Division (Hamilton) 7th Infantry Brigade 3rd Worcestershire 2nd South Lancashire 1st Duke of Edinburghs 2nd Royal Irish Rifles 8th Infantry Brigade 2nd Royal Scots 2nd Royal Irish 4th Duke of Cambridges Own 1st Gordon Highlanders 9th Infantry Brigade 1st Northumberland Fusiliers 4th Royal Fusiliers 1st Lincolnshire 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers XXIII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 107th Battery 108th Battery 109th Battery XL Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 6th Battery 23rd Battery 49th Battery XLII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 29th Battery 41st Battery 45th Battery XXX (Howitzer) Brigade , Royal Field Artillery 128th (H) Battery 129th (H) Battery 130th (H) Battery 48th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

5th Division (Fergusson) 13th Infantry Brigade 2nd Kings Own Scottish Borderers 2nd Duke of Wellingtons Own 1st Royal West Kent 2nd Yorkshire Light Infantry 14th Infantry Brigade 2nd Suffolk 1st East Surrey 1st Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry 2nd Manchester 15th Infantry Brigade 1st Norfolk 1st Bedfordshire 1st Cheshire 1st Dorsetshire XV Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 11th Battery 52nd Battery Gunner Andrew Crompton Maxwell 80th Battery XXVII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 119th Battery 120th Battery 121st Battery XXVIII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 122nd Battery 123rd Battery 124th Battery VIII (Howitzer) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 37th (H) Battery 61st (H) Battery 65th (H) Battery 108th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery

Army Troops A and C Squadrons North Irish Horse B Squadron South Irish Horse 1st Queens Own Cameron Highlanders Line of communications defence troops 1st Devonshire 19th Infantry Brigade (formed August 22nd, 1914) 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st Cameronians 1st Duke of Cambridges Own 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Royal Flying Corps in the Field (Henderson) 2nd Aeroplane Squadron (Burke) 3rd Aeroplane Squadron (Salmond) 4th Aeroplane Squadron (Raleigh) 5th Aeroplane Squadron (Higgins) 1st Aircraft Park

The advanced party of the BEF crossed to France on 7th August 1914 and the BEF itself crossed to the French ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Boulogne between 12th and 17th August and moved forward to its concentration area between Mauberge and Le Cateau, near the Belgian border, where it was assembled by 20th August. 9 Aug: 7am March to Station Afternoon. Arrive Southampton Evening. Sail from Southampton 10 Aug: Afternoon. Arrive Le Harve March to rest camp 11 Aug: Midnight. March to station Slow trains for five days 17 Aug: 7 mile march to Maubeuge 20 Aug: 15 mile training march 21 Aug: 18 mile training march 22 Aug: 11 mile training march 23 Aug 0100 14 mile march to Mons to take up defensive positions BEF: Germans: 70,000 men and 300 guns 160,000 men and 600 guns

First clash At dawn on Saturday 22 August 1914, "C" Squadron of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, commanded by Major Tom Bridges, pushed out two patrols north from Mons and met the Germans for the first time. "C" Squadron commenced a reconnaissance along the road heading out from Maisires. Four enemy cavalrymen emerged from the direction of Casteau. They were spotted by the British and turned around, whereupon they were pursued by the 1st Troop (under Captain Hornby) and the 4th Troop. Corporal E. Thomas of the 4th opened fire, the first British soldier to do so in the Great War. He was uncertain whether he killed or wounded the German soldier that he hit. Meanwhile, Hornby led his men in hot pursuit and charged the Germans, killing several. He returned with his sword presented, revealing German blood.

Defending Mons Soldiers of 1st Northumberland Fusiliers preparing street barricades in the Mons area before the fighting started on 23rd August 1914.

During 22nd August 1914 the British II Corps moved up to the section of the Mons Canal between Obourg and Cond, 3rd Division taking the right flank with 5th Division on its left. British positions on the Mons Canal are an outpost line, stating that the intention was to hold positions on the higher and more open ground a mile or so to the south of the canal. The Royal Engineers were ordered to sink all barges in the canal and to prepare the bridges for demolition. There were some 12 or more bridges and locks in the section of the canal covered by the British line and this was a difficult order to comply with in the few hours available. In the confusion of the advance some important demolition stores were missing. The Sappers did what they could in the circumstances.

British soldiers defend a scratch south of Mons

The Boer War in 1899 to 1901 taught the British Army the importance of concealment when under fire and the art of concealed movement around the battlefield. The British infantrymen were in well-hidden trenches and positions in the urban landscape from which they poured a devastating fire on the advancing German infantry. For the first time the Germans encountered the facility with which the British troops used their rifles; the Mad Minute in which individual soldiers could fire up to 30 aimed rounds in a minute from their .303 Lee Enfield rifles. This fire coupled with supporting machine guns decimated the advancing German formations. (Mad Minute Video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh-pgRhi_Lo

A curious and sad feature was that the Belgian population was largely unaware that their home was about to be turned into a battlefield. 23rd August 1914 was a Sunday and began with ringing of bells, much of the population hurrying to church, with trains bringing in holiday makers from the cities. Many of these civilians were caught up in the days fighting. (Reading The Western Front p10)

The initial German assault on the canal line, by the 18th Division of the 9th Corps, fell on the canal salient north-east of the city of Mons; the point defended by the 4th Middlesex, the 4th Royal Fusiliers and the 1st RSF. Heavy German artillery fire from the high ground to the north of the canal supported the attack, with fire direction given from spotter planes flying over the battlefield, a new technique not yet adopted by the British and French. The German infantry advanced on the canal in massed formations headed by skirmishers.

On the right of the canal salient the Germans put in a series of heavy attacks on the 4th Middlesex at the Obourg Bridge. The positions around the bridge were held by Major Daveys company with a second company under Major Abell coming up in support, losing a third of its strength in the process.
The initial German advance to the canal was in close company formations of the German 18th Division, presenting a good target to the Middlesex riflemen and machine guns. In the opening attacks the leading German companies were mown down as they attempted to reach the canal bridge. The Germans fell back into cover and after half an hour resumed the assault in a more open formation.

Vickers Machine Gun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPv_f_aSyP4

Reading (Voices and Images of the Great War p17-18)

Equally heavy German infantry attacks in close columns fell on the 4th Royal Fusiliers holding the Nimy Bridge; Captain Ashburners company supported by 1 of Lieutenant Deases machine guns. These columns were decimated and the Germans fell back into the plantations along the north side of the canal. After half an hour of re-organisation the attack was renewed in more open order.

The German 6th Division launched an attack against 1st RSF and the positions of the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers on the north bank of the canal, while to the west the Germans advanced on the bridge at Mariette, marching up to the bridge in column of fours. The massed Germans were shot down by Fusiliers waiting in their positions to the north of the canal. The attack was renewed in a more open order but was again repelled.

To the west the 2nd Kings Own Scottish Borderers held the north canal bank, the battalions 2 machine guns positioned on the top storey of a house on the south side of the canal. The battalion was able to pour a heavy fire into the German infantry forming up on the edge of a wooded area on the north bank, until it was forced to fall back across the canal. By the end of the morning the 8 British battalions engaged along the Mons Canal were still in place in spite of the efforts of 4 German divisions.

At around midday the German IX Corps redoubled its attacks on the Mons Canal salient, its artillery bombarding the British from positions to the north and east of the line. The German 17th Division after crossing the canal to the east of the canal salient, beyond the reach of the British defences on the canal line, attacked the 1st Gordons and the 2nd Royal Scots positioned to the south of the canal and facing east. The attack was driven back but the increasing threat was clear.

Withdraw 3pm Middlesex and Royal Irish Rifles begin to fall back. Royal Fusiliers and Royal Scots Fusiliers already withdrawing from the canal salient. 4pm 1st Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry fall back after decimating German cavalry. Evening British 5th Division ordered to retire. All along canal British battalions withdraw by companies and platoons. Royal Engineers destroy 5 bridges. At Jemappes, Corporal Jarvis of the Royal Engineers worked for an hour and a half under German fire to demolish the bridge with the assistance of Private Heron of the RSF, earning himself a Victoria Cross and Heron a DCM At Mariette, Captain Wright (RE) persisted in trying to destroy the bridge although seriously wounded, winning himself a Victoria Cross. Companies of the Northumberland Fusiliers hung on to cover Wrights attempts. (Reading Voices and Images p18 final para.)

Cease Fire

Finally the German army command decided to let the British withdraw without further interference and bugles sounded the Cease Fire along the German line, much to the surprise of the British. During the night the 2 corps of the BEF fell back to their new positions.

Casualties End of 23rd August 1914 BEF - Approx. 1500 Killed, Wounded or Missing (The 4th Middlesex and the 2nd Royal Irish suffered around 450 and 350 casualties respectively) Germans Estimated at 5000+ Killed, wounded or Missing.

24th August 1914 - Rear Guard Action Throughout the 24th August the BEF (5th Division) fought a rear guard action delaying the advance of the Germans and allowing the majority of British forces to escape. Once again British field guns, machine guns and rapid rifle fire caused severe causalities in the advancing Germans. British Cavalry charged the German lines taking terrible casualties. The Cheshires and Norfolks never received their orders to retire and were overwhelmed. 100 men of the Cheshires escaped from an original force of 1000 Cavalry Division: I Corps: 100. II Corps: 1,650 (Cheshires approx 750; Norfolks approx 275; 119th Battery 30) 19th Infantry Brigade: 40. German casualties are unknown but were probably in the region of 7,500.